Top Tips for Managing Equine Box Rest

All equine owners have heard the term ‘box rest’ whether it be your own horse or a fellow horse owner. Now occasionally horses couldn’t care less about being in the stable for weeks at a time, but the term can fill some owners with absolute dread as their normally well mannered horse turns into a complete nightmare! If this is you then read on to find out some top tips for equine box rest.

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Top Tips for Keeping Your Horse Healthy

Make sure they have plenty of bedding and consider rubber matting to help avoid injury on hard floors.
Make sure they have ad lib hay and fresh water to ensure their gut keeps moving to prevent colic.
Adjust their hard feed intake. If possible stick to hay and a balancer to provide necessary vitamins, minerals and protein needed to aid healing.
Consider their mental well-being and whether they prefer busy or quiet yards. Be prepared to move your horse to accommodate this while on box rest.
Take extra care of foot hygiene to prevent thrush.
If your budget will stretch, investing in a massage pad such as an Equilibrium, or a Back On Track rug will help keep your horse’s muscles active.
Remove anything that can be destroyed from your horse’s stable. Even the most non-destructive horse may shred that nice new rug when bored.
Calmers can also be given to help soothe a bored horse.

Top Tips for Keeping Your Horse Entertained

Consider providing your horse with a companion. This can be a horse kept in the stable next door or even a small pony or another animal such as a goat kept in the stable with them (provided there is room and no aggression towards their new friend).
Provide some toys on rotation such as a treat ball, hanging likits or even a hanging swede.
Leave a radio playing.
A mirror can sometimes provide a horse with company.
Spend time with your horse. Grooming and massaging will provide a welcome distraction. Or call in a professional for a thorough full equine massage.