Hi all,
Where I live there are some horses and I am allowed to go up and see them whenever I want.
But I think they get really bored out in the field. There is only two of them and they don't get ridden very much. They are out 24/7.
I'm not allowed to ride them myself or do join up with them or stuff like that I was wondering how to make their day more interesting.
Any ideas????
Equi
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Horse Behavior and Training
Bored in the paddock
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I have thought about hanging a carrot on a string? but I'm not sure if that will help much:S
Equi
Hi EquiAbi play tools for horses available.
Another solution would be to put a gym ball into the paddock. Some horses like them, and play football or "noseball"!
Good luck!
Best wishes from Hamburg, Germany
Jasmin
Dear Equi - do they have gras in the paddock and how big is the paddock?
Many times we humans feel the horses need to to things in order to enjoy life - if the horses basic needs are fullfilled a herd of 2 is ofcourse less input of information than 3 or more yet horses are horses and do not "need" the way we humans do.
I do know our horses enjoy good time with humans and likes to learn - because they are made for getting input from every direction!
Many times you can see horses look really satisfied and yawning after only 10 minutes with us human - that is a treat!
Have fun and Keep on Equus!
warmest Ann
Hi Equi - I think it is great that you are allowed to go up and see these horses as no doubt they enjoy the human contact. If you are allowed to groom them that would be even better as I am sure they would enjoy that. However it is hard to assess whether they are bored or not. I think the important point here is are they well looked after? i.e.
1. have they plenty of pasture in the paddock?
2. is there shade in the paddock or any form of shelter?
3. do they have access to clean water?
4. do they look well and wormed and groomed regularly?
5. do they have their hooves trimmed regularly? etc.
My three mares live in a flat 11 acre paddock which I rent and are by themselves. Naturally I would love to have them close to me but we only have 5 acres and it is too steep for my 2 lame horses anyway. I keep my youngest 2 here and our shetland as they are more likely to get spooked by themselves than my three older mares - 2 of which are very sensible. No doubt passers by and neighbours near my horses feel the same way you do as I rarely ride them and they are just in the paddock looking bored. Often I feel sad for them myself and worry about them but I think they are content and happy enough together as they are all great mates. I see them each day and although they have plenty of grass I do give them just a little chaff when I go up as a special treat. I trim their hooves regularly, groom them and rug them whenever the weather changes. They have trees in their paddock and a shed to shelter behind. I cart fresh water to them every third day and have just spent time fencing in the only dam in the paddock as it was putrid and black. They loved to splash in it on hot days but that was also of some concern to me and one was developing seedy toe from all the water. One, my Pie, is broken down and cannot be ridden, another can only be ridden occasionally as she also gets lame with work and when on my sloping land and the third I ride as often as I can which I know is not really sufficient. I did allow someone else to ride her for awhile but she was too heavy for her and her back became sore. Soo.. if the owner allows you to see these horses and spend time with them that is great but try not to judge their state of boredom as that is a very hard thing to do. As an owner of horses that are left 24/7 in a paddock mostly by themselves I would be concerned if someone started giving my horses things to play with so always check with the owner first before you even put a carrot on a string in the paddock. Some of the neighbours around my horses do give them carrots but one neighbour started putting his grass clippins over the fence for them. This is a real no, no as horses can develop cholic from fresh grass clippings. Other neighbours have used the area as their own golf course and I had to ask them not to do this as they left their golf balls behind.