The Case for Horse Toys - Say “Neigh!” to Equine Boredom
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Playing with rubber horse toy
We humans are always on the go, with not enough hours in the day. We see horses calmly grazing in a field or sleepily standing in their stalls. And we often think enviously, “Boy, they look so relaxed.”
However, for some horses, relaxation can degenerate into boredom. A horse in its natural environment would be roaming freely, exploring, and interacting with others in his herd. He’d be constantly on the lookout for danger.Butdomestic horses are usually confined to a small field, a paddock or a stall.Whilethey may be safe, there’s not much to do. If they’re lucky, they have a couple companions, but often they are alone.
And as any horse lover will agree, horses are intelligent creatures and need mental and physical stimulation.Otherwise, boredom can lead to unhealthy activities: cribbing, pacing, destruction of objects, depression or unsocial behavior.
Are you planning to be around all day to keep your horse engaged and interested? If not, it’s up to you to help your horse combat boredom.
Enter:Horse toys!
Many horse owners have found that providing a variety ofequine toysis a great solution. Every horse is different, so you’ll need to find which toys he or she finds enjoyable and appealing. There is no lack of products to choose from, so we’ve put together a quick guide to stimulate your imagination.
But first, a quick reminder: It’s essential to supervise your horse when you introduce a new toy. It’s not only a great way to interact with him/her, see whether they like it and know how to use it. It’s also imperative to make sure it’s safe.
For the field or paddock
Horses kicking around a ball
- Jolly balls.These are durable, horse-size balls made especially for equine play. Your horse can push or kick it around, bite it and play with it. Some have handles for easy carrying and tossing. Your horse may find it fun to fling it around the pasture.
- Other large rubber toys and items. You can use any toys made of durable rubber that horses can chew on or toss around. In fact, items you already have around your barn might work. Try rubber food tubs or buckets, large traffic cones, and plastic barrels. (If you use a barrel, make sure both ends are securely closed off.)
- Water toys: For horses who enjoy water play, you can fill large buckets or barrels with water. Your horse might get a kick out of splashing with his lips and muzzle – maybe even his front legs!This playcan provide entertainment and help cool him off in hot weather.However, he may end up tipping the trough over or splashing all the water out – so you’ll need to check the water situation out every day, sometimes more often.
Stalltoys for horses
Horse looking into a mirror
Some horses have to spend a lot of time in a box stall. This could be due to recovery from an injury, training, a boarding situation, or severe weather.Consequently, this confinement is the perfect set-up for boredom.Butthere are some simple toy options that may help:
- Ball on a rope.The concept is similar to a tether ball. Hang a ball on a rope so it’s about wither-height (so the horse can’t get his legs tangled in it). He may enjoy swinging it around his stall. An alternative idea: Use an empty plastic gallon milk jug, which makes satisfying noises when it hits the sides of the stall.
- Mirrors.Horses are often intrigued by mirrors and enjoy interacting with their reflections.But firstsee how your horse reacts to a mirror when you’re outside, just to make sure it doesn’t spook her. A bad reaction will cross this toy off your list.
- Stuffed animals.Some horses really like to play with large stuffed animals, shaking or tossing them around.Sincethey’re soft, you don’t need to worry about injuries during this play.
Treat dispensing toys
Eating from a hay net
You know how much horses love treats. Well, forcing your horse to work for his dinner is a real boredom buster! He will “chew over” the best method of getting his food out of the toy.Even betterafter all that mental stimulation, there’s a delicious treat as a reward!
- Treat balls. These are balls with holes that dispense treats, such as carrots or snacks. The horse rolls them around, working to get the food out. This “trickle” feeding can capture a horse’s attention for long periods.We recommend you use low sugar, low starch horse treats. And of course, if your horse is overweight or has insulin problems, these balls are not for him.
- Hanging treat dispensers. These are just like other treat balls, but since they hanging from the ceiling or attach to a wall, they add an extra measure of interest.
- Puzzle feeders. These toys require a horse to solve a puzzle to access food or treats. That’s great for enhancing their problem-solving skills. Plus it prolongs the feeding process.
- Hay nets.These aren’t actually toys, but they have the advantage of resembling the grazing process of eating smaller amounts of hay at a time.In addition, some horses love to bat the hay net back and forth, so it can be entertaining as well as practical.
A word of caution with treat-dispensing toys: If your horse is on sandy soil or tends to eat the bedding from his stall, these toys may cause some digestive issues.
Mix it up
Finally, we recommend that yourotate toys regularly. Put some away for a while and then re-introduce them at a later date.Then, substitute a different toy in the interim. Cycling toys can be a major factor in keeping your horse engaged.
Not into horse toys?
Grooming horse
Some horses don’t get into toys, or there may be other reasons you don’t want to introduce them.Butthere are other ways you can help your horse battle boredom. For instance:
- Bob for apples or carrots.Similar to the treat balls, your horse will enjoy working for his treat! Bobbing for these goodies can bring hours of entertainment.
- Make her happy with music.Have you discovered yet that many horses love to listen to music? Just like humans, horses like different types of music.Sospend a little time trying out various types – classical, rock, instrumental, Broadway tunes, etc. After you ascertain her favorites, make her a playlist! Make it long enough so that every day offers different tunes. You’ll know it’s a hit if she starts groovin’ to Beethoven!
- Groom him.Horses love the grooming process, they love you, and it’s great for their health.
Bottom line on horse toys
Horse playing in water
Not every horse will be into toys – but most of our equine companions enjoy a change of pace.Equine toys for horsescan provide mental stimulation, physical exercise and – most importantly – entertainment!
You can research and purchasetoys for horsesthrough a wide variety of online stores, feed and supply stores and other outlets. They don’t have to be expensive – some may already be sitting in your barn! We wish you all the best in holding boredom at bay and making your horse happy.
If you liked this article, check out some of our other practicalhorse blogs! There are many well-researched topics that will pique your interest and helps you take better care of your horse. For instance, there’s one onStrangles, another onLyme disease, and many more. Take a look today!
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Sources:
https://be.chewy.com/horse-toys-keep-your-horse-mentally-stimulated/
https://www.horsehealthproducts.com/horsemans-report/horse-care/boredom-breakers
https://mynewhorse.equusmagazine.com/2023/11/15/boredom-busters-stall-toys-for-happy-horses/#:~:text=Horses%2C%20like%20humans%2C%20can%20get,is%20to%20offer%20them%20toys
https://www.farmco.ag/blog/7-horse-boredom-busters/
