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Conference noted::equitation

Title:	Equine Notes Conference
Notice:	Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:	MTADMS::COBURNIO

Created:	Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2080
Total number of notes:	22383

1086.0. "Pony Pacifiers" by STOR06::DALEY () Fri Oct 06 1989 14:14

    Just wondering if anyone has had the experience of a horse who
    must be confined to his stall 24-hours a day for a few months. My
    horse (Jimmy) is used to going out every day - all day - but he 
    was kicked in the field and ended up with a fractured leg and is 
    now in his stall for going on three months. Even his stall is cleaned 
    around him,and his feed is cut to a fistfull at mealtimes and LOTS of hay.
    
    Jim maintained his good personality for the first two months but
    now he is still good for everyone but me! When he sees me coming
    he starts twirlling around in his stall and raising his front legs
    in a modified rear (it is a front leg which is fractured - from
    his shoulder to his knee). He acts somewhat like a little child in
    the hospital who is good for everyone but when Mom comes in the
    child throws a tantrum 'cause he can't go home. So I don't go
    to visit him except for a short time every other day (it isn't
    easy for me to stay away).
    
    Anyway--- I have hung plastic milk containers around the sides
    of his stall which fascinated him at first but now the fascination
    has worn thin. What other types of "toys" have people used to
    entertain long-term confined horses? 
    
    I will appreciate ANY suggestions.  
    Thanks,
    Pat
    BTW- the prognosis is good for complete recovery.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1086.1		TOMLIN::ROMBERG	Kathy Romberg DTN 276-8189	`Fri Oct 06 1989 14:48`	8
	We have a horse at our barn that was confined to stall rest for 6 months. He has remained amazingly good tempered. He has a ball in his stall that he can kick around. Another suggestion is one of those 'pacifiers' that mount in the corner of the stall. They're a toy they can play with/chew on that supposedly taste/smell like apple. I have no idea how they work. In the spring, Joe used to get really rambunctious on the nice days when everyone went out except for him. Those days, a pit of personal attention when he was good and discipline when he was bad helped keep him in line.
1086.2	TV??	TOOK::SCHLENER		`Fri Oct 06 1989 15:00`	7
	How about a radio? (Actually I would try a t.v. since the screen is always changing). I don't know if the tv would work but who knows? The horse might be interested in the colors and such. (Who knows - he may get hooked on soap operas!!!) Cindy
1086.3	how about a pet?	THRSHR::DINGEE	This isn't a rehearsal, you know.	`Mon Oct 09 1989 17:33`	18
	A pet for him may be nice, too. Either a chicken that will hang out with him, or a rabbit in a cage that can be located near him, e.g. on a table or support just over the stall door/wall, where he can put his nose over and "talk". Or something else small, easy to care for, and which won't be kept in the stall to get stepped on. I have a cage about 16" high by 2' deep by 2' wide if you decide to do this and would like to borrow it til he can go out again...suitable for chicken or bunny! It may sound strange, but I knew two horses that had pets like this that they loved. The rabbit cage was in the paddock, and the horse was always over there with his head down by the bunny; the horse with the chicken let the bird sit on his rump and scratch with toes or beak. They loved those pets, just like we do! Good luck with him! -j
1086.4	Maybe a kitty?	PTOMV6::PETH	My kids are horses	`Tue Oct 10 1989 14:53`	5
	My aunts 27 year old horse has a pet cat. You never see the horse without the cat. It sleeps in his manger and he eats his hay around it. If you try a pet a cat also serves as a mouser. Sandy
1086.5	Just a few more:	MPGS::GREGG		`Tue Oct 10 1989 17:32`	11
	Try painting the milk cartons with a safe paint. Other then that the toys that attach in the corners are great...I have 2 young horses and that keeps them busy for a few hours at a time. The T.V. idea sounds great. I use a radio still when the weather is bad and they stay in for a day or 2. I have also found that putting them in a differant stall during day also helps. I wish you both the best of luck....
1086.6		ELWOOD::CHRISTIE		`Wed Oct 18 1989 17:47`	6
	A pet sounds like a good idea. Heard of a horse that got so attached to a goat, that the goat had to be trailered with the horse to ALL shows or the horse wouldn't budge from the trailer. L