AMA: I Need Stall Rest Advice!

My horse is three weeks into stall rest and he’s already losing it. Any advice? 

Oh boy. Hang in there. Stall rest can be a challenging time for any horse, but especially for a social one who enjoys his pasture time. The best place to start is having a conversation with your veterinarian. Hopefully you have a good relationship with your horse doc and they know your horse well enough to offer some suggestions. Prescription sedatives can be an important tool to have on hand. Not all horses need them, but if yours is starting to climb the walls just a few weeks in, something like resperine could be a big help. There are also some over-the-counter calming supplements you can try. 

Giving your horse access to hay 24/7 can help reduce boredom and stress-induced gastrointestinal problems like ulcers. Again, talk with your vet and your barn manager on how to accomplish this, but buying a large hay net or hay bag to hang in the stall isn’t a bad idea. Some vets may suggest backing a horse off grain (half ration or no grain at all, perhaps) during this time, too. In addition to a calming additive, some extra gut support wouldn’t be a bad investment, either.

Then there’s the toys. A Likit or Jolly Ball, there are lots of options out there that you can tie up or add to a stall.

Eventually, your recovering horse will graduate to hand walking or perhaps some short paddock time. You can use this time to invest in some groundwork training to give him more mental stimulation. This can be easy stuff, like focusing on barn manners and clicker training, or fun stuff, like learning to bow or to “kiss.”

Whatever you choose, sticking to a routine certainly helps. Good luck out there! 

Got a question? Our staff will find the answer and publish it on Mondays in the Heels Down Spark. Get more conversation starters in your inbox every weekday morning by subscribing to the Spark now.