AMA: I Think My Horse Is Bored.
I think my horse is bored. In his daily routine and with our rides. What should I do?
“The answer must be, ‘No, of course not.’ After all, your horse wants for nothing. He lives in a snug stable, eats tasty grain, and gets lots of riding exercise of groundwork. Nothing is missing…. or is it?
But even if it is, does it matter? Can horses even feel boredom? The concept is tough to nail down, even for people, and we have plenty of words to describe our feelings. But, if your horse is bored, how would you know?
Boredom and a lack of stimulation show up in many ways and in a variety of environments. Just as in your own life, the experience can be brief or chronic, so your horse’s behavioral wellness and overall mental state might not be easy to evaluate. Obviously, when a hors is facing weeks of stall confinement after an injury, he will need help coping with the experience, but boredom can occure whether he’s stalled or pastured.
Our horses can’t tell us in words that they need more interest and stimulation. They also can’t articulate why they feel and act a certain way just like you can’t always pin down the cause of your frustration or anxiety. Their behavior, body language, and habits are our only windows into what they’re feeling.”
Signs a horse is struggling with boredom:
– Hyperactive, over-energetic during handling
– Destructive to items and property
– Irritable, grumpy or aloof
– Rambunctious during turnout; prone to accidents outside or in
– Anxious or distracted
– Shows strange or undesirable behavior or vices in stall or pasture
– Has social problems – can’t be turned out with others
– Amanda Goble
For more, check out Amanda’s book, “No Bored Horses: Essential Enrichment for Happy Equines” available at Trafalgar Square Books.
AMA:
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