How to Keep a Stall-Bound Horse

Two words that strike fear into the heart of a horse owner are ̶0;stall rest.̶1; There are numerous reasons a horse may require stall confinement: illness, bad weather or poor footing when horses can't be safely turned out. Horses are by nature outdoor animals and keeping them content in a stall can be a challenge. Some respond by chewing the stall or developing cribbing habits; others pace and paw. There are ways to manage your horse while confined that will help alleviate these issues.

Things You'll Need

  • Hay
  • Extra bedding
  • Radio
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed extra hay. Buy good quality grass hay and throw the horse an extra flake several times a day. This will help keep him from chewing the stall due to boredom. Avoid feeding high-energy hays, such as alfalfa.

    • 2

      Reduce the horse's grain intake by at least half. Grain energizes a horse ̵1; the last thing a stall-bound horse needs. Give him some grain, but not enough to make him restless in the stall or overly fired up when you can finally let him out. Decrease the grain intake to a maximum of 5 percent of the horse's total feed, with the remainder grass hay.

    • 3

      Bed the stall more deeply. Whether you use shavings or straw, a stall-bound horse spends more time laying down than normal, especially if the confinement is related to illness. Deep bedding reduces strain on joints and keeps the horse warmer in cold weather.

    • 4

      Keep the stall clean. Pick the stall frequently, each time you throw hay. It's healthier for the horse and reduces the extra labor required when a horse is inside full time. Turn bedding carefully and increase ventilation in the barn to avoid excessive dust, which can affect the horse's respiratory system.

    • 5

      Monitor water intake. A horse confined to a stall may drink less water than it needs, which can result in impaction colic. Keep fresh, clean water in the stall at all times. If the weather is cold, consider a thermal bucket heater or add hot water to the bucket whenever you feed hay.

    • 6

      Keep a radio playing in the barn tuned to easy listening, classical or talk radio. The constant sound can be soothing to a horse.

    • 7

      Provide companionship. Leave another horse in the barn to keep your horse company, if possible. Spend extra time grooming the horse while he's confined.