Horse Stall Games

Curious, active animals that are naturally hard-wired to move about in search of food, the horse is not well-suited to long periods of confinement in a small enclosure like a stall. Horses kept in stalls day and night can develop habits like cribbing, which can lead to ulcers and life-threatening digestive problems such as colic. Provide interesting toys or activities related to grazing and socializing to help defer unhealthy habits from developing, and relieve boredom for stalled horses.

  1. Food Game

    • Offer your stalled horse a means of satisfying his innate desire to graze often with a home-made food dispenser. Fill a sturdy, plastic container such as a gallon milk jug with treats that won't easily spoil. Carrots, celery or grass hay pellets work well. Leave the cap off the container and put it on the ground in the stall for your horse to roll around. He will smell the food and with persistence the treat will gradually be dispensed from the container. It's as if the treats magically appear.

    Rubber Toys

    • Give your active young horse a non-toxic rubber ball to keep him occupied in his stall. Designed specifcally for horses, these balls average 10-inches in diameter and will not deflate if punctured. Balls featuring peppermint and apple-scented rubber are also available. A handle is built into the ball enabling horses to pick up the ball with their teeth and shake it, toss it or chew it. Add a dab of honey or corn syrup to the handle to get your horse started on the right track.

      Providing toys and acceptable items to chew or lick may deter your horse from chewing wood in his stall or cribbing, according to veterinarian Dr. Race Foster D.V.M. et al. Check your local tack shop, online store or catalog to purchase.

    Noise Maker

    • Create a fun and noisy toy for your horse to play with in his stall using a common household detergent bottle with a handle. For safety purposes, make sure bottle is carefully cleaned, then fill approximately one third of the bottle with small rocks or marbles. Use hay baling-twine or other sturdy nylon string to tie around the handle of the bottle and attach from above the stall in one corner. Horses enjoy making a ruckus while knocking and twirling the bottle about.

    Distraction Ideas

    • If your horse has already developed a cribbing or weaving disorder, consider providing him with a controlled feeder device such as a tightly woven hay net to enable simulated-grazing. According to equine welfare specialist Julie Christie of the University of Minnesota, research has shown that placing a mirror in your horse's stall may help reduce weaving. This is the Pretend I Have a Friend game for horses that don't have other horses nearby.