Owning and riding horses is one of the most rewarding things we can do, but it can be a real rollercoaster too! Injuries to the horse or pony are part of the lows – one moment you’re enjoying long summer hacks or competition days with your four-legged bestie, the next you’re looking at a hefty vet bill and a period of rehab. Stables are great for keeping horses clean and warm when we need to but being stabled 24/7 and not being ridden can quickly become challenging for horses – especially if they’re fit competition horses.
And then there’s the mental load on you, the owner! Rehab might include cold hosing multiple times a day, changing dressings, trying to muck the very dirty stable of a stressed horse, balance their need for forage and energy output, hours of hand walking and just the dismay of seeing your horse unhappy. That’s why for this month’s blog; we’re sharing our tips to keep you and your horse sane while they’re being rehabbed. We hope that the tips help keep you and your horse happier so you can both get back to doing what you love!
Tips for your horse
- Forage variety – using hay nets at different heights helps prevent neck and back issues, double netting will help slow eating or adding small amounts of haylage/hay in multiple locations so the horse “forages” around its box rather than standing in one spot.
- Stable toys – we love using treat balls, lick blocks and hanging vegetables (like a swede on a rope) to encourage play and curiosity.
- Visual interest – being able to see other horses helps keep their brain occupied! If you can, try stabling your horse where it can see yard activity or rotating them into a stable with a window that looks over fields.
- Weight management – if your horse or pony is at risk of laminitis or weight gain, you can deliberately source lower quality forage. Just be wary of dusty hay or oat straw and consider steaming or soaking it. Soaking also removes sugar from hay, so that can help reduce the nutritional load of forage too.
- Grooming sessions – we recommend you include regular, thorough grooming of your horse during rehab to mimic the social grooming they’d get in a herd. Many horses seem to miss the interaction they get with people when they’re groomed, tacked up and ridden when they’re on box rest!
- Massage, stretching and grazing – within your vet’s guidelines, try some gentle stretches or physio-approved movements to reduce stiffness and manage boredom! And if you have time for 15 minutes of hand grazing each day, your horse will definitely appreciate that.
- Environmental comfort – good airflow, consistent temperature and managing sudden noises that could cause stress. Some people swear by a not-too-loud radio in the yard during the daytime! Plus, if they’re an area of the box with a deep, supportive bedding can help make lying down more inviting and reduce restlessness. That’s not ideal for box-walkers, though…
Top tips for you!
Rehab can be scary and frustrating for you, the owner, but there are ways to stay sane. Over the years training racehorses and managing their own point to pointers and sports horses, Amy and Tommy find that understanding the rehab plan and milestones, so they know what’s coming next is a huge help. It’s also a god idea to ask lots of questions when you see your vet or physio, so you’re confident in what you can and can’t do with your horse!
Another idea is to keep a rehab diary with dates, notes, photos or short videos. That’s because small improvements are easier to see over time, and you have references to share with professionals if something goes wrong.
You can also view the rehab as a way to spend more quality time with your horse and focus on what you can do (grooming, hand-grazing and stretches) rather than what you can’t (riding and competing!).
Enrichment is a way to help your horse with mental stimulation (e.g., setting up treat puzzles) so you feel actively involved in their wellbeing. Plus, if you can, keep your own riding going by riding a friend’s horse or taking a lesson so you stay confident and active.
We really hope that you find these ideas helpful and they make life easier for you and your horse. After all, being relaxed can support healing by lowering stress hormones, so you’ll be making your horse happier and healthier.