So your horse needs………. Complete Stall Rest!
Stall rest does not sound like such a bad thing, but it can be when that 1,200 pound ball of energy decides he has had enough. Vices such as kicking the walls and chewing can harm your horse and your barn. Under normal circumstances these vices are a problem but they can become even worse when your horse has to spend weeks and/or months on stall rest.
When your horse needs complete stall rest for an extended period of time there are several things you need to consider.
First of all ask your vet how much feed and hay your horse will need during his unfortunate incarceration. Some horses will have their grain ration cut but sometimes it is necessary to discontinue all grain and only feed hay. Because of your horse’s decreased energy needs it is very important to work with your vet to determine what and how much feed and hay your horse will need. It is certain he will not need the same amount he gets when exercising regularly. In my horses case he could have all the grass hay he wanted so I kept hay in front of him all the time. That helped with his boredom and also his hunger from not getting but a little grain.
Talk to your vet about the possibility of giving your horse some medicine to keep him calm. Your vet will be able to help you decide which (if any) would be best in your situation.
If your horse likes to have a barn buddy, get him one! If he has a horse that he is close to, keep that horse in the barn with him. Since I have several horses I rotate the outside horses so they only stay in one night at a time, but my horse has to have another horse in the barn with him at all times. It is a pain, but it keeps him quiet and content. I actually know someone that put a mirror up on the outside of the stall grills and her horse calmed down thinking another horse was in the barn. I tried it with mine, but he kept trying to look around the mirror, as if he was looking for the rest of the horse. It was pretty entertaining but did not satisfy his desire to have a barn buddy.
If you can afford it, there are also rehabilitation facilities out there that will keep your horse and do everything just as the vet orders. This could be a great alternative for people with busy lives. The Sanctuary inOcala is a fabulous place with everything a convalescing horse could need to get better. There are facilities in other parts of the country, especially in states that have a large race horse industry.
So when your vet says your horse has to be confined to a stall for an extended period of time, make sure he/she spends some time explaining the special care your horse will need.
