• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Care
    • News
    • Fun
    • Heartwarming
    • Videos
    • Rescue
    • Horse Fun
    • Tips For Riders
    • Fun Facts
    • Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Horse Care

    5 Ways To Mentally Stimulate Your Horse

    Modified: May 23, 2019 by ihearthorses · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Bored horses can develop bad habits that may become irreversible- such as wood chewing, cribbing, and disobedience. What can you do to keep your horse mentally stimulated and prevent destructive boredom? Only you know the best way to keep your horse engaged, happy, and healthy, but here are some tips.

    #1 - Slow your horse’s eating.

    IMAGE SOURCE: THE_GUT VIA FLICKR

    Horses evolved as foragers, meaning they spend most of their time seeking out and eating the juiciest and most nutritious plants. In the wild, a horse will spend up to 16 hours foraging. By giving them food they can consume within an hour, they are not using as much time or brainpower on eating.

    Pasture feeding is the closest thing to a natural diet your horse can have. They’ll spend more time on, and get more exercise working for their food, and will have less opportunity to become bored.

    If you don’t have access to a pasture, buy a slow feeder to help your horse work harder for their food. They’ll appreciate spending more time eating.

    At a minimum, you want to feed your horse twice a day. More is better. Not only is one big feeding bad for your horse’s mind, it’s more likely to cause colic.

    #2 - Give them a companion.

    IMAGE SOURCE: ISAMIGA76 VIA FLICKR

    Horses, being herd animals, rely on having companions to be truly happy. Time spent with you is good, but they benefit the most from having other animals around- preferably herbivores and ideally other horses. If your horse can’t interact with other horses in their barn, they will benefit from having stall walls and doors low enough to see them.

    #3 - Provide plenty of exercise.

    IMAGE SOURCE: PETE MARKHAM VIA FLICKR

    Horses kept in stalls are especially likely to develop boredom problems. Unless they are on strict stall rest due to a severe injury, it's important to take them out for walks a minimum of once or twice a day. Turning out your horse for a full out run for at least an hour on days when they aren’t being ridden is a minimum for maintaining your horse’s happiness.

    #4 - Provide toys and challenges.

    IMAGE SOURCE: OXOX VIA FLICKR

    These don’t have to be expensive. An empty milk jug that must be turned upside down to drop treats or an apple hanging from the roof of the barn can give your horse something to keep them stimulated for a little while.

    #5 - Vary your training.

    IMAGE SOURCE: NICK SAVCHENKO VIA FLICKR

    Horses enjoy variety, and doing the same thing every day can become monotonous. Try teaching them a new trick, riding a new route, or just leading them on a different path back to the barn. Too much change can be stressful for horses, though, so be thoughtful about how you are adding variety. Being ridden by a different person every day could be a stressful type of variety for your horse.

    The biggest key to providing mental stimulation for your horse is to pay attention to them and figure out what they do and don’t enjoy. Don’t waste your time hanging apples if they don’t enjoy eating them that way. 

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    (H/T: Wow Horses, Horse And Rider, SLO Horse News)

    More Horse Care

    • Pros and Cons of Braiding Your Horse's Mane or Tail
    • lone brown horse at barn door
      10 Items Every Horse Owner Needs in Their Barn First Aid Kit
    • 6 Important Things The Horse Care Books Don't Tell You
    • White horse lounging on grass
      10 Common Reasons You Have a Tired Horse and What to Do

    Sharing is caring!

    2.3K shares
    • Share2.1K
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 17 Gorgeous Equestrian Outfit Ideas for Women
    • 15 Fantastic Pictures of Horse's Jumping to Make You Smile
    • Pros and Cons of Braiding Your Horse's Mane or Tail
    • 10 Things to Do with Your Horse That Aren't Riding
    • 30 Stunning Pictures of White Horses You Must See

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    2.3K shares
    • 2.1K

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy