Five Tips for Bored & Stressed Horses

JoJo loves treats and knows how to be sweet and silly so he can get as many as possible!

Do your horses get bored in the stall or corral?

Honestly- what horse wouldn’t? It can be tough for horses to pass the time in a corral when they are used to pasture. But you can make the corral a fun place to be for your horses with these five tips.

Tip 1: Get out on the trails!

This one seems obvious, but don’t pass up a chance to explore the hundreds of miles of trails with your horse at Hay Creek Ranch. They’ll return ready to take it easy in the corral.

Tip 2: Grooming

Spend extra time grooming your horses to help with boredom. Grooming helps strengthen your bond with your horse, and helps with their overall health too! If you forgot your brushes at home, feel free to borrow one from the tack barn at Hay Creek Ranch. You could also hang up a scratch pad like this, which could quickly become your horse’s new favorite thing.

Tip 3: Mesh Hay Nets

Putting your horse’s hay in these small nets will help them consume it slower than if it was served loose. Find some here.

Tip 4: Toys

Your horse will love having a toy or two to play with. Try a Jolly Ball like this. The reviews for this thing are awesome!

Tip 5: Essential Extras & Treats

Hanging salt licks - hang one on the corral bar for a nice alternative to sweet horse treats.

Got a particularly anxious horse? This clay stress relief powder could really help. Read more about it here.

And my favorite boredom buster? An Uncle Jimmy’s Hangin’ Ball! Horses just love these balls of grain, flavored with molasses and apple. See it in action here on Instagram. Hangin’ Balls are available in the gift shop at Hay Creek Ranch, along with Grand Mash, a nutritious supplemental meal to help your horse recover from a long ride.

Charlie and JoJo share an Uncle Jimmy’s Hangin’ Ball in the corrals.

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