There are certain injuries that might mean that the horse’s vet suggests a period of ‘box rest’, where the owner is advised to confine the horse to a stable for a period of time. The key things when planning how to feed a horse on box rest are keeping the horse sane, contented and meeting his nutritional needs. Feeding a horse on box rest a diet meant for a competition or working horse could result in excess energy, behavioural issues and health problems.
The horse on box rest needs to eat little and often in order to keep its digestive system functioning correctly. Providing hay not only helps meet the horse’s need to continually graze, it also helps to keep the horse occupied and provides the horse with the fibre he needs. Hay can be fed from the floor or from a net, and the way its provided is largely down to the horse owner’s personal preference and the condition of the horse. If the horse on box rest is a little larger than he should be, using small holed nets can help as the horse will still be consuming hay, but at a slower rate.
Soaking hay helps to reduce the calories that the horse consumes whilst still providing the fibre that the horse needs. Soaking the hay also reduces dust. Make sure the horse is drinking plenty of water during box rest, even if that means that you need to be more creative, such as adding a little apple juice to a bucket of water, adding apples and making feeds wet.
However, the horse may need a little more than just forage as he could be missing out on important vitamins, minerals and more. A supplement may be required to provide the horse with the vitamins and minerals that he or she requires. Prebiotics, probiotics and yeast can all help to maintain a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the hindgut in a time of stress or even after treatment. Using a broad spectrum supplement with additional ingredients to support gut health could be a good way forward.
Alongside forage, you may wish to give the horse a feed that is high in fibre and low in starch and energy. This will be kinder on the digestive system and helps to avoid the horse having too much excess energy. Overfeeding can cause excitability and stress so feeds should be kept to a minimal amount and fed in small amounts several times a day, ideally wet.
If you have a horse on box rest and you’re unsure about what to feed him, consult your vet or speak to one of the free nutritional helplines provided by many feed companies. If your horse shows signs that suggest your current feeding regime isn’t working for him, it’s best to seek help immediately to reduce the impact of the issue.