Box walking happens for a reason

Most horse stables are 3m x 3m. This is a relatively small space for horses, especially if horses were used to staying outside 24/7 in the summer and having plenty of room. Additionally, the feed suddenly changes from grass to hay, the horse no longer has a choice in what it eats, everything is wet, and there may be a horse next to them that they wouldn't choose to be with in the pasture.

These are all reasons why a horse can feel overwhelmed and stressed. The transition from pasture to stable period is often very sudden because the weather in the Netherlands usually changes suddenly. So one day the horse is grazing outside 24/7, and the next day the horse is suddenly inside from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am. It's not surprising that horses get upset and restless. If your horse is restless in the stable, realize that there is always a reason for this. Possible reasons could be:

• Feeling unsafe in a small (enclosed) space
• Incorrect or insufficient feeding
• Lack of free movement
• Incompatible neighbor horses
• Restlessness in the stable

Do not consider it a stable vice

Box walking is often seen as a stable vice, it is often mentioned in the same breath as weaving and crib-biting. But do not consider it as a stable vice, it is actually your horse's way of indicating that it is not feeling well. Therefore, look for solutions to make your horse happier, rather than ways to "punish" or block the box walking.

Look for solutions for your horse

Your horse is not box walking to annoy you or the stable owner. It is truly an expression of discomfort. Therefore, it is important to identify the cause. Ideally, these horses would have access to more free movement, so that they feel less confined. Half a day outside sounds like a lot, but still means 20 hours in the stable. Unfortunately, this is not possible everywhere, but consider talking to the stable owner to find solutions or look for another place for your horse. In any case, go for walks with your horse. For example, on a snack walk.

Also, critically analyze the feeding, a horse should not go longer than 4 hours without food to prevent gastric ulcers. But for some horses, even that is too long, so provide more roughage or use straw as bedding so the horse can still browse. Also, make sure the neighboring horses are a good match. The wrong horses next to them can also cause a lot of stress. Some horses also don't like it when it's very noisy in the stable. For example, if horses walk a lot along the stable corridor, or if many owners/caretakers are constantly coming and going. Then place these horses at the back of a stable corridor, where there is less commotion.

Supplements will make little difference

Of course, there are supplements that can be used for stress. These are based on herbs (chamomile and passionflower), but also on cannabinoids. Magnesium chelate can contribute to stress relief. But a supplement is symptomatic treatment and will never be the solution to the real cause of stress.

To solve box walking, it is essential to first determine the cause and then remove that cause. This will help the horse release stress and relax. And of course, in that final step, supplements can be used to help the horse process and release it. Box walking can be prevented or resolved, but often this requires a change in management or even relocation to a different location.