Do Jolly Balls work?

Question

my horse is getting bored in his field and has resulted to pulling off the siding of the barn and windsucking. we are looking for a companion but for now i'd like to keep him entertained. i was thinking a jolly ball, but i'm not sure they work or not.

Answer 1

The ones you put treats in work wonderfully so long as you keep changing the treats to keep it different and interesting.

I used to use them but the dogs at my yard used to get to them before the horse!

I used to put small bits of carrot and apple in, then turnip, then watermellon in the summer, then i used to buy the treats, just keep alternating and changing so they dont get boring.

Heres a link http://www.feedem.co.uk/horse-117/horse-...

Answer 2

Honestly, I've never really seen that many horses that really really like the jolly balls.  I got one for my late TB gelding and he seemed to play with it -- I'd hang it up, and he'd bump it around with his nose or rear for a while.  Right now, at our barn, there's two horses that have hanging jolly balls (one being my easily bored Haflinger gelding) but neither of them really play with the toy.

What I found really works with my Haffie is the Amazing Graze.  It's a rolling toy, and I put treats inside, and they fall out.  He gets excited about that one, whereas with the jolly ball, he could really care less.

Answer 3

It depends on the horse! some horses love it, but other just ignore it.

I would suggest a l**k-It instead. But you would have to figure out a way to hang it in the field.....

A companion would be the BEST thing, but if that's not possible, then make sure you spend lots of time with him!

Good luck!

Answer 4

I heard that jolly balls are great but iv heard Lik-it works better evan in the stall. I am actully going to get a couple of lik its this winter for my 2 horses.  

Answer 5

I think it depends on your horse. I have decided that mine are a miserable bunch - they won't even answer when other horses neigh at them when they pass and won't use likkits.

I bought a jolly ball for one who was on stall rest - he ignored it, I have now tried it with all 3 of them and all that happens is that it gets pooed on !

If you have a playful type horse then you may have more luck. I saw a lot of horses at the livery yard had those odd shaped ones with the treats in and tongue twister likkits etc.

Answer 6

It really depends. We have a huge range of horses on our farm and all of them grew bored with it. Only the younger ones I train seem to take a liking to it (although like I mentioned before, their liking fades).  

Answer 7

Buy you horse a goat for company. Jolly balls work but only for a little while then they get board of them to.

Answer 8

A Jolly ball will help, but if your horse is already cribbing you might want to look into a cribbing coller. Once a horse starts cribbing don't stop(there are exceptions but rare). The best is to getting a stable mate. If you can't afford a horse, a goat works well. They are cheaper to buy and care for. Luck

Answer 9

They do work. But only if the horse want to play with it. I have had better success at getting a horse to play with the scented ones.

For now though you might want to put a cribbing collar on him to get him to quit. You can also put a good coating of No Chew on the fence and barn to help get him to leave it alone.  

Answer 10

I got one a year ago for a then 2 year old.  He ignored it and prefers to play with his water bucket (puts his whole face in and blows bubbles).  I also tried it out with my 13 year old playful and mouthy gelding, but he ignored it too.

Answer 11

my horse liked them at first but after awile he got bored of them... try those things tht are a l**k it and a jolly ball connected and hang it on the rail or something...

Answer 12

Yes, sometimes. It depends on the horse and his/her personality. I know a gelding, Hidalgo, who is in his stall a lot and he gets bored. We gave him a jolly ball, and he loved it! On the other hand, though, my horse, Poet, hates them. She's playful with me, but she doesn't really like toys made for horses. I gave her one, and she just kicked it out from underneath the stall to the horse next to her to get it out of her space. (But, Poet is little Miss Prissy, so it might just be her that doesn't like them =D ) But, you can try it. They're not that expensive, and if he doesn't like it, you can give it to another horse that might be getting bored, so that you don't waste it. :) Good luck!  

Answer 13

well at my barn for the biggest horse in the barn is like 9 yrs old n get really hiper s****.>
                            they put a jolly ball hanging from the roof !!!!! i loved the idea if ur horse gets hiper or bored i would get 1 for my horse when i get my horse so i would suggest it or u can put ur horse in da pasture