Box rest is one of the most challenging periods in a horse’s routine, both for the horse and for those responsible for their care. Whether recovering from an injury, surgery, or dealing with a medical condition that requires strict management, many horses will need box rest at some point in their lives. It is an essential part of equine welfare management, but it can also be stressful, restrictive and difficult to balance with natural equine behaviours and needs.

Bringing a new horse onto a livery yard is always a moment of excitement for owners, but it also carries a degree of responsibility for yard managers. With equine infectious disease cases increasing in the UK in recent years, and awareness rising thanks to initiatives like Redwings’ Stamp Out Strangles campaign and the ongoing reporting through the Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance programme, more yards are rightly prioritising robust new-arrival biosecurity procedures.

Stable vices are an all-too-familiar challenge for horse owners, yard managers, and livery clients. Behaviours such as door kicking, weaving, cribbing, box walking, and nipping over stable doors are often considered minor annoyances, but their impact can be far greater than many realise.