Anyone else a box rest pessamist?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2009
Messages
6,102
Location
My own planet
Visit site
Ime into my 4th week with another 2 to go before a revist by the vet - and tbh i just think i am going through the motions - why because of the recent explosions we have had when walking him out and i cannot keep him in a paddock without him trying to jump out - and i can only keep him sedated for so long...... feel like crying - he is a het up bottle of fizzy pop and explodes at anything and wont even graze in hand - is it really worth it?
 
Sorry, I'm not aware of the background story, but is there any chance of using a round pen or getting access to one? Its the only thing I can think of. If it's any consolation , I used to look after a very excitable horse on box rest after a tendon op, did all the things he really wasnt supposed to do. I think he's done Badminton 5 times now.
 
Sorry that its not going so well. I'm up at 9 1/2 weeks now and we are off the sedalin and coping ok. Have you cut out or right back on the fizzing up hard feed? They seem to turn a corner and accept it. Sometimes grazing in hand for 1/2 hour a day can help too, it certainly did for our mare.
 
As per this thread I don't agree with box rest either and ended up turning mine away... I'm sure box rest has its place but I do believe it is a question of balance and when the problems box rest is causing (with behavioural changes, high stress and dangerous outbursts etc) outweigh the benefits of resting, I think there is a strong argument for NOT box resting :o :)
 
First off, don't despair. Like Paisley I think you're better off looking at alternatives. Can he see other horses? If he can't, he may need to. If other horses drive him wild, is there a quiet corner on the yard? Would he jump out of a paddock if he had a companion? (I apologise if you've tried all this!) Horses' power of recovery is amazing, they can get over most things even if they don't read the rulebook!
 
He is on hay - soaked and dry for a change - a section of horseage every day -split into 2 - again just for a change - carrots - one of the calming "potions" and a basic chaff that he hardly eats - with either mint or garlic in for a bit of taste.

He is always in "trouble" - even when he is sound - jumping out of fields, hooning round, play fighting - spooking - but when his blood is up - so to speak - forget it - he just goes loopy.

and i am getting the back lash of the loopy stuff - he has "soft tissue damage to the hoof" - so you can see why i just wonder what the point is?

I fell over a couple of weeks ago when walking him out - and he just galloped and galloped and bronked all over the concrete and tarmac, - if he had not been lame in the first place then - he would have been afterwards!
 
I know its heartbreaking - but from my experience they tend to go through the boredom if you leave them to it. I'm not sure grazing in hand is worth it - I always felt it was teasing them a bit and always ended up with an explosion and rush to get them back in the box. It's like some out of your confinement for five minutes and taste the lush grass and feel the sunshine on your back and then 'times up' back to your 12x12 ft stable now. I think it makes the owners feel better than the horses! Personally I've found it better to pick a bit of grass for them and make funny toys - different one every couple of days - to try and keep the brain active.

You don't say what the box rest is for. I would and have done it post a colic op when it is absolutely necessary, but have to admit for mediocre tendon injuries and things I have adopted the approach of 24/7 turnout. It takes longer, but (in my experience) is less likely to go wrong as it heals while being stretched as they walk around throughout the period. I knew a girl who box rested her horse for 8 months for a tendon injury. She started walking it out to stretch / strengthen it and it just exploded and snapped again. She turned him out, he went loop for an hour and then after six months in the field he was fine to start work again.

My 20 year old pony has injured his suspensory ligament. Vet says keep him in, blacksmith says chuck him out. He is unhappy in, he isn't in pain out. So while being sensible - no new paddock friends or loopy neighbours - he is staying out. It works for me and this pony but I appreciate this doesn't work for everyone!

However, you are over half way now - in fact 2/3rds of the way there! .. I'd probably stick with it now. Two weeks will soon go : )

Good luck with it!
 
i've just started my 5th week and i'm thanking my lucky stars my normally crazy redhead seems totally chilled out in his stable. i can walk him out in hand on the end of the leadrope. only twice has he done a little leapy spook in 4wks. i'm meant to do 6wks then just turn him out for 6mths in a tiny paddock but he's gonna go loopy in the paddock - fields are for playing, so i'm actually tempted to keep him in for longer.
 
I really feel for you, my horse fractured his leg 4 yrs ago and was cross tied for 12 weeks, then 6 weeks box rest and it was a nightmare. I think I felt worse than he did! I was supposed to walk him out building up to an hour twice a day, yeah right, he was a loon and we never made it off the yard. In the end I just did my best, walked him up and down the concrete area with a chifney, sedalin and hard hat. Even the sedalin didnt work after a couple of days as he got so excited when I got to the yard. He was allowed turn out in a very small area, I never knew he could turn at such speed. One false move and is leg could shatter is what I was told.
For your own sanity, do the best you can and walk away and try to put him to the back of your mind. Its hard and sounds harsh but it ended up driving me mad. Looking back on it now, its all a distant memory but at the time it was hell.
Keep at it, it will soon be over
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top