Argh! 12 weeks box rest- how to cope??!!

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Tamski

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My sensible cob has somehow managed to fracture and subluxate a vertebrae in his neck. We're assuming he fell over in the field- numpty!

So he's on 12 weeks box rest and is to be kept as immobile as possible. So hay in a net not off he floor. Raise his water and feed buckets. You get the picture. So how can I make this as "enjoyable" as possible for him?

The only thing I can think of is getting him a stable mirror. No treat balls allowed. No grazing in hand. Obv I can pick him some grass but have you guys got any wonderful ideas on how I can keep him slightly more amused for three months!!!

Absolutely gutted but at least the long term prognosis is very good.

:-((
 
I feed hay at ground level in a large bucket - perhaps you could tie it to the door to prevent him tugging from a net?

haytub.jpg


Otherwise - plenty of visits and grooming/company.

Get well soon :(
 
Mine has done 7 weeks now, 5 more total box rest to go, then he can start walking out, it has been hard he is getting better pain wise so feels that the odd buck, squeal and launch into orbit is not going to hurt:eek:

I am feeding 4 times a day, as well as the odd carrot, parsnip, very popular, redigrass to chew on, he has adlib haylage plus some hay for variety and I generally find he is either eating or snoozing, luckily I have no weight issues he needs to gain a little and if he gets too fat it will not matter for him, he is not that greedy and once back in work it will soon come off.

I keep one other in all the time, they take it in turns, so he is never alone, they do adjust and I find less stimulation the better, things like treat balls can lead to them getting to frustrated when they really need to chill and relax, a mirror if it works is a great idea, a friend uses one and it really helped her mare cope being in alone.

Just to add, I did get some sedalin and have used it a few times when he has got over excited, a tiny amount has really helped him come back down to earth, I did not like the idea of sedating him and would not want to use it too much but if it keeps them safe it is worth it, ask your vet for some in case of emergency.
 
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Hilton Herbs Special Calmer (not the VF variety!) the only thing thats seriously helped any of mine when they are on enforced rest (and me who had to handle/walk them!)
 
Thankfully he's incredibly laid back and not bothered about being in on his own. It's more things to do in the stable. Some nice treats etc.

Going to ask the vet about massage pads ets.

Also any supplements that will aid healing? Anybody have any experience with comfrey for fractures?
 
Is he at livery? Do you work full time?

My boy has been on box rest since Sept. Luckily I have him at home and divide his feed/hay up into five feeds a day which I think helps. He alss has lots to look at ie chickens, guinea fowl (the clowns of the fowl family) kittens and dogs. The only treat he gets is a swede a day. He doesn't have equine company which is a downside. I do try to do a bit of massage daily, makes me feel good!

Do remember that horses live in the moment and you are more likely to be stressed than he is.
 
A few years ago my mare was on box rest for 8 long months, she wasn't even allowed out of her stable. I hung 4 small haynets in different places around her stable and would visit her 4 times a day. I groomed her a lot and also did clicker training.
 
My old cob was on box rest for 6 months after fracturing his pedal bone in the field. He had loads of hay and lots of company, he was placed on the yard where lots of people passed him so he got to see what was going, towards the end of this time he went out in a field shelter with a tiny pen around which was slowly widenend, so he could have grass and potter around - it was no bigger than 2-3 metres square. It certainly kept him sane. Good luck with his recovery.
 
Tamski said:
My sensible cob has somehow managed to fracture and subluxate a vertebrae in his neck. We're assuming he fell over in the field- numpty!

So he's on 12 weeks box rest and is to be kept as immobile as possible. So hay in a net not off he floor. Raise his water and feed buckets. You get the picture. So how can I make this as "enjoyable" as possible for him?

The only thing I can think of is getting him a stable mirror. No treat balls allowed. No grazing in hand. Obv I can pick him some grass but have you guys got any wonderful ideas on how I can keep him slightly more amused for three months!!!

Absolutely gutted but at least the long term prognosis is very good.

:-((
Click to expand...

My boy is on box rest I upped his calmer

here check this list out might be something for you in it.

http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/horses-on-box-rest.html




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My horse spent 10 weeks cross tied at the vets after fracturing his leg - and he coped amazingly well. He wasn't allowed treats so just had constant supplies of hay and his feeds 3 times a day.

He was in a big barn with lots of other horsey patients coming and going - and seemed quite happy to just watch all the goings on.

When he came home he did another 4 months box rest !
 
Op, your vet is the person to be helping you. They have a box of tricks for box resting horses. I used a product called Vetplus Calmex with much success. Bromide is also useful. If you have problems don't hesitate to speak to your vet. You should not just be left to get on with it.

Even though your horse is a peaceful type as the days tick by even the most placid of horses will become frustrated. You explained he needs to be kept as immobile as possible to aid recovery, that will become ever more tricky as time goes by.

Adlib hay is a must and make sure you are watching his droppings like a hawk, colic is a major risk to immobile horses. Sticking to a routine is a must to allow the horse to settle and rest.
 
My 2 year old had to have 8 weeks box rest recently, having lived out all his life. I thought he would be awful but actually he completely switched off. He only got emotional when he started being allowed out to graze in hand, it woke him up!
 
Horses live in real time, it is the owner that puts human reasoning into the horse.

The horse does not stand in its stable thinking - god I've been in here for 6 weeks, 3 days and 10 hours. That is what we as the owner is thinking.

As long as we ensure the horses natural needs are met, ie allow trickle feeding, keep the gut moving and provide a peaceful environment with excellent air flow the horse will cope. Obviously some muscle mass will be lost, but at 10 or 12 weeks inside it will barely be noticeable.

At least it is the depths of a rotten winter for the OP's injured horse.
 
my old TB fractured her splint bone in the field and spent 5 months on box rest. I was dreading it as previously she used to go nuts if she heard other horses out in the field (was behind her stable) and would box walk when she got stressed out. Thankfully her box rest was over winter so most of the other horses were in a lot of the time and she was rarely the only one in which helped keep her calm. I hid carrots all over her stable and in her haynets too. Split her feed into 4 feeds a day and asked friends to give them to her while I was at work. Everyone made a lot of fuss of her too so I didn't feel too guilty for leaving her all day while I was at work!

I found a site that did herbal remadies and they made up a special mix for her containing relaxing herbs and bone healing ones too, I can't remember the name of the site or all of the herbs in the mix but it definitely contained comfrey for bone healing and camamile as one of the relaxing ones I think. TBH I don't know if it was the herbal mix that helped or if it was everything else but she did stay calm and the vet was very pleased with how she healed. She made a full recovery although I have to admit we bypassed the in hand walking stage of her rehab becuase every time I tried she ended up getting so excited she bolted or kicked me, or kicked a car, or a dog... So with my vet's help we sedated her and turned her out in a smallish field, she bucked, rolled and pranced about for about 5 mins then got stuck in with grazing. This took the edge off enough for me to actually walk her without damaging anything!
 
3 months will soon go although thinking about it seems forever :(:( When my mare was on forced boxrest I used to put carrots in her haynets, feed little and often to break up her day and I've recently discovered forage blocks which I now give her in a bucket over her stable door on a daily basis.

I think a stable mirror is also a good idea, my girl had the snack ball but that won't work for your boy.

Luckily my girl loves being groomed so I also groomed her as much as possible and the McTimoney practitioner I use gave me some massage and stretching techniques. Not sure whether these will be ok for your boy or not?

Hope he's soon on the mend :)
 
Thanks all for your ideas.

Im going to have a chat with my vet later on and run a few ideas past her.

I think that fibre blocks will be a good option for him and ive seen that Feedmark do a Comfrey supplement so I'll give them a ring later.

Obviously I'll watch him like a hawk for any colic symptoms as I posta pony last year with colic and dont want to go there again!

Thankfully I'm at home all day and can see him out the window so will just keep popping out to give him a scratch and a carrot throughout the day.

Good luck to all the others with horses that are recuperating!
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On the good side no more mud! On the more serious side I'm sorry about your poor horse but at least the prognosis is good :) my horse is the king of box rest probably having spent a third of his life with me on box rest injured! I play it by ear he copes well for a fair time. Always make sure he has company (I have moved yards twice temporarily to provide company in the day). If possible can you split his feeds onto lots of little feeds to break up his day? Mine gets lunch as extra as I was physically able to get to him at that time! Children are good at pulling grass if you have a few handy?! Good luck, it will fly by x
 
be positive said:
Be careful with the comfrey, glenruby posted on a thread last night about losing 2 horses that were poisoned by it, it is toxic.
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This ^ You can apply comfrey oil to the affected area instead of feeding it, this is what I do and you don't need much, plus it's much cheaper. If you put too much on the hair starts to fall out!
 
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