Back to work after box rest

Soph&Dushy

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My horse has been on box rest for about a month now with a really bad abscess. Her shoe is going back on soon so will be giving her a week in the field just to regain some basic fitness, whilst still coming in a night, then I'm going to do a week or so of walking on roads. I was just wondering if any one had any advice on where to go after that to ease her back to fitness? Before the box rest she was moderately fit, ridden 4 times a week and competed regularly at jumping and dressage. Thanks!
 
My horse has just had a month off with a severe bruising on his front left hoof. He was turned out during the time it took to heal. I started riding him again last tuesday and I've ridden him every other day. I just walked and trotted him in a soft, springy field and we're going on a hack tonight.

I'd just start off very slowly and build it up when you see she's getting fitter.

Good luck
 
No help really with getting her back to fitness but if she has been on strict box rest for a month I would ask the vet for some Sedalin for the first few days she goes back out in the field. Don't know if you are on a livery yard or not but if you are I would also ask the YM if you could have a small individual turn out paddock for the first few days (whilst your horse is sedated).

I find that once they have been turned back out, provided your field is a resonable size that they get themselves fit enough to do light work (which I class what she was doing before the box rest).
 
Ah thank you all, I'm actually dreading the hacking as she's so spooky and with lots of energy and only being able to walk it will be a nightmare :o( The sedation sounds like a good idea too! I think I'll have to confine the trotting to the school though as she's a weedy thoroughbred type and can't go pounding up and down roads. There's a nice hill I can trot up on the way home once she's fit enough though ;o) does any one recommend lunging at all after a few weeks?
 
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