Box rest advice abd vibes please

rlhnlk

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Hi people

I know this is more vetinary than CR, but I'm hoping there are more people on here who can help.

My Tb mare came in tonight with a nasty gash running around the bulb her heel and down through her coronet band and stopped by the wall of her hoof, I've had the vet out who says she has been v lucky and its just soft tissue, so 3 stitches later she is fairly pathced up.

Problem is she has NEVER been box-rested before. She is clingy with my other 2 horses aswell so is going to be hysterical when they go out. I'm putting a grill up so she cant get out but has anyone got any ideas to make things more bearable for her?

Also, what are peoples opinions of equillibrium turnout chaps, the ones that go under the hoof. Apparently she can go out for the second stage of healing if I can keep the bandage underneath clean and dry so was wondering about these, or any other ideas are welcome.

Finally can I have some vibes for her to get well soon please.
 
awww I h8 box rest ... mi horse chipped is navicular bone and popped a splint at da same time so was on box rest for nearly 3 months
frown.gif
... I found a treat ball kept him occupied for ages and a likit lol
My friend had those turnout equillibrium chaps but both came off in the field:S lmao

Hopes she gets better sone
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Box rest affects them all totally differently and you may be surprised with how she copes. My TB is now into his second month of box rest and I was amazed with how well he has coped with it. He also has a massive pair bond with the horse he goes out with and so I've had to keep something in with him as we are in an american barn with only 5 stables and he was just going mental because he couldn't see anything so we swop the babysitting horses around so he is not on his own.

Tips I've got are:
Haynets tied up in different places around the stable
Dengie lite licks (I've got the respiritory one as my boy picked up a slight cough from being in 24x7)
Bran mash once a week (possibly TMI but my boys poo got a bit too fibrous once he stopped having grass so giving him once a week seems to have kept things flowing through)
Soaked hay

Good Luck!
 
Ok, my boy has been in for 3 months now so im becoming an expert on box rest.

My tips are...

Treat balls are fab (as long as she doesnt get annoyed with it and does more damage to bad leg)

Lickit balls hanging are brillient, my boy goes through the licks like theres no tomorrow but its keeping him sane so i dont mind

Get a swede, make a hole through the middle and hang it from the roof bars or similar

Small holes haynet stuffed with loose hay and hidden carrots, this keep them busy for hours!

A radio on during the day, in my opinion is essential! Keeps them flipping out and thinking they are alone! Also helps them from being spooked by sudden noises

A lunch time snack, my boy looks forward to this all morning and keeps him happy, just a few treats and a sliced up carrot

Apples in the water bowl helps boredom

A good groom everyday to stop them getting itchy from the missed roll in the field. They will get very itchy indoors, with rugs on 24-7.

Keep them supple with carrot stretches and leg stretches etc.

Instead of the little square likits you put on the floor, get a field likit, its huge and it cost the same as the dengie small ones. Lasts for weeks.

I think that might be all of mine, good luck. x
 
Thanks people. The vet has been out again to change the dressing and its much better. Looks like she will be in for about a week altogether, mainly to keep it clean because of where it is.

Unfortunatly she's isn't taking it well. She is ok when the yard is peaceful but if anything is going on she gets stressed and box walks. She isn't interestd in feed other than snatching the odd mouthful of haylage on her way past the pile so I'm hoping she will eat more when all the other horses are in otherwise I'm going to have a toast rack instead of a horse by the end of the week. I can take her for a walk in hand this afternoon so hopefully this will helpher stay a bit calmer.

I put her snak ball in last night and of course she kicked it straight away with her bad foot doh!
 
My chap was the same at the beginning if something was going on outside, hence the radio, it works wonders
smile.gif


Also Magnitude (sp) and Global herbs Box rest have been brillient x
 
I vote for the radio & calmers as well. (I use Betamag from the vet)

Mine has been on box rest for 4 months now & knows what on radio 2 better than the BBC now!

Also make sure there is a bottle of wine at home for those days when it seems like it will never end!
 
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