Box rest/field pen rest

I kept one in a pen that size all summer a few years ago. It didn't get churned up and the horse was happy and settled. He was there dieting so was fed a variety of forage to keep him occupied and keep the weight coming off. There was def grass coming through, he just ate it as soon as it did so it wasn't visible. It was the perfect size to prevent stupidity and I had no issues with honing about, so from my point of view I think it would work.
 
I kept mine in a paddock about 4 times the size of his stable for nearly 2 months before having to change paddocks. It was a dry summer and he had a big hedge to nibble on too which may have helped. I certainly think it is doable. He did come in at nights though as I wouldn’t have trusted him for the whole night not to break out of his electrified prison!
Yes the bringing in and out can be hair raising but they soon get used to the routine and his acrobatics were nothing compared to what we saw when I had to walk him in hand straight from his box! It really took the edge off him!
 
Michen said:
Ok think I nay need to find somewhere else :( just asked and they can’t section off any of the field so it’s either pen or a half acre.

Gutted as it was 5 mins away and will be perfect for when he’s turned away but more important he’s somewhere that works for him than is close to me.
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I would:

Take the half acre and leave him out full time.

Buy a battery energiser, some five foot temporary posts and some electric tape. Tape up the half acre so that there is no more than a ten metre run in a straight line. Loads of pattern options for this, the fence does not have to loop back to itself, you can have dead end spurs all over the place.

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ycbm said:
I would:

Take the half acre and leave him out full time.

Buy a battery energiser, some five foot temporary posts and some electric tape. Tape up the half acre so that there is no more than a ten metre run in a straight line. Loads of pattern options for this, the fence does not have to loop back to itself, you can have dead end spurs all over the place.

.
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I would do this too. There was a diagram somewhere, showing a similar size paddock with a diamond in the middle, 4 compartments round the edge and a X shape where they met, so the horse had to go from one compartment to the next at walk, like a kissing gate arrangement, but static.

At least he has a range of places to go, plenty to eat, hopefully shelter at the field edge.
 
when I had one with suspensory injury vet said he could go out in a very small pen like a large stable size, he started off ok but then he would just stand there rearing the whole time so I gave up putting him out, I ended up taping off the concrete outside my stables for him so he could be out for a bit and be calm he was much calmer stood on that with a hay net, the small pen in the field just blew his brain and I only put him out while I was there so I can watch what there doing.

I wouldn't want to leave a horse out in such a small space unattended for so long that is esentally meant to be kept relatively still and calm it's too risky
 
Is the pen in the half acre paddock? Could you use electric fencing to gradually increase the area. Start with a bubble from the gate to the pen and gradually expand into whatever shape works. that way his area increases as he gets further into the rehab period and fresh grass should help keep him occupied.
 
I don't think they want the paddock splitting up guys :(, they said they can't make the paddocks any smaller.

I'll figure something out!
 
I bought a vet hospital pen which could be moved everyday. It was very expensive but I knew she couldn't get out of it and she was stabled at night. We had months of this recovering from fractured splint bone surgery.
 
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