Box rest for 3 months- help preserving sanity please

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Bright_Spark

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Amber has to have 3 months of box rest and seeing as she gets cranky after a week I would love some ideas to help keep her sane.

The first 3 weeks she has to stay in, after that she has walks twice a day building up from 15 to 45 minutes.

Her stable is at the end of the stable block, so she has a stable by the entrace made up for her to go into during the day. Jethro is in next to her for a few days (he is a fat bloater at the moment) and the others will be coming in on shift patterns to keep her company.

As she is naughty with putting her bridle on and having oral pastes, I'm thinking of using this time to get her used to having these things done and anything else I can think of.
 
If you don't use a calmer at the moment I would consider introducing one to her food, just to reduce any distress and stress from being kept in, companions are a good idea, and maybe stable toys and quiet background music. Sounds like you have an ideal opportunity to do some quiet ground work with her which will keep her brain working
 
When Amy was on box rest long term the key for her (and all of them I think), was routine, routine, routine.

I would go up three times a day - always at the same time. She had a radio on (radio 2 of course), and ad lib hay. I don't do toys, so she didn't have any of those.

People on the yard would always stop by to say hello to her - but she is very laid back anyway so took it all in her stride.

Good luck - I don't think it's ever as bad as we think it's going to be, but obviously we worry about it.
 
From experience the first few days are the worse!! But then you get into a routine and life improves!

My old horse was on box rest for months following a fractured elbow and had a similar walking programme to you once we were able to get out of the stable!!

The key to our box rest success was loads and loads of hay - some in nets with carrots stuffed in and some on the floor to stretch her neck into a more natural grazing position.

The radio was great....she had it on in her stable all day. My girl was a radio 2 fan too!! (We did try other stations, but that was her preferred one!)

You will be surprised, your neddy will soon get into the swing of things and settle down!

Good luck!

HM
 
Most horses adapt after a week or so (my horse has been in for nearly 4months now)
Is it possible to arrange for her to have hay in small amounts throughout the day - gives her something to look forward to
I seriously recommend a calmer - mine is on Magic and Hilton Herbs Rest and Rehabilitation
Lots of attention - grooming etc
You can try some of those lik-it things or snack balls, but beware too much movement or excitment if she has a limb injury
 
You poor thing but trust me 3 months does go quicker than you think and they do get used to it.

Ditto with regards to hay and hiding carrots etc in there but our chap loves his stable toys too so alternated between a couple of different ones. His fav is the ball he kicks around (cant think of its proper name) but we dont put nuts in, we cut up carrots, apples, swede etc and he loves it!!
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Also, his calmer helped loads!
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Thanks everyone, some great ideas there.

I'll definatly be getting her on a calmer then!

She has hay and haylage in 2 small-holed nets (one of each) and a bin of hay, topped up when required, carrots in the stable and on string. Feed is split into 4 and she has buckets of readigrass in between meals.

I had though about toys although she doesnt like the lickets and will probably trash a treat ball. I like your idea about the veg though Zoeandoscar. Might have to try her with one. Was thinking get her one of those jolly balls (?) that she can throw around.

Just need to sort out the radio for her (its at the other end of the stable block. We have a small tv up there too so she can have that on some days
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Mine has been in for just over two months now with no end in sight, and she had a bad patch a couple of weeks ago. She started getting really worked up and anxious, and looked really depressed. She is now on So Kalm powder, I stuck her on NAF Pink Powder as soon as she started rest and I'm sure it's helped her keep condition on and helped her gut to adapt to its new regime. She has ad-lib hay (proper ad-lib, she always has at least some there) and three meals a day. I agree with Amymay that routine is the key, once yours settles into her new life it won't be so bad, but the first few days can be awful. Mine also loves her Snak-a-Ball, and believe me it would take a malicious Shire horse to trash one of those! Even Maiden, who insists on stamping on hers, hasn't damaged it yet (and she's a big girl!) The usual tricks of hiding carrots around the stable, in the haynet etc. are always good ones, as is hanging up a swede and/or jolly ball thing. I don't like likits and such as they have faaaaar too much sugar in, but apparently Brinicombe Equine have made a sugar-free likit that I'm going to buy at Badminton and see if Maiden likes it.
I have found the hardest thing to do is keep my own sanity, if I have an off-day it makes Maiden ten times more moody than I am. Lots of cuddles and attention are good, and keep smiling and the horse will too!
Good luck, it'll fly by!
 
Thanks - the veg I think is a much healthier, and cheaper way of filling his ball. We have got a veg slicer which cuts everything into batons in no time (aka the finger slicer!)and it has cut our "ball preparation" time down no end!
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Oh you poor thing, what's happened to her?

If she can be allowed out into the yard for 15 mins (while you're mucking out for example) you could put some carrots, apples, swede etc on the floor and let her whiffle about for the pieces. We did this with our old tb who was in for three months and he loved pottering about the yard finding the bits! Gave him a bit of light relief from the four walls and wasn't strenous on his poorly leg.
 
Jags is a crank after a day or so in - if he soesn't get out to stretch!

He has been on box rest for 6weeks and then when he had strangles that went on for months!!!
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The key as everyone says is routine... Jags also LOVED his snakaball it was a god send... TBH there was nothing else I did - hid a few carrots around the stable but they were gone in seconds anyway....

They do adapt extremely well - just watch out for the walking in hand... Jags would NEVER kick me but on his last walk out (the morning I flew to Egypt) he double barrelled me in the shoulder as he spooked and took advantage and yeeharred - his face was picture once his hooves were back on the ground... "oh s**t" was the expressions!!!
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I ended up going on holiday with a HUGE black bruise on my shoulder/back not after I'd cuddled him to death before leaving - silly s*d.

Anyways... hope she adpats well. Calmer may be a help but would see how it goes first. x
 
Thanks again everyone.

Henery1997 she had an op to remove a bone fragment from her hock. For 3 weeks she has to be stabled so am only moving her between stables. I would like to fence her off a small area she can go out in but that depends on how she behaves. She can be very excitable (broncs ove 5ft in the stable
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) and I dont want her to hurt herself any more.
 
If you can give her a little area outside the stable to relieve the monotony of being inside, that is a good thing. It saved Clyde's sanity being outside. Also, saved on bedding! Tut tut, the rest of you for advising radio 2! It has to be Classic FW, surely?
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A stable mirror was my solution when my horse was on box rest, it was a miracle. you can get them on ebay for about £25 make sure they are pre drilled and put them quite high on a solid wall. He still loves it and the first place he goes to every time he enters his stable , just to check how his friend is
 
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