Box rest question

[Flying_Form]

Just a quick question about box rest - I have a horse who broke his splint bone last month and was prescribed approx 3 months box rest.

He’s done a month so far. Horse is a total saint and has been taking confinement very well but I really do feel quite bad for him being in so long. I was wondering about giving him a slightly bigger space or is it too risky?

I have foaling boxes at my yard which are a lot larger than a traditional stable - about 3 times bigger. I was wondering if it’d be okay to move him there for 20 or so minutes each day with plenty of hay while I muck out his bed, do his hay nets, waters etc for a change of scenery? I know him quite well so he wouldn’t go bonkers, however would the potential for him to have more room to walk around in the new space a lot more be bad? Vet is coming back out at the 2 month mark to reassess, so can wait until then to see if it’s a bad idea, but just want to hear people’s thoughts. I know most people are against box rest if it’s soft tissue and I certainly understand that and from (lots of!!) experience i agree, but bone is new to me and seems to be a different kettle of fish!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Personally I don’t think I’d risk it unless my vet thought it would be a good idea.

Its take two years for farans splint to start flattening out and his leg not to look like I’ve stuck a golf ball under the skin. What yours has done is worse so unless the vet was onboard with it I wouldn’t risk it. Broken bones are to be messed with

 

[SO1]

How long is the walk to the other stable? Homey my previous pony had a broken splint bone. He was box rest for 8 weeks but it ended up being 12. He had a huge bandage on during his box rest which the vet had to come and change every week.

I think best person to ask is your vet.

 

[Flying_Form]

Personally I don’t think I’d risk it unless my vet thought it would be a good idea.

Its take two years for farans splint to start flattening out and his leg not to look like I’ve stuck a golf ball under the skin. What yours has done is worse so unless the vet was onboard with it I wouldn’t risk it. Broken bones are to be messed with

I think I just need to get over myself and know that even though it feels cruel it’s for the better! Majority of mine are out between 8AM and 8PM, the rest 24/7 turnout so I just feel so sad for him, but I don’t want to make things worse and draw it out any longer for him so I won’t take the risk.

 

[Flying_Form]

How long is the walk to the other stable? Homey my previous pony had a broken splint bone. He was box rest for 8 weeks but it ended up being 12. He had a huge bandage on during his box rest which the vet had to come and change every week.

I think best person to ask is your vet.

It’s only a 10 second walk, it’s a few stable doors down but I think I will let him heal up for another month and when the vet comes down to reassess ask. He’ll be the one with the most reliable answer while the x rays are in front of him!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I think I just need to get over myself and know that even though it feels cruel it’s for the better! Majority of mine are out between 8AM and 8PM, the rest 24/7 turnout so I just feel so sad for him, but I don’t want to make things worse and draw it out any longer for him so I won’t take the risk.

When my boy was on box rest for lami for nearly 4months the furthest he went was to the tie up are ten stars from his stable door and he was full booted and padded twice a day. So I totally get the feeling bad thing

 

[Goldenstar]

Mine who broke the splint bone and had surgery did three months box in a small 8 by 12 stable .
She then moved into a foaling box.
I would not move him out of his stable without speaking to the vet .

 

[Equi]

With bones I would be a lot more hesitant to do anything other than what your are currently doing without the express ok from the vet.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Personally I would leave him where he is. Mine had a few months on box rest last year. Once she had settled she was kind of resigned to it and healed well. I spent as much time with her as I could. I think if I had moved her we would have had to start again with settling in so best to leave well alone.

Wishing your horse a speedy and complete recovery OP. X

 

[AppyLover1996]

I would leave him where he is my lovely - you don't want to go and encourage too much movement on an already compromised part of the body x I totally understand how you feel bad - when Baggs my retired lad blew a tendon I felt awful keeping him in, but had to keep reminding myself that soon enough he'd be back out with his mates x Maybe ask the vet when they come to do their next check about moving him into a bigger box once these 3 months are up? x

 

[Red-1]

I hate box rest with a passion. I can understand if the horse is immobilised, cross tied or in a sling, but a horse loose in a box is walking around. Walking around in tight circles to boot, if the box is small. I find that they have other issues with such a confined space, such as creaky hocks, at the end of it.

I would do nothing without consulting the vet but a 10 second walk to a slightly bigger box whilst you sort the stable out for 20 minutes seems very reasonable to me. Especially as you won't then be moving the horse over to muck out within the same small space. Mucking out can be more complete then, making thrush less likely and avoiding dust. But only if you are confident that the horse will walk politely and be equally as calm in the different box. I presume the leg is bandaged for protection.

BUT, I would, of course, consult the vet before changing anything, and accept that there is extra risk.

 

[khalswitz]

Personally, if he’s settled I wouldn’t risk it.

Instead I’d focus on enrichment. For my girl, she had treats hidden in her haynets to encourage foraging behaviour, she had a water buffet with buckets flavoured with molasses, apple juice and with floating apples for her to dook for alongside her normal water, she had hanging lickits, a stable mirror, equilibrium munch nets, a drip feed ball, etc and I spent time every day clicker training her and doing things like carrot stretches.

If he’s coping mentally and physically, I honestly wouldn’t rock the boat when it comes to the stable.

 

[Flying_Form]

Personally I would leave him where he is. Mine had a few months on box rest last year. Once she had settled she was kind of resigned to it and healed well. I spent as much time with her as I could. I think if I had moved her we would have had to start again with settling in so best to leave well alone.

Wishing your horse a speedy and complete recovery OP. X

I will be leaving him as is - he’s settled and coping well, and has plenty of enrichment. I guess it’s just extra time to spend with him and bond with him on the ground! Thank you x

 

[Flying_Form]

I would leave him where he is my lovely - you don't want to go and encourage too much movement on an already compromised part of the body x I totally understand how you feel bad - when Baggs my retired lad blew a tendon I felt awful keeping him in, but had to keep reminding myself that soon enough he'd be back out with his mates x Maybe ask the vet when they come to do their next check about moving him into a bigger box once these 3 months are up? x

Thank you, I will be leaving him as is and when the vet comes out I’ll mention it. Even if it’s something he could do further down the line x

 

[Flying_Form]

Personally, if he’s settled I wouldn’t risk it.

Instead I’d focus on enrichment. For my girl, she had treats hidden in her haynets to encourage foraging behaviour, she had a water buffet with buckets flavoured with molasses, apple juice and with floating apples for her to dook for alongside her normal water, she had hanging lickits, a stable mirror, equilibrium munch nets, a drip feed ball, etc and I spent time every day clicker training her and doing things like carrot stretches.

If he’s coping mentally and physically, I honestly wouldn’t rock the boat when it comes to the stable.

He has lots of enrichment - he’s got Likit holders, treat balls, hay feeders at different levels and gets lots of love throughout the day from myself and a friend he is coping well so I won’t risk it and wait and see with the vets. Thank you!