Box rest to turnout - what is your preferred approach?

[LadyGascoyne]

I am so excited that our lovely mare will be able to go out (provided she can prove she can settle) after being on box rest since mid-October.

She is, understandably, a handful at the moment and will definitely throw some shapes when released on parole. Vet has recommended a bit of sedation.

She is currently on livery at a brilliant yard with wonderful, capable staff and a YO who specialises in rehab. It is not inexpensive.

I also have fields and stables at home, so I could build a small pen and then she’d already be where I want her to spend the next fee months of rest- living out and mooching about with friends.

I can think of a few ways to approach the next steps:

1. Leave her on livery and let them turn her out and manage the situation. Then once she’s settled back into the routine of going out, move her home and turn her out 24/7.

2. Bring her home, dope her, turn her out in a small pen. Just bite the bullet and avoid two changes.

3. Bring her home, dope myself, and turn her out in a small pen.

Does anyone have any preferences or alternative thoughts?

I suspect there is no ‘right’ or risk-free way, it’s just one of those things you have to get out of the way but I’d be grateful for the collective wisdom of HHO. I adore this mare and want to give her every chance to come sound.

Eta - she’s being hand-walked once a day and her stable has a pen than she has access to for a few hours a day.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I like to do , handwalking then work up to possibly being in the field on a lunge line initially, every horse I know understandably has a hoolie initially but settles pretty quickly and I just do intervals from there. The pen sounds like a good plan though

 

[AmyMay]

Go for option no. 1 definitely.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I like to do , handwalking then work up to possibly being in the field on a lunge line initially, every horse I know understandably has a hoolie initially but settles pretty quickly and I just do intervals from there. The pen sounds like a good plan though

Sorry, should have said - she’s hand walking once a day and her stable has a pen than she has access to for a few hours a day.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Go for option no. 1 definitely.

I think you’re right, and it will be the less stressful option for me. If you don’t count the frankly terrifying financials.

But, what is another month of baked beans on toast when you have horses.

 

[Clodagh]

Depends on your nerves!
If you can replicate the stable and pen at home, do that for a few days then turn her out in small pen.
If you would rather it wasn’t your responsibility then pay the pros to do it.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Depends on your nerves!
If you can replicate the stable and pen at home, do that for a few days then turn her out in small pen.
If you would rather it wasn’t your responsibility then pay the pros to do it.

Unfortunately our stables are very old and stone, so not as versatile. They are also built in a square around the house so facing away from the fields which looks lovely but I’d need to keep another horse in if she wasn’t to be on her own.

 

[Clodagh]

I would still do that i think, it would only need to be a day or two in then pen. Ideally build 2 pens and Min (or whoever) can go in the second one?

 

[PSD]

I’d go for option one, especially if they’re used to rehabbing horses

 

[Landcruiser]

I'm in exactly the same position with my 3 yr old mare, also box/small pen since Oct, and also currently at an expensive rehab yard in tiny pen plus hand walk daily. My plan is to bring her home, make a pen within my 20 x 20 turnout area, and put her in it. The other two horses will be in the turnout. Then I'll increase the size of her pen gradually over several days until it's about half the turnout (so 20 x 10), before taking down the pen so all 3 are in the 20 x 20 together. A day or so later I'll open up the track leading off, which is 100m long - I'll block it about 30 m up, before expanding that too. I'm lucky that my set up allows this, but I think a gradual expansion rather than a sudden release is much less risky.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would do option 1 as long as they are capable of rehab safely and responsible because if she comes back she will automatically expect to be put out with the others and go back to her normal routine, and when it's all different it's highly stressful for them especially if they won't stay on their own.

I have done it numerous times with success with sedalin and nerves of steel but its not easy, I also find putting them in a pen can make it worse Arabi will just buck and rear and be a complete arse, whereas in his normal environment a bit doped up his fine and I just get him in before he is too awake.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Sorry, should have said - she’s hand walking once a day and her stable has a pen than she has access to for a few hours a day.

Well in that case I agree with @Amymay option 1 seems good

 

[Upthecreek]

Option 1 - get turnout established where she is before moving her home. Should be less exciting than bringing her home and turning her out.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Leave her where she is for a week or so of her first proper turnout then bring her home, dope her enough to take thr edge off and make her woozy but not sparkoed when you turn her put the first day at home and let her wake up in the field.

 

[TheHairyOne]

Last time i had to do this I basically went for your option 1 first.

Small turn out area, drugs and hungry! Routine of coming in and going out established.

Then i brought him home to the herd. Heavily sedated him in the lorry. Lightly sedated the rest of the herd (they are all idiots), turned him out and walked away for half an hour!

All was well thankfully. Its a horrible time though and i feel for you whatever you decide!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Option one looks good then!

I’ll still make up some pens in the field for when she gets home, as a back up. I like the idea of letting her wake up on the field when she gets home.

She had better look after that foot of hers, it’s the most expensive bit of horse I’ve ever had!