Box rest v's turning away

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K9Wendy

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Hypothetical question.. If you didn't have a stable, or field shelter, just a field and your vet recommended 12 weeks box rest what would you do? As vets often recommend box rest what happens when you don't have a box, can you just turn them away for longer?

We have a horse on box rest for soft tissue damage in near fore fetlock to foot area, getting either 10mins walk or retricted turnout to a small 15 x 15 ft paddock as advised by the vet. It all started out well, she was calm but now the other horses are all out during the day she is getting increasingly unsettled to the point she is bucking and broncing in her stable and turning into an nightmare to lead or tie up.

I have the offer to turn her away for 6 months at a friends farm. Do you think this would be less stressful for her than staying inside with no guarantee that in 10 weeks time she will be sound again?
 
Personally I would be paying for livery somewhere with a box the horse could rest in for 12 weeks.

Is there anywhere locally where horses are the stay at home types, maybe a competition yard?
 
I had a horse do a tendon many years ago ,while eventing.The treatment then was turn out for 6 months.I did this the horse came back into work fine I didn't event him again as I felt the speed was a bit much for him and took up dressage in 2 years he was at p st g level and I sold him at 10 years old because I couldn't afford to compete at that time ,had a very thorough vetting and passed and gave many years of pleasure to his new owners always completely sound
 
I know what you mean spaniel, unfortunately I cannot move yards, for lots of reasons. It worries me that she is on rubber matting and constantly twisting her self round from window to door. The matting while it is lovely to lie down on seems to grip her feet and you can see her twisting them.
 
Carthorse that is very heartening to hear, it does sound like it was exactly the treatment your horse needed. The vet recommended something like an orchard where she can't really build up any great speed.

I just wondered what people did in this situation were they didn't have the option of a stable, do they turn away or find a stable?
 
In which case I would turn her away at the farm assuming she isnt going to be out with other horses that hoon about. You cant have her going off her head for three months, its not worth it long term. Id take the risk.
 
No she won't be out with other horses, on her own with a few highland cattle for company in the adjoining field. She's been there before and our friends love her. It's not the case of turning her away and forgetting about her, they'd be at her every day and we'd also be down.

I know she is happiest when eating grass and find it hard watching her in so much already and she has the summer ahead of her!!
 
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