noblesteed
Well-Known Member
Hi all
I am sure this has been done to death but my gelding is struggling with box rest. He had an op a month ago on his fetlock. He's in on box rest with 2 x 15 min walks per day with pole work.
Over the past week he has become quite naughty and, knowing his ways, I think he's getting fed up. He has been a handful in the past but he's mellowed with age and as long as he's having turnout he is good as gold. However I think he's going stir crazy being stuck in.
For example every time I walk him out he manages to try to spin, pull away and buck. I walk him in a bridle so he doesn't get away but ends up cantering in a tiny circle around me. As well as this he will head butt me and try to bite, and threaten to rear. He has jumped his poles a couple of times
He's a total ******.
Clearly this is going to increase his healing time or even make him worse. I am convinced he's just grouchy and after grass or wanting to get to his friends but it can't carry on like this. I am starting to get a bit scared of him and I often have my children at the yard with me so I can't risk any dangerous behaviour.
He will jog beside me rather than walk, and yesterday he kicked out in the direction of a pedestrian!
What do Other people do when faced with a horse that is a handful to walk out? We don't have a horse walker or an arena. What can I try to calm him? He has a lick, a snack ball, turnip on a rope etc. but he gets bored so easily. My YO caught him bronking in the stable the other day.
While he was awaiting his op he was in a cattle pen at the edge of his friends' field but he got quite depressed like that and the vet says he must be kept in a small stable. He's fed on old hay, with a feed of D&H convalescence mix and mollichaff calmer. Thinking of cutting out the mix. He is also eating a large amount of his bed of barley straw which I know isn't good for them...
This really is his last chance - he has arthritis too so this op was an absolute last resort for him. I keep telling him 'dog food' but he won't listen!!!
Can anyone offer any advice please???
I am sure this has been done to death but my gelding is struggling with box rest. He had an op a month ago on his fetlock. He's in on box rest with 2 x 15 min walks per day with pole work.
Over the past week he has become quite naughty and, knowing his ways, I think he's getting fed up. He has been a handful in the past but he's mellowed with age and as long as he's having turnout he is good as gold. However I think he's going stir crazy being stuck in.
For example every time I walk him out he manages to try to spin, pull away and buck. I walk him in a bridle so he doesn't get away but ends up cantering in a tiny circle around me. As well as this he will head butt me and try to bite, and threaten to rear. He has jumped his poles a couple of times
He's a total ******. Clearly this is going to increase his healing time or even make him worse. I am convinced he's just grouchy and after grass or wanting to get to his friends but it can't carry on like this. I am starting to get a bit scared of him and I often have my children at the yard with me so I can't risk any dangerous behaviour.
He will jog beside me rather than walk, and yesterday he kicked out in the direction of a pedestrian!
What do Other people do when faced with a horse that is a handful to walk out? We don't have a horse walker or an arena. What can I try to calm him? He has a lick, a snack ball, turnip on a rope etc. but he gets bored so easily. My YO caught him bronking in the stable the other day.
While he was awaiting his op he was in a cattle pen at the edge of his friends' field but he got quite depressed like that and the vet says he must be kept in a small stable. He's fed on old hay, with a feed of D&H convalescence mix and mollichaff calmer. Thinking of cutting out the mix. He is also eating a large amount of his bed of barley straw which I know isn't good for them...
This really is his last chance - he has arthritis too so this op was an absolute last resort for him. I keep telling him 'dog food' but he won't listen!!!
Can anyone offer any advice please???