Box rest woes

[Z3bby]

Can someone please tell me it will get better
He is only 3 and needs to be box rested for 6 weeks, before small paddock turnout, he’s losing his mind already.
Box walking and I spotted him weaving yesterday.
I may also lose my mind worrying about him

 

[TheMule]

Can someone please tell me it will get better
He is only 3 and needs to be box rested for 6 weeks, before small paddock turnout, he’s losing his mind already.
Box walking and I spotted him weaving yesterday.
I may also lose my mind worrying about him

You probably need to change his set up- either send to a specialist rehab yard where plenty of others are on box rest and it’s quiet and settled, or have him out in a stable sized pen with his normal company

 

[HorsesRule2009]

As above potentially, or you could ask your vet about potassium bromide it can work very well for some horses (but not all) and is fairly inexpensive.
Or ask about Trazidone this is more expensive than the above

 

[GypsGal1718]

When Gypsie was on boxrest she hated it, as they all will. She was very sweet for 1.5 months then she got slightly aggressive. If that happens to yours, don’t take it personally, they don’t hate you they are just struggling. Have you got him any toys? I know they are full of sugar but her likit seemed to entertain her the most, can you walk out and hand graze him? If not pick some grass and put it in a bucket for him. Trying enriching activities may help. There is a website called enriching equines which has loads of diy ones you can try. I know it will be hard but be grateful it is only six weeks. Putting him in a stable with an anti weaving grill is a good idea to stop side affects.
Make sure he always has a friend close by too. Good luck and I hope he gets better

 

[Kirstd33]

I’m on week 7 after my coblet having surgery on his annular ligaments and I feel your pain. It’s been so hard, I won’t lie twice daily visits at 6am-7.30am to do all his job and spend time with him then back after work to do the same again. We used lots of lick its, hanging toys and hay in a couple of places etc. picking grass, branches etc.We’re now at limited small paddock turnout so I now turn him out at 6 and YO brings in at 10 and then she turns out at 3 and I bring in at 6! You will get through it but you have my sympathy x

 

[Birker2020]

For those with a horse/pony facing long term box rest (or even short term) here are some suggestions for you to keep your horse amused and his mind stimulated and to help pass the time.

If you are on a livery yard ask the staff to give the horse three or four small feeds (something simple like readigrass) during the day. This will give the horse something to look forward to.

Small holed nets hung all around the stable. This encourages the horse to move around in search of food mimicking its natural behaviour.

Fill the nets with pulled grass mixed with the horses usual hay/haylage (just don't store the grass beforehand or it will ferment and can cause colic).

Float a couple of apples on top of the water. That will keep them amused!

If the horse has a straw bed hide bits of carots/apples/treats in the bed to keep them amused (if their injury permits her to move around to this extent).

Leave a radio switched on to a classical station (horses don't like rock/pop music) and prefer less dramatic, slower types of music.

Ask everyone at the yard who walks past to spend five minutes giving her a fuss/talking to her. If you have a spare 20 mins sit with her in her stable and read a book or magazine. Think how grateful you have been for company stuck in a hospital bed with nothing to do.

Put a piece of log or branch with the bark left on.

Dig (I know its hard with the ground like concrete) a clump of turf and leave that in her stable. She will love that and it will have essential nutrients in it.

Mix apple/carrots/swede/polo's into her haynets.

A specially designed shatterproof horse mirror in her stable. Research has shown using a mirror has been show to curb some horses vices by as much as 75%

Swedes hung from the ceiling (no good hung from stable wall as too easily caught and eaten)

Horse licks on rollers.

Snackaball filled with treats/pony nuts. The hexagonal ones are good as they go in random directions so are harder for the horse to work the treat out. Ask if any of your friends can lend you one save buying one.

Football left in stable to kick about.

Tie an old towel to the stable wall/bars of stable which will provide the horse with endless hours of amusement for her to tug and pull at.

Paddock licks/mineral/salt licks

Above all keep to a routine. Horses thrive on routine.

Obviously you might have to tailor the above depending on your horse's injury, if its hurt its foot for example you don't want it kicking a football around! Or if its getting over a colic op you might not like to leave too many treats for it.