Box rest

[toomanyhorses26]

Anybody have any ideas for entertaining a TB on box rest as I am fast running out of ideas. He is on pretty much permanent box rest at the mo and is only allowed out to have his leg cold hosed. I have split his feeds into three so that the day is broken up, he has a feed ball but tends to just look at it with suspicion!! I try and visit as often as I can and all the other liveries on my yard give him a stroke as they go past but he just looks soooo bored and seems to have developed this head shaking habit as if he is saying yes (looks to me like his head might fall off as it is very violent sometimes) I have been told to try some basic massage,t touch etc but he isn't a big fan of being touched,groomed etc so don't want to stress him out when the situation is quite stressy anyway!!! Also I am having to bandage his legs as they fill quite badly but it's not always easy or safe to do in the dark with a large fidgety TB just wondered if there were any wraps etc that might do the job as well?? Thanks

 

[ncorsie]

get a mirror for him. I had one put in our stable as our horse was on box rest for 6 months He just loves his new pal. Also had a decraheedrum (spelling not my best subject).

 

[cellie]

I have replied to your tendon question as I have just gone though same ordeal with tb.My vet said to put my horse out in 10 by 12 paddock same as stable for company and to graze.They can get very depressed on their own .After a few weeks I set his paddock up like a maze linking 5 fields of same size so he can walk which helps the swelling.It kept him happy and less stressed as he had company .hope this helps .

 

[cellie]

The decahedron works great with cut up carrots it helped me too.
RE cannon bone question sounds like cannon bone bruise I had this then tendon injury straight after.

 

[mrussell]

I got a stable mirror off of Ebay for under £20 and my ex-racer stands and stares at herself ll day long. She loves it (after an initial panic because she thought someone had sublet her stable while she was standing on the yard)

 

[luckilotti]

I also would suggest a mirror - my hyper TB was sooo much better in his stable with one!
Hope he gets well soon!

 

[JulieL]

Try a radio on low in the background - my mare hated Radio 1, but loved Classic

i also used to hid little carrots in her haynet and she really did like that and hang a swede from a rope so it would swing around so she would have to work to catch and eat it.

Anything worth a try!

Good luck

 

[rabatsa]

my mare got really frustrated with carrots in her haynet so watch for that, burying them in corners worked better, the mirror was a lifesaver so was a calf penned next to her.

 

[kerilli]

second the classical radio idea, and the mirror. very gentle stroking if he doesn't like massage. even if you just sit in his box reading a book for while for company, as long as he won't try to kick you or anything.

 

[S_N]

Some great suggestions here. My yearling was put on box rest today. He has 2 likits (1 hanging from the top of the door frame, the other in a spinny thing on the wall), large haylage net, corner manger full or Alfa-A, a sweede on a string, some large carrots strewn on the rubber matting and some apples bobbing in his water. Have also given him a bottle (1ltr one with a handle) with some stones in it - he's enjoying rattling it

 

[jelibean]

Im a second for the swede on a string mine all really like that, keeps them entertained forever if you can get it far enough away from either side of the door frame so they cant pin it. Makes good entertainment too.
I like the rattling bottle idea too, did it bother him at all?

 

[rcm_73]

My TB is currently almost 2 months into an expected 3 month box rest. Initially she was quite stressy and we've had a few dramas but has since settled well into the routine. She has a ball, manger mate and a horslyx in her box. Was going to get a mirror but can't afford one right now. What seems to work for my mare is that I tie her on the yard in a sunny spot where she can see the other horses in the field. I also bring my gelding up for a feed and groom and to say hello to her although she usually just squeals and goes to kick him!

I groom her daily and wash her feet out. She has a 'day box' (my gelding's box as he's still out) and a 'night box' so her view of the errr... barn changes slightly! Plus gives one a chance to dry out properly. I did try the paddock thing to start off with but my vet advised me not to as she behaved like a loon wanting to join the others.