BOX REST

A

Agent XXX999

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 October 2006
Messages
5,082
Visit site
What is the maximum amount of time you would box rest a horse? If your vet told you turn out was not an option?

As in, box rest with ultra minimal movement (max. 10 mins in hand walk per day)

What do you think your options are beyond this?
 
I didnt tick any boxes sorry, however I would box rest under vets advice but if I thought it was wrong i would get a second opinion, afterall why go against the vets advice..

Saying that i think my horse enjoyed her box rest.. strange mare
 
For me if Bruce needed anything more than 2 up to two months I would turn him out to sort himself out and give it a year, or PTS.

I think BR does more harm than good!
 
Up to 2 months would be the maximum I would be prepared to have a horse on proper box rest for and ONLY in extreme circumstances.

There's absolutely no way I would keep a horse on full box rest for any longer than this timeframe - the horse would be either turned out in a small paddock to fend for itself or would be put to sleep.
 
I had to give my boy 3 months box rest when he caught his leg in a 5 bar gate a ripped it open. He wasnt allowed out at all. That means no walking so he was in that stable for 3 months solid. When i did put him out he ripped open his wounds again by going mad. So what was the whole point in soooo much time in???
confused.gif


I will never leave in for that amount of time again. Minimum 1 month!
 
I haven't voted but I would have to go with whatever my vet told me. Oscar was on box rest for a few months but as I didnt know better than my vet, I did as I was told
grin.gif
 
It depends on whats wrong and what the prognosis is after the box rest. I was told Spider would be on box rest for 6 weeks after his op (which i was fine with) However he's had complications & he will def be on box rest for another 6 weeks, although he can do light exercise - walking, a small amount of trot but not to get sweaty or make him puff.
I also had a horse years ago who fractured his cannon bone. He had to have 3 months of complete box rest (you had to muck out round him!) in a robert jones bandage. However once healed which he did, I was able to treat him as normal & bring him back into work.
So for me, if the prognosis is good afterwards I would do as long as it took, but if the prognosis was poor even after the box rest I would have to give it a lot more thought.
 
Its a difficult question to answer - in what context ?

It would depend on many factors for me... the main one being the long term prognosis.
 
If br was what was needed my horse would go on br for as long as it took. If it was likely to be longer than 18mnths I would consider turning away to see if it healed on it's own. If I had a horse who didn't appreciate br, I would turn away and see what happened.

For a poor prognosis I would do the same whether br was required or not and consider the chances of recovery and various options.
 
I haven't voted as it would depend entirely on the age of the horse and the situation.

When my horse was younger he had 5 months box rest as he had rotated pedal bones caused by laminitis. I'm glad I did this as he has had many happy healthy years since. He was allowed an increasing amount of exercise each day after the first 5 weeks though.

I would not do it at his age now as I feel he is too old, though I think he would be happy on box rest over winter now he's older as long as he was allowed to go out every day and roll in the mud!
 
my boy was on box rest october till march last year with a tendon injury ! after 8 weeks he had to be built up 10 mins a day 15 mins a day etc etc in the walker but could not go out as mud would have pulled tendon even worse ! i think it depends on injury and nature of horse, my boy is so laid back he would be on box rest 24/7 365 !
 
I think it also depends on the horse. I had one horse who had a short period of BR, but he was quite happy. It was a busy yard so there was lots to watch and he had cuddles and pats all day from everyone. Other horses start climbing out after just a day.
 
I ticked up to four months - but really it would be up to three months only. Amy was on box rest for that amount of time, and actually coped very, very well. But she was pretty good like that.

She damaged her tendon very badly in the summer - and the overall prognosis was not good. She was retired anyway and I opted not to box rest her at all. She was dosed up, and turned out with her friend for the final weeks of her life.
 
I haven't voted, sorry. My reason is because the horses I have at the moment wouldn't cope with being box rested. My pony is an avid box walking fan and the other would bounce off the walls. He also wouldn't cope well with being turned away, so as he is now of a certain age I have decided should he do anything that would require anymore than a few weeks box rest with decent prognosis then that would probably be the time for me to say goodbye to him.
If I had a young horse and it was good prognosis, then that would again depend on how he coped with the situation.
 
I know a horse who has been on BR since June. He was allowed out into the field, but hoolied about (he's only 5) and wrecked himself even more. He gets walked out and ridden in walk as far as I'm aware. But it has to be on even ground, he's not allowed in the school as the sand is very deep.
 
[ QUOTE ]
For me if Bruce needed anything more than 2 up to two months I would turn him out to sort himself out and give it a year, or PTS.


[/ QUOTE ]

Really? Sam is going to need at least 3 months box rest following a small fracture of an accessory carpal bone in his knee; the prognosis is good but in order to make a sound recovery he must be kept on strict box rest until the bone has knitted otherwise he runs the very real risk of ending up turning a simple but unstable fracture into an untreatable one within minutes?

Given that Sam is going to have to be stuck in his box for over 2 months do you really think I should be having him PTS? I won't be, but I am genuinely interested to hear if you would.

Generally speaking I think it hard to put a time limit on it; you can only make a decision based on many many factors and the individual circumstances at the time.

Interesting thread as very topical for me right now!
 
I believe FF said the same as me, that she would turn out if the horse had to be on a longer timeframe box rest.
smile.gif
 
To be fair OP did say that is what SHE would do, not what she thinks YOU should do.

I have never had to really deal with this, except when the shetty went lame. He had a weeks box rest but it made him worse, so he went and had 6 weeks recuperation in the field and he came sound again.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For me if Bruce needed anything more than 2 up to two months I would turn him out to sort himself out and give it a year, or PTS.


[/ QUOTE ]

Really? Sam is going to need at least 3 months box rest following a small fracture of an accessory carpal bone in his knee; the prognosis is good but in order to make a sound recovery he must be kept on strict box rest until the bone has knitted otherwise he runs the very real risk of ending up turning a simple but unstable fracture into an untreatable one within minutes?

Given that Sam is going to have to be stuck in his box for over 2 months do you really think I should be having him PTS? I won't be, but I am genuinely interested to hear if you would.

Generally speaking I think it hard to put a time limit on it; you can only make a decision based on many many factors and the individual circumstances at the time.

Interesting thread as very topical for me right now!

[/ QUOTE ]

How old is he? And will he recover completely if box rested?
S
laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For me if Bruce needed anything more than 2 up to two months I would turn him out to sort himself out and give it a year, or PTS.


[/ QUOTE ]

Really? Sam is going to need at least 3 months box rest following a small fracture of an accessory carpal bone in his knee; the prognosis is good but in order to make a sound recovery he must be kept on strict box rest until the bone has knitted otherwise he runs the very real risk of ending up turning a simple but unstable fracture into an untreatable one within minutes?

Given that Sam is going to have to be stuck in his box for over 2 months do you really think I should be having him PTS? I won't be, but I am genuinely interested to hear if you would.

Generally speaking I think it hard to put a time limit on it; you can only make a decision based on many many factors and the individual circumstances at the time.

Interesting thread as very topical for me right now!

[/ QUOTE ]

Clearly I am not in the same situation as you, but I think I would seriously consider the happiness of my horse before I did anything - whats his prognosis? If after three months the bones have not fused what are your options then? If three months and the bones would fix then yes, I would consider it. But if three months followed by another three months I would seriously consider what my options were?

When you broke your leg, if I told you you could not move from the sofa for at least three months...what woudl you have thought? And then, I told you that you may have to stay there for another two....hmmm. I know horses are not human but I am trying to make it relate!
blush.gif


(Hugs) to you and Sam by the way
 
[ QUOTE ]
I believe FF said the same as me, that she would turn out if the horse had to be on a longer timeframe box rest.
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I know but that's what I'm asking Tia- if the risk becoming irrepairable was very likely after 2 months then you would still turn out/PTS?
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

How old is he? And will he recover completely if box rested?
S
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

He's 11 and expected to make a full recovery
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Then I'd box rest him for the period advised by the vets. I'd try to make life interesting...swapping his box for a different view...taking him walkies if/when he's allowed...making him a little electric pen...radios/toys/grooming...and if possible let him see and touch other horses....but I'd still box rest him if I had to.
I've broken and dislocated my leg... and I'm quite glad Chocolate Log wasn't my doctor
grin.gif

S
 
[ QUOTE ]
To be fair OP did say that is what SHE would do, not what she thinks YOU should do.


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I know that, I'm just interested in different views that is all
smile.gif
 
I am using a slightly unfair comparison here as I have lots of barns which are huge so I could easily keep a horse alone for a longer period of time, and I would. Further time on box rest in a teeny 14 x 14 stable would not be the way I would go after a 2 month stint in there.

Lousy prognosis, well I'd give the horse a chance, by keeping it on box rest for 2 months (if suggested) and if the outcome was as expected then I'd likely turn out for a period of a few months and if no good then it would be bye-bye time.
 
[ QUOTE ]
For as long as it takes, so long as there's an 80% + chance of a full recovery and the horse will eventually be happy and useful.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you not think this is a little selfish? Would you consider the impact that it had on your horse mentally, as well as physically?
 
jay had 2 months box rest then turned away for a year .
sirocco had 3 months box rest for a kick to the shoulder, he was 9 months old when it happened
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top