speedbird
Well-Known Member
My horse fractured his knee today and will be on box rest for 8 - 12 weeks. I would be appreciate any tips on boredom feeding and getting him to drink. I m gutted.
Box rest
- Thread starter speedbird
- Start date
rubyred
Well-Known Member
Apple dunking. Found this best with quartered apples in large tubtrug of water. Made him drink and encouraged more drinking later as water still had apple flavour.
Haylage and hay for variety.
Snak-a-balls are great (ones you put nuts in) but not sure they would be for a knee injury?
Pick some branches for him to chew on. Willow is great for this.
Haylage and hay for variety.
Snak-a-balls are great (ones you put nuts in) but not sure they would be for a knee injury?
Pick some branches for him to chew on. Willow is great for this.
Eaglestone
Well-Known Member
Oh that is such bad news
My old boy was on 5 months box rest and was alone, during the day, as my other horse used to go out, in a field out of view, for the mornings
Luckily he coped really well and I suppose this has to do with how the individual horse copes
I used to hang his haynet up outside his stable window, he then thought that he was 'stealing' the hay and this kept him amused throughout
Hope all goes well ..
My old boy was on 5 months box rest and was alone, during the day, as my other horse used to go out, in a field out of view, for the mornings
Luckily he coped really well and I suppose this has to do with how the individual horse copes
I used to hang his haynet up outside his stable window, he then thought that he was 'stealing' the hay and this kept him amused throughout
Hope all goes well ..
tikino
Well-Known Member
my mare has just came off box rest after fracturing her splint bone and required surgey i found giveing a high fibre diet and adlib hay/haylage. also hanging turnips from the rafters. and hiding carrots in her bed and dangling likits good luck as its hard going
Halfpass
Well-Known Member
How awful for you both.
My 4 year old is currently on box rest and it really worried me how she would cope.
She has adjusted amazingly and is now taking it all in her stride.
I did start off by giving her 5 small feeds made up mainly of Hifi to keep her occupied but with vit and min supplement added and Alfa A oil plus a few nuts for her to crunch on. We are now down to the normal 2 as she started kicking her doors for food
I give her a huge net of hay with haylage mixed in. She picks the haylage out of the hay so that keeps heroccupied. I also poke carrots or treats into the haynet for her to find.
The one thing that was best for her was moving her to a quiet corner box. We are on a busy yard and other horses coming and going would have upset her but in this box although she can only see other horses across from her no one actually leaves her on her own.
My one huge tip would be routine routine routine. I am now in one and on the odd days I am late she either churns up her bed or gets upset.
Goods luck with everything I do think I have been quite lukcy with how my horse is coping your horsemay well suprise you too.
My 4 year old is currently on box rest and it really worried me how she would cope.
She has adjusted amazingly and is now taking it all in her stride.
I did start off by giving her 5 small feeds made up mainly of Hifi to keep her occupied but with vit and min supplement added and Alfa A oil plus a few nuts for her to crunch on. We are now down to the normal 2 as she started kicking her doors for food
I give her a huge net of hay with haylage mixed in. She picks the haylage out of the hay so that keeps heroccupied. I also poke carrots or treats into the haynet for her to find.
The one thing that was best for her was moving her to a quiet corner box. We are on a busy yard and other horses coming and going would have upset her but in this box although she can only see other horses across from her no one actually leaves her on her own.
My one huge tip would be routine routine routine. I am now in one and on the odd days I am late she either churns up her bed or gets upset.
Goods luck with everything I do think I have been quite lukcy with how my horse is coping your horsemay well suprise you too.
stencilface
High upon a hillside
I think branches are a good idea too - ours love eating our poor ash tree.
Hope it all goes well
Hope it all goes well
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
I've just had to put my TB on 2 - 3 months box rest with damage to the soft tissues in his feet.
I am currently seeing whether a stable mirror helps - it only cost about £25 inc p & p on Ebay.
He gets 4 or 5 small haynets during the day to break the day up.
I am currently seeing whether a stable mirror helps - it only cost about £25 inc p & p on Ebay.
He gets 4 or 5 small haynets during the day to break the day up.
CBFan
Well-Known Member
Hi, My filly has been on box rest for 9 months and still is all but an hour's t/o a day (she's 17 months old now).
I have kept her sane by supplying her with add lib soaked hay and a regular routine (same times same order etc) and two small feeds a day. due to her condition I have been unable to feed licks and treats etc so that has limited what I can do for her.
I'd like to add that she is COMPLETELY sane and happy in herself...
I have kept her sane by supplying her with add lib soaked hay and a regular routine (same times same order etc) and two small feeds a day. due to her condition I have been unable to feed licks and treats etc so that has limited what I can do for her.
I'd like to add that she is COMPLETELY sane and happy in herself...
CBFan
Well-Known Member
Just to add, I'd try to encourage people to leave your horse alone as I find the more people fuss my girl when I'm not there, the more wound up she is when I get there.... If people want to say hello, perhaps they could do it when you're there...