Box rest

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Katie_rankine

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My rather unlucky horse has been diagnosed with a hole in the bone just above the inside of the hock from a nasty kick. She is on box rest but not really settled, she is allowed out to hand graze but after threatening to through a bronking fit today it’s probably safer she stays in her stable. Has anyone got tips or can recommend any boredom breakers (preferably not on the floor due to the injury) that night help her relax a bit more and keep her mind busy.
 
Mine is on box rest at the moment too, so I can totally sympathise!!

I got some compressed grass blocks that you hang on a rope - she absolutely loves them. I'll see if I can find a link for you..
Veggies and fruit on a string.
Hanging/wall mounted treat lick or salt block.
Lots of hay, double/triple netted.
Buckets of fresh picked grass from the verges outside the stables!
A mirror?

Good luck, hope she heals well xx
 
My mare was on box rest for most of last winter. She was moved to a stable in the middle of the yard so there was a lot going on (obviously depends on the horse). I gave her grass blocks hung in a small net to slow her down. Swedes tended to last a while too
 
My very hot and competition fit horse was box rested for 11 months from June 2017 so i feel your pain!

Routine!!! I am sure my horse is autistic but keeping her in a strict routine really helped, she had her breakfast and muck out, then a lunchtime net and treatball. etc but she was much more settled.

Friends nearby- I kept mums highland pony next door for half the day, then a friend would bring hers in at lunchtime who lived on the otherside, meant she had a buddy next door, she wasn't actually bothered when they came and went but just stopped me from thinking she was alone.

Radio - not all day and something chatty like radio 4 or like a local station.

Hay blocks - we get the fullmart feed blocks which she liked to play with my throwing them around.

Alter feeding - go for high fibre and low sugar and starch, you may also find yourself feeding a calmer to keep her quieter than normal. Also avoid those super sugary licks, they are like smarties to madam.

Arc!- I bought an arc equine about 5 months in as i was getting to the point where i would try anything, it worked wonders! Before the arc she had magnetic wraps all round.

When you get to the point of inhand walking, try for the quietest point of the day on the yard, make sure you have a hat on and if you need it get some sedative. Absolutely not worth hurting either of you once you have got this far!!
 
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