Boxrest (HELP!)

[kajabe]

My mare is on box rest after displacing her superficial digital flexor tendon from the hock and also chipping the hock bone joint.
We have done nearly 3 months now and she had 1 week at leahurst horspital.

She is a 27 year old 14.3/15hh heavyweight ex-broodmare and weight about 540kg. Before I get shot down yes she is overweight and we are trying to deal with it, she is an extremely good do-er too.

She gets a small scoop of molasses free Alfa a and a small scoop of convalescent mix as well as her supplements (Codlivine and stroppy mare) divided into 2 feeds. She also has it soaked as it is easier on her teeth.

She is allowed out to a very small paddock (4 Stables size) for 2 hours a day which has fairly good grass in.

How much hay should she be having a day? She is in basically 24/7 for 3 or 4 weeks yet, then we can increase the time she is in the paddock

Also, does soaking help? And how can I get some weight off her before we get to summer as she is doing no exercise and can only be ridden once a week for 1/2 he in walk in a coupe of weeks.

Mince pie and cream to anyone who gets this far!!

 

[kajabe]

No-one?

 

[be positive]

I have 2 on box rest now luckily they are both allowed adlib haylage which helps keep them happy.

When I had my laminitic pony on rest he had almost ad lib soaked hay, I soaked about 12-16 hours to remove as much goodness as possible, he lost weight slowly without ever going short, I also double netted to slow him down. I would soak your mares hay but still give her as much as you can to keep her having something most of the time she is in, possibly give her some straw to nibble on as well.
I would rather they had a constant supply of fibre and cut down on bucket feed, just a token for supplements. Does she need the mix? a general supplement or low cal balancer may be better for keeping her weight down.

 

[Tarbs]

My boy has had laminitis (brought on by weight bearing following an op) and was on box rest for 6 weeks then restricted grazing which started at 10 mins then increased gradually over the last few months. He was overweight so vet said he HAD to lose weight. On box rest I gave him 9 kg of soaked hay split between 3 nets. When he goes out I give him 7kg of hay again split between 3 soaked nets. I use small hole nets, Eliminets and the a trickle net for the evening net as it takes ages for him to eat it. Can't recommend them enough. They are expensive though.

He has a handful of Happy Hoof I'm the morning and Formula 4 Feet with a small handful of Happy Hoof in the evening. The only treats he gets now are celery and cucumber and the odd sugar free polo! The vet saw him last week and was happy with his weight (not with the rotation but that's for another thread!).

Good luck!

Ps. He's a 14.3 greedy cob!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would cut out the mix just give her chaff, hay I would soak and put in a small hole net, I dont really like to limit hay when they are stabled its not good for them to stand for hours without.
My mare is also a good doer but is 16.3 when she was on box rest she was getting through just under a bale a day soaked as she would box walk if stood without too long and I didnt want her walking on her leg, I have started feeding her magnesium oxside to help with her weight as she can look cresty it has really helped and can see a difference in only a few weeks, its cheap to buy on line might be worth a try.

Hope she makes a good recovery x

You could try soaking some straw in with the hay if you mix it together its something for them to eat but not so many calories.