Can I go against Vets advice??

Bettyboo1976

Bettyboo1976

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I am in two minds as to what to do about my big horse,
She is nearly 20yrs old,16hh has navicular and intermittently lame up until she stopped ridden work, I retired her about 9mnths ago and has been until now happily living her days out in the field with my other 2 ponies. She has now damaged her check ligament and possibly tendon , vet advised keeping her in, for next few months then slowly walking out etc.. Along with pain killers etc... However, my mare has never been good being walked in hand and has always been lead in a chifney as she is prone to buggering off/ rearing etc.
My feeling is that if I keep her on box rest more than say 3 weeks she will become unmanageable once I start walking her out in hand and inevitable just bugger off and undo all the hard work I’ve put in trying to get her sound... so I was thinking that after this 3 weeks rest with some walking in hand to relieve boredom and assuming she can potter about ok, is to turn her away and let nature take its course in the healing process. She has never really been a horse that’s happy being in, she is much happier out in the field with her friends.
Please don’t jump on the band wagon and say I’m a bad owner and don’t care about my horse etc.. cos I do.. But if you knew her as I do, then you would understand why I am asking this question.
Has anyone done this can you tell me your experiences? Or is this just me being silly and I need to do it as the vet say?
Thanks...
 
You could ask him if you can alternatively turn her out in a small paddock, as long term there's less risk of her damaging herself further should her behaviour deteriorate as she struggles to cope? You could use electric taping within her current paddock with the others horses in, and move it every few days so she can have access to new grass.
 
Yes you can go against the advise, if you feel it's in the best interests of the horse - but I would recommend you talk it over with your vet, so that they understand what you are doing and why.

When my 18 year old did here DDFT I said from the word go that she would not be box rested........
 
So what I'm suggesting isnt completely stupid, and insane? I just feel she will recouperate better by being outside and enjoying her life, this is her last chance as she is old, I'm not ready to give up and put her down, but if I have to I want her to be happy when she goes..
 
Have you explained your concerns to your vet?

My horse did his tendon and my vet knew what he is like so he allowed me put him in a very small paddock (size of 2 stables) so that he couldn’t run about. This worked wonders as it kept his brain right. It did take a little longer to heal but it was worth it.

I would talk to your vet about your concerns and see if there is a compromise you can reach together.
 
even though box rest may be recommended, as you know your horse best I think it is best to take that into account when considering what to do. A horse isn't just a bundle of bones and tendons etc, it is an intelligent animal with feelings too.
Is your mare in the habit of hooning around her field? If not then I would be inclinded to leave her turned out, with bute in the short term if needed if she is uncomfortable. Esp as you aren't expecting her to return to being ridden (if I am understanding you correctly?). As long as she is comfortable and happy in the field then I would leave her to her happy relaxed environment, while keeping an eye to ensure it isn't made worse. Even if being turned out means that it takes her a little longer to become sound, I must admit that it wouldn't worry me, again with the proviso that she is happy and comfortable.
sorry for the waffle, hth!
 
When my mare did here check ligament I was told to box rest her too. She is a massively stressy old bat and I would have had a neurotic hat rack at the end of it, so I didnt do it. I just left her out. She came sound faster than the vet predicted with box rest :) and hasnt had a problem with that leg since. Shoot me down if you wish, but I think vets go for box rest far to quickly. It seems to be their stock answer.
 
I would be doing exactly what you are considering BB.
There is no way I would keep an old retired horse on box rest. They would be turned away and are either comfortable enough to gradually heal in their own time (with pain killers if needed) or the other decision is made.
 
Thanks for the reasurance guys, :)

Appreciated, no never intending to ride her again :( just want her to be a happy lawn mower for the rest of her days, generally she is not nutty in the field, will look into taping an area off for her,

Thanks again for your advice :)

xx
 
I've a retired pony that did his check ligament in nearly a year ago. He stresses when away from all his friends and at being shut in a box for too long, he has got better over the years about being stabled generally but does not like it and will and has jumped over the stable door to get out. Bearing this in mind, I box rested him for I think 4 days while the pain was in the acute stage and he did not want to move. Once his mobility started to come back he made it clear that he did not want to be in the stable and so he was turned out. As he was already retired all I wanted was for him to become field sound as he recovered.

His was a very bad (grade 4 I think) tear and the vet expected him to recover in about 3 months. It has taken longer than that but he is now back to trotting everywhere at high speed which was his preferred pace before his accident and he is sound on the affected leg. I have wondered whether he is actually up to doing a little work again this summer!

You know your horse, if you aren't confident on the best way forward by yourself discuss it with your vet again and be honest about how long you are prepared to wait for a recovery and what your required outcome is (presumably to be field sound only as retired).
 
When Henry injured his ligament, the vet didn't even suggest box rest. He must have taken one look round at my set up and knew it was a no-no. Is there a possibility of a pen being set up for her? That would keep her so much more sane that 4 walls!
 
In your situation there is no way I would box rest - In fact, and I'm prepared to be shot down here, I think too many horses are box rested when there is no need for it, I would never box rest mine, just make a small paddock out of electric fencing and leave her turned out with her usual company.
 
As she's not going to be ridden again, I honestly can't see the harm and she could well heal quicker if still mobile. At the end of the day you have to make sure you can keep safe and if she doesn't handle box rest or walking in hand, then that could be in doubt. Have a word with your vet and just tell him politely that in her and your best interests, you are turning her away and that you'll take full responsibility for your decision; he won't be able to argue with that.
 
There is absolutely no way i would box rest an old retired horse of 20! Why stress her and make her unhappy, leave her be to walk around, don't drug her up, then the little bit of pain she feels will prevent her from using the injured site to much.

Follow your gut instinct on this one!
 
Absolutely! no one knows your horse better than you. I had this last year with my first vets, horse was in for 2 months with cellulitis, I pushed the vet and they said he could have turnout in a very small paddock

Of course the best thing for this is exercise! I moved moved vets, new vet found tendon damage but my horse had been out pottering about and it did no damage

At that age, small paddock if she doesnt belt about Id be inclined to leave her out
 
We didn't box rest our oldie when he had a hole in his suspensory. We talked about it to the vet and all sides understood each others point of view. Even though we went against their advice they were still really supportive to us.

We buted him for a week and he had injections from the vet for 6 weeks. Within 9 months of returning to work he had done a hunter trial and a hunt at the age of 21 and he is still going strong.

After our experience, we would never consider box resting either of them.
 
My now 22 year old did his tendon almost 2 years ago. Tried box rest and lasted about a week I think as he was a loon and it was summer and everyone else was out. Turned him out against vets advice and kind of retired him in the same action. He is 95% sound now, but loves to hoon round the field on a very regular basis so occasionally overdoes it and hobbles about for a bit. I don't worry nowadays unless he's crippled himself like he did couple of weeks ago, although it was a different leg!! However, a course of vetrofen and 3 days box rest (with company this time) brought him sound and he's right as rain again. I have other horses so no real plans to bring him back into work, although he'd love to, so I don't worry about his legs anymore. His front legs are no longer covered on the insurance which is why I didn't call the vets 2 weeks ago - I knew they would want to scan, bute and box rest, costing me hundreds instead of the £14 for the vetrofen. Don't beat yourself up about it, you know your horse best and what plans you have for her in the future.
 
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