COLIC-POST SURGERY

[Bella3891]

My horse had colic surgery 8 weeks ago, apart from the information from the equine hospital I am struggling to find any information online to explore how other horses have responded during the 'getting back into work' stage.

Apart from a mild infection we have had no issues post surgery. I have been hand grazing twice a day since he came home and apart from one isolated incident where he spooked and bolted resulting in him galloping up and down a tiny paddock about 60 foot in length he has been relatively well behaved. There have been a few rears and jumping about in the stable but nothing major.

At the beginning of this week my vet advised I could begin to either walk in hand or ride in walk for 20 minutes a day max increasing this by 5 minutes per week. The chances of me surviving the in hand walking are slim to none-nothing to do with the surgery just his temperament in general (result of rescuing a mistreated horse).

Day one yesterday was relatively ok, a few spins and bucks but he generally behaved well.

Day two today was a different story, major bronking and cantering round once he unseated his rider for a good few minutes. She got back on and he was fine and continued to walk perfectly after this.

What I want to know is how other people have dealt with this stage and whether I should sedate him to ensure he walks. Is the occasional bronking fit going to damage the wound or should it be strong enough by now to survive these little outbursts? I am not really pro sedation however I need him to recover properly as that's obviously in his best interests.

I'd appreciate any feedback anyone has to offer positive or negative

Thanks

 

[putasocinit]

Could you try some sedalin remember the muscles still have to heal inside, he could get a hernia if the stomach wall burst from the cavorting around,

 

[Enfys]

Will he be led from another horse?

24 years ago I had a 5 year old race mare that had colic surgery, we bought her back into work from the back of another horse, not so much because she was hard to handle but because she was happier to do it that way.

She went on to live until she was 17, bred 4 foals, went back into race training, did LDR and hunted hard over the mountains for 5 seasons.

 

[merry mischief]

I remember this stage well 1/2 ton of cob with cabin fever was no fun and I really don't know how I got through unscathed! Jim did cause himself a small hernia with his antics however we did get some sedalin which helped, I'm told there's an even better sedative out that you could try also. You have my sympathies it's no fun!

 

[be positive]

Mine went from in hand grazing with some walking to restricted turnout, then full time out before coming back to work.
I think trying to ride or lead a horse after box rest, not to mention the risk of further injury to horse or person, is difficult enough without sedation that it makes sense to get them out and relaxed before trying to ride, it seems very quick to be getting back on and if he is ok after the cavorting around surely getting him out in a tiny paddock will do no more harm. Once he has had some time out he should be so much easier to get back on and less likely to do any more damage to himself or the rider.