Feeding on Box Rest

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caramel1976

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My pony has just been put on three months box rest due to a torn ligament and, even though he's very content to be in his stable, I'm really worried about him putting on too much weight, as he's a very good doer at the best of times. He's currently having one "meal" - this is made up of about a quarter rations of topspec, a small handful of happy hoof and seaweed. He has had quarter of a cup of sunflower seeds in a ball too.

Any advice??

Thank you
 
What forage is he having? .If its hay I would make sure it is well soaked...
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He's having plenty of hay but I don't seem to be organised enough to soak it - is it worth soaking for half an hour even? How much hay is too much though?

NAiled - would you put the happy hoof in the ball as well - would that work??

Again - thanks for replying
 
When my boy was on box rest for collatoral ligament damage I was told he'd be better if he dropped 50kg to help repair. I bought Marksway haylege (the purple bag) and gave him one slice in the morning and one at lunch time and 2 in the evening. He dropped the weight really well and at 16.2hh managed to survive quite well. He also had a very small feed (handfull of chop) so that he could have cortaflex daily too.

He went from this in the middle of June (day of operation)
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to this just a few weeks later
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He's now back to porky size but on box rest again for suspensory ligaments this time
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Mine was on strict box rest for 4 months last summer - she is 15hh and had a total of 12lbs of hay (before soaking) over 24 hours - even if you can soak it for 30 mins you will get rid of some of the sugars. Put it in to soak when you arrive - then muck out etc you'll find half an hour soon passes - then drain and feed.
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I am the most disorganised person and i ve managed to build soaking hay into my stable routine, so it is possible. I soak a haynet at night for the morning and vica versa. Changing water each time. Its made a huge difference to my lami pony and takes no longer than soaking for an hour.
 
Very strict box rest - he didn't even come out of the stable whilst I mucked out. Fortunatley, it's a big stable so I just pushed him out of the way! He was in for 3 weeks with the first cast on then a short trip to the vets to have a shorter one on then another 3 weeks in with that one. He did about 10 weeks in total before he was allowed out in-hand walking. This time (different injury) he's been allowed out to walk in-hand for about 10-15 mins right from the start.
 
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