For how long do people think is fair to keep a horse on box rest

[Rocky01]

I'm potentially facing this issue (he's at the vets). I love my boy so so much but am trying to work out if his lameness is serious how long is fair to keep him on box rest, he's already had 4 months on box rest, I just don't know how much more is fair.

 

[482739]

Mine had nearly 7 months. Wouldn't do it again; as she was more sound on field rest than she ever was on box rest!

 

[neddy man]

If after another 4 months box rest he becomes sound you would think it was fair. If you turn him out now and he never becomes sound you would wish you had tried it a bit longer. If he is young try a little longer, if he is old retire him.( Mine had 6 months box rest , 2 months paddock rest,in the size of 1/2 a tennis court, a long gentle intro back into work and is now sound and was X/C last week ,the wait and patience was well worth it.)

 

[OldNag]

I think it depends on the horse. Our ageing pony did not do box rest, she found it extremely stressful so I vowed after the last episode of box rest that I would not put her through it again.

I currently have one pony (lami/Cushings) on box rest but she (so far) is handling it extremely well, contrary to my expectations . She has done a month already and will probably have to do another month before starting walks in hand and then very restricted turnout.

I hope your boy recovers soon.

 

[Speedyfluff]

It depends on many things: age, prognosis, ability of horse to tolerate confinement, facilities. If at all possible I try to avoid box rest as it can be detrimental, especially if it means separation of the horse from others. Some horses do themselves more damage fretting and pacing the box than they would in a small paddock next to their friends. If ground conditions allow, I usually construct a tiny enclosure outside in the field with electric fencing. Then make it gradually bigger as the horse recovers. How long is too long? I guess anything more than 10 weeks is stretching it, if it is strict stable rest. But if out in a tiny paddock then I would do a lot longer than that, depending on the horse.