Frozen Fields and loopy horse

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janicesponies

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One of my horses is on a gentle exercise programme post injury. Now this has been totally stuffed by a frozen arena! Fields are frozen and rutted so tried new more level field today but my horse galloped about - not good as the ground is rock hard. Plan B will be to fence it small to contain the horse even further! What do other people do? No snow as yet, just frozen ground. Not the type of horse to keep in!
Any advice please?
 
walk or graze in hand - or put on calmer and leave in, depending on how limited exercise is required.

We're not turning out at all - too hard, too much risk of slipping, falling over,twisting joints, pulling muscles (partic in the cold) or generally getting jarred up
 
You lot are going to hate me for this, but ....

Your horse isn't stupid! Just let him or her gallop about and have that mad few minutes before settling to normal. If the injury hurts, they tend to stop and if it doesn't they only play for a few minutes anyhow. If the horse is a bit stiff and sore the next day, that's because it's unfit (just like we'd all be sore if we suddenly played football for an hour) and it won't put the injury back much if at all.

The problem is that you're making the animal more and more liable to injury by containing pent-up energy if you continue to keep it in. Plus, it's mental stress if they're naturally active but they are stabled.

I'd try to either turn out in the best field you can find and just stand cringing until all is calm, or attempt a lunge session that may end up with you being dragged should it all go wrong (you need to be brave for that option!).

I've has assorted injury cases over the years and in the end every one has been better turned out to sort out themselves - but don't do it if they're on pain killers to mask any jars they may get. I ever put out a broken pedal bone after only about three days in. He reared at me when I went in to feed him, playfully luckily, so I figured he'd already landed hard on the hoof so turnout would be fine. It was. He bucked and cantered about on just three legs and came in no worse for wear. He also spent the next 23 hours calm, rather than bouncing about in his stable unhappy, until the following day's similar turnout. Of course, I didn't give him pain killers before the turnout, so he'd stop if it hurt.
 
Ours are going out every day to stop them going stir crazy and being more at risk. They soon learn to just plod about and nibble the grass through the snow - after a gentle leg-stretch that is!
 
[ QUOTE ]
The problem is that you're making the animal more and more liable to injury by containing pent-up energy if you continue to keep it in. Plus, it's mental stress if they're naturally active but they are stabled.



[/ QUOTE ]

It is a nightmare trying to work out what to do, as you rightly say leaving them in for long periods can cause loads of pent up energy. Mine has been in since Tuesday afternoon, we are lucky enough to have a walker but I really wonder if this just gets them fitter than ever rather than dispersing any energy. We have a small indoor school approx 25 x 25m but it is surrounded by breeze blocks, if they bucked and kicked the breezeblocks theres a good chance they could suffer a serious if not fatal injury. I'm going to try to take mine up to the riding club tommorow for hiring the school but it depends of vehicle and weather conditiions. Then I can let him loose for half and hour and ride him for half an hour.
frown.gif
 
Mine are out with fingers firmly crossed
Monday it was windy--they were silly--big one came in sore but just for 24hrs
They have been rolling in the snow, digging for grass, licking ice, having a nibble of hay etc
Today is below minus 10 but sun is out--beautiful to look at but I have had enough
Definitely trying to get them out every day--there is much more risk of injury later if you keep in too long and are unable to ride/lunge
 
My Warmblood fell over at least four times bezzing about today (and she's out 24/7!) enjoying the snow. There's thick frozen ruts under the snow, but she's fine.
 
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