Hand walking a excitable horse on box rest

[Hormonal Filly]

My mares been on box rest 6 weeks now. 3 weeks due to her liver and 3 weeks post hock op. She has an open stable and big pen so she’s able to walk around. For the last 2 weeks she’s been walked in hand, we’ve built up to 15 minutes twice a day.

Problem is, she gets so excited and sassy. It’s not getting better, worse. My vet is pleased with her, she feels very well!

Im leading her in a bridle, and even then she is able to trot sideways, squealing, pull me around (I’m very petite and she’s a young sportshorse) rearing. She doesn’t scare me but it’s dangerous at times. I have got sedation ready for turnout. A friend said sedate to walk but sedating twice a day everyday just seems excessive?

Could a chifney help? Any advice?
Thanks all. Can’t wait for her to be allowed out!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I too would give a little sedation to hand walk . There are no prizes for getting hurt.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I am in that horrible transition between box rest and full turnout. I used 5ml or relaquine to hand walk, then 5ml and walked her with a calm friend, and have now turned out in a pen next to calm friend. I have decided I would rather turn out than hand walk whilst on box rest. Is there any chance you can do rest in a small field pen?

 

[Red-1]

I like 2 people. Bridle on, 2 lunge lines through the bit each side, possibly also over the head.

The reason for 2 people is that you can keep each other safe, as in the horse is always between you both, you can pull the horse away from the other person.

The reason for the lunge rein is that they can then rear, but they stay between you and you won't run out of rope.

Over the head is if they are the sort who may bog off!

I won't hand walk a box rest one without 2 people unless they are very chilled.

We have also had success with a mooch and a munch. Set up 2 food stations and mooch between them, with a munch at each one. We would do much more time for the walking like this, but the horse remained relaxed as they were simply mooching and munching, not striding around.

 

[Identityincrisis]

Definitely use a chifney

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Relaquine proved incredibly useful when I had a horse on box rest a few years ago, it just calms them down a bit for in hand walking and trotting, but I had it on vet prescription, I don't know weather you can get it without a prescription. I'd ask your vet about it, definitely worth it

 

[Ceifer]

Definitely use a chifney

I know people use them to good effect but my horse has an old injury from a chiffney when he got away from the person leading him and trod on the rope - massive laceration on his tongue - also seen significant jaw injuries inflicted with them.

 

[NinjaPony]

I’m in this situation too but thankfully mine is only 11.2hh. I’ve gone with with hat, gloves, bridle and lunge line. I’m not sure I’d be happy if he was 16hh as it’s certainly hairy at times, it’s just lucky he’s small and I know him very well.

I’d go with light sedation, and consider a turnout pen if possible. It’s not worth putting yourself at risk and when they are stuck in they get explosive!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Mine was on hand walking after a sidebone fracture and arthromid. He was very bouncy.

I went for hat, gloves and control headcoller but it wasn't working so I asked for help. A friend has a mare who had been on long term box rest for a pedal bone fracture but that horse was a lot more horse than mine.

One lap of the yard with the mare's owner telling him off and we soon got back down to business.

We mixed in some groundwork, stopping, backing, big circles, changes of rein etc. Loads of stuff to keep his mind on me and not losing his attention to other stuff going on.

Turnout was reintroduced gradually with a little sedation at first. Just an hour for the first few days, then 2 hours, then half a day for a week before full days. This 2as more about helping him transition gently back to grass from haylage.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Thanks all! Much appreciated.

I can’t let her eat any grass, we have a yard environmental problem that’s caused liver damage and I’m the last livery to leave (next week!) it seems like the problem is the grass, take them off the grass and the liver improves.

I like 2 people. Bridle on, 2 lunge lines through the bit each side, possibly also over the head.

The reason for 2 people is that you can keep each other safe, as in the horse is always between you both, you can pull the horse away from the other person.

The reason for the lunge rein is that they can then rear, but they stay between you and you won't run out of rope.

Over the head is if they are the sort who may bog off!

I won't hand walk a box rest one without 2 people unless they are very chilled.

We have also had success with a mooch and a munch. Set up 2 food stations and mooch between them, with a munch at each one. We would do much more time for the walking like this, but the horse remained relaxed as they were simply mooching and munching, not striding around.

Sadly 2 people isn’t an option at all now, I’m the last livery so totally on my own and my partner works long hours.

She does rear above my head. I saw the bottom of her hoofs yesterday! I stopped using a lunge line as if she got away from me she would just lunge herself going mental kicking out but equally I can’t get away with a lead rope. It’s difficult.

Thanks @OrangeAndLemon, I do back her up, do carrot stretches and been training her a couple of tricks. I don’t think telling her off will help, she’s just so full of energy. She walks along squealing trying to contain herself luckily if she goes mad and I shout WOAH she will totally stop.. but still, it’s very unpredictable and how she can canter around me on a 3m circle is mind blowing.

I’ll try the sedation tonight, just a little bit.

 

[Abacus]

I wouldn’t do it, I’m afraid. Too dangerous. Is she the last horse remaining there? I would wait until you move and do turnout in a tiny paddock. It’s probably against vet advice for whatever reason, but I believe that asking a human to hand walk a cooped up horse is downright dangerous and there’s always a better way. Unless the horse is a saint.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't do it unless you can get some sedalin it's too dangerous to carry on hand walking maybe try 3 or 4 mls to start with, then see how she goes you might be able to reduce it after a few days.

If turning out for the first time I give at least half a tube and bring in before it wears off.

 

[claracanter]

Ask your vet for some relaquin. It will make everything more relaxed for everyone. BTW a friend of mine had horses on grazing that caused liver damage too. It didn’t affect all the horses on it but one of hers way quite I’ll but recovered fully once they worked out what was going on

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I too would give a little sedation to hand walk . There are no prizes for getting hurt.

This.
My mare has been on box rest since August last years and just started going out.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would experiment with sedation .
i had a horse sedated everyday for months when he was in plaster he came through it fine .
Other things you can try is side reins on the horse but keep them high enough to be safe.If that works it’s might be preferable to using a drug .
Nothing puts the feel of dread into me more than the words controlled walking in han…

 

[meleeka]

I sedated a 14hh traditional cob to handwalk him! My vet saw what he was like and suggested it. Up until that point he was a dope on a rope and actually did the box rest without any problems, just the hand walking fried his brain!

 

[Nari]

Sedation is the way to go in my experience, and even then be careful. Talk to your vet, if she's being that bad it may be safer for both of you to turn her out earlier.

 

[ihatework]

Light sedation and a roller with side reins

 

[sport horse]

I have had a similar problem with a feral two year old (now 3) who has so far done 6 months box rest having suffered a catastrohpic tendon injury and subsequent surgery. 3 months in we are asked to walk in hand. We use ACP tablets, two people as above, and kept her within confines of yard surrounded by buidings. We have survived three months of walking and now have to do 6 months of twice daily on horse walker. Just getting there is a two person job! Luckily we are in a position to do it and the tendon scans are showing good improvement so we have to do the best we can to give the filly the best chance of a life. It is essential that she does not canter/gallop,twist etc .

Realistically her future is probably a broodmare but she does have the pedigree and family to be in much demand for that job. I have to balance keeping her safe and allowing as much healing as possible but most importantly keeping all the handlers safe too. If there are not two people to handle her she will not walk that session it is just too risky. Life is all just a series of compromises.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Light sedation and a roller with side reins

Didn’t think of a roller and side reins!

 

[claret09]

can i suggest you use a dually.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

can i suggest you use a dually.

Thanks Claret09. I tried a dually, I have much more control in a bridle.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

can i suggest you use a dually.

A bridle is much safer as you have much more control.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks Claret09. I tried a dually, I have much more control in a bridle.

Side reins and roller really helps have done this before.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Side reins and roller really helps have done this before.

It will definitely stop her getting her head up and give her something to think about. Thank you.

Weird today she was quite as a lamb, she decides on the day how she’s going to act! Mares..

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It will definitely stop her getting her head up and give her something to think about. Thank you.

Weird today she was quite as a lamb, she decides on the day how she’s going to act! Mares..

My last mare would just walk about on her hind legs the first time I had to box rest and walk her being 16.3 it wasn't much fun, hence to say I never did it again I just sedated and turnout out it was much safer.

 

[mustardsmum]

Another who would go with sedation (relaquine) And I wouldn’t just use a little - find out what the max dose you can give her is and use that. It’s simply not worth the risk of you getting injured, especially if she rears. You can reduce the dose each time as they do calm down. Ours was a fly bucker and they were big and after one close shave of seeing her hoofs that was enough. Next day she was sedated and the whole experience was calm. After a week she was fine and didn’t need it. I sedated to turn her out as well after a substance period of box rest. Would far rather this than chiffneys and side reins but always lead out in a bridle.

 

[ponios]

I have found a dually headcollar invaluable in these situations and also use a long lead rope or a Parelli style long one- not as long as lunge line and also round rather than flat so I find gets in less of a tangle but long enough that I don't lose him for the big spooks!. I have an 18 hh that this set up has worked well for on hand walks in past and about to get it all out again as we are in for 6 weeks hand walking shortly!

 

[claret09]

Thanks Claret09. I tried a dually, I have much more control in a bridle.

fair enough. you have to use what you feel safest using

 

[ponynutz]

Another who would go with sedation (relaquine) And I wouldn’t just use a little - find out what the max dose you can give her is and use that. It’s simply not worth the risk of you getting injured, especially if she rears. You can reduce the dose each time as they do calm down. Ours was a fly bucker and they were big and after one close shave of seeing her hoofs that was enough. Next day she was sedated and the whole experience was calm. After a week she was fine and didn’t need it. I sedated to turn her out as well after a substance period of box rest. Would far rather this than chiffneys and side reins but always lead out in a bridle.

I really wouldn’t go in with the max I’d do it the opposite way and work up to find the perfect amount.

I say this bc mine was sedated for the first time and she got the last of whatever the vet had (nearly 1/4 of what she was meant to) and she was swaying, we thought we might have to find or makeshift a padded stable ASAP