Help! how to trot up mental box-rested youngster without dying!!?

A

amycamycamyc

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 August 2009
Messages
235
Location
London
Visit site
My horse has been on box rest for a couple of weeks as he is lame in both front feet. Vet is coming up tomorrow to see how he is progressing. The problem is that for the last week or so he has become rather a handful - constantly pawing the ground, playing with his toys, and generally being a bit too full of energy! he's on a handful of calmer chaff, carrots and pathetic token amount of speedi beet, twice a day, and has ad lib haylage because he won't eat the hay we've got at the moment - and on the odd occasion he has run out of hay he has tipped over his water bucket, flung his manger across the stable, and pulled down his salt lick in protest.
in the last couple of days its got to the point where we can't leave him tied on the yard to muck out as he rears and breaks free, and if we put him in other horses boxes temporarily he broncs around and digs up their beds and rears. eeeeeeek!
Unsurprisingly i am NOT looking forward to having lead him anywhere, let along attempting to trot him up for the vet...

any hints and tips!? apart from closing the main yard gate, donning body protector and hat...! presumably sedating him is a stupid idea because then the vet won't get a real idea of how sound he is???
 
Speak to the vet and see if you can sedate him..... Mine was on box rest for 3 months and it was the only way I could get her out of the stable to do anything. If he is flinging himself around then the vet won't be able to assess him properly as he won't be trotting in an even tempo.

Just my opinion, other people may be against using sedalin, but my mare was dangerous without....
 
This wont help much if he is pratting around...but from a strength point of view, a rope headcollar is invaluable.
When i was a kid i had an arab that was mental. When we got him it was found out that he was never lead anywhere, and rather than being lead out to the field he was chased down the track so i was in for a bit of an eye opener when the first time i lead him he reared, bolted (i hung onto him) and literally ripped a headcollar to pieces.
The next day my dad who is 6ft 2 and strong as an ox lead him out....he couldnt hold him and the lead rope snapped. Anyway...this went on for a while, with us replacing headcollars daily!
Then someone made me a rope headcollar. It was absolutely fantastic. Im not into monty roberts type stuff (this was where she learnt to make the headcollars) but this thing was brilliant.
I could lead him out to the field in that with pretty much no problem, he was still strong and silly but i could hold him.
In time he became brilliant to lead. He would bolt occasionally just to keep me on my toes ;-)
So if you dont think you will be able to hold your horse i really would suggest getting one. Also like you say, body protector, hat and decent footwear.
Also....i have to admit.....if he is going to be that much of a handfull, sedalin would probably be a good idead. I have used it when horse i was talking about above fell over in the field and had to be box rested for a while and then lead out in hand for several weeks! Good luck!!
 
I'd either bit him or have a chifney with a short rope (that he cant tread on if you do let go attached to that and a long rope- as long as possible on the headcollar.
 
Sedalin if you think you will need it. Rope headcollars/halters are also great with a long rope. I used to work with a youngster who went through a phase of doing airs above the ground when being led in hand. When he was good you could lead him softly, when he was a prat you had the security of the pressure points and the longer rope stopped it from being yanked out of your hand so easily when he suddenly leaped in the air...
 
TheMule said:
I'd either bit him or have a chifney with a short rope (that he cant tread on if you do let go attached to that and a long rope- as long as possible on the headcollar.
Click to expand...

Yes agree. we do this if we need to.
You'll be able to hang onto the long rope if he's lunging about, but you must only have the long rope attached to the headcollar and not the chifney, otherwise if he did get loose and trod on it, it could tear his mouth. The chifney with the very short rope is good for control and making him respect you.

Also remember to wear some sturdy boots, grippy gloves and a hat, and you'll feel more confident handling him.
 
thanks for all the suggestions, i'll try and beg/steal/borrow a chiffney and short rope from somewhere and give it a go.. wish me luck! just praying now he trots up sound, can't bear the idea of more box rest!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top