Help! Need a calmer for pony on box rest - he thinks he should be out in the sunshine

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sue_ellen

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Three and a half weeks ago Charmer was diagnosed with laminitis caused by the hard ground. Both myself and my daughter were gutted because we are very aware of laminitis and its causes, and also how devastating it can be.

Charmer is a 13.1 section b pony and he is my 17 yr old daughters pride and joy, and he couldn't be looked after better if he was Valegro!

He is fit and raring to go, and thats the problem.
We are slowly bringing him back into work and very gradually giving him a little more turnout, under advice from our vet, but I think he thinks it should be happening a lot quicker!
And so it has been suggested that I try him on a calmer just to take the edge off and make his (at the moment) slightly boring life a little more bearable.
Can anyone recommend me one? I need it asap so one that is available in the tack shops would be good. One called Box Rest by Global Herbs has been suggested to me - has anyone used this? Did it work very well?
I am open to suggestions - thanks for reading!
 
Hi, I really feel for u, I have a welsh B who does not do well on box rest, she will just stand bucking in the box and explode in hand when out for a short 'walk'! A dually head collar worked quickly and reduced the explosions. Unfortunately non of the calmers worked, my vet said some horses respond to them and some don't. Magnesium was the one I was recommended. Sorry not not be able to give u something that worked for us.
 
Ask your vet for Zylkene, its a milk protein drivative and has been good for three of mine who have been on box rest over the last year. (Its not Charmer a mounted games pony, is it?!)
 
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Thanks for the replies guys!Old bat, no he is not a games pony, think games would just blow his mind forever!!
 
Zylkene gets great reviews, the only catch is it's very pricey. If you are working under insurance speak to your vet about adding it to the claim.

Since some of the options I'm used to are not available here, I've gone old school and have used valerian a few times now with good results. I feed it regularly and then can top up with a low dose of acp/sedalin for potentially dangerous/exciting situations like hand walking, x-rays, or initial turnout.

My experience is 'nutritional calmers' like magnesium don't help much with a horse that's really struggling with box rest.
 
Can you speak to your vet about him going in a 12 foot by 12 foot turnout pen made from electric fencing, so he can still be just as restricted in food and exercise but not feel so isolated?
You could even put shavings down to make it soft on his feet - bit of a mess to clear up but may be worth it.
Does he have company next door when he's in?
 
Valerian would be a good option to try him on if a magnesium calmer doesn't have much effect. Just be aware that valerian is a banned substance (clearly because it works!) but if not competing it won't be a problem :)
 
Thanks again for the suggestions everyone.
Polosmum, we have progressed to the pen with electric fence and it has helped a little, however he cant stay there at night and he is allowed to be ridden in the sand school at a walk for just 5 minutes a day, and he just wants to be doing so much more.
Micramadam, the Equine Science products look good but seem rather pricey.
I haven't claimed on the insurance on this occasion as it has been a mild attack and we caught it very early, so it is more an issue of progressing slowly rather than lots of interventions by vet and farrier.
Thanks again.
 
Hi, I have just been vet recomended equistro betamag. Not arrived from Amazon yet but the vet sounded sure it would work
 
hi update on betamag this stuff really works my horse is still a bit bonkers but is a lot better not sure ok for laminitics has gluclose? in it not sure how much
 
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