Help! Worried about getting my head knocked off.

[Landcruiser]

My 3 yr old unfortunately damaged a meniscus and had her stifle arthroscoped, She's on a strict rehab of 2 wks box rest then handwalking starting at 10 mins a day and increasing by 5 mins a week. Currently on 25 mins. She had Relaquin from vet for the first few times. Handwalking has been mixed. Some days just head tossing and "nipping" although she doesn't (so far) make contact. Some days almost a good girl. Other days, full on explosiveness with rearing, bucking, kicking out. The last two days have been worst. I only have a small yard and initially she was just backwards and forwards (not ideal for the rehab). I have tried to extend into my arena by taping off a bit inside the gate initially, but as soon as she's on the arena surface she often starts with the explosiveness.

I walk her in hard hat and body protector, she's in a rope halter and 15 ft rope. She is on a bespoke calming supplement I got from her bodyworker. When not walking she's in her stable plus a small pen off it (about 6 m x 3m) with adlib forage. Shut in the stable at night. The other two are also confined to barracks, keeping her company, loose on yard in the day and one in next to her at night.

I am seriously concerned I'm going to get my block knocked off, or she's going to injure herself. So, hive mind, what are your thoughts? She's not bitted, by the way. Just persevere and hope that as the walking gets longer it might take the edge off? Keep out of the (tiny corner of) the arena and just yo-yo in the yard? I'm so limited as to what I can do with her physically - prior to this her ground manners were lovely. It's a flipping nightmare, really (with months of this to go!)

 

[maya2008]

You could send her off to rehab livery if you can afford it?

Bit her and get more control that way? Keeping her safe is the priority even if you’d planning on bitting later rather than now.

Definitely stay out of the arena. What about a walk down a quiet road with steady companion once you have control? Nice views, a friend to keep her steady, boring tarmac under foot.

 

[Abacus]

IMO box rest and walking is a recipe for disaster unless the horse is wonderfully well behaved. I have almost always gone against advice and put them in a tiny paddock rather than risk myself this way. Vets can sometimes focus so hard on the clinical advice that they don’t consider the safety of it for the handler, not to mention the greater risk of re-injury if a cooped-up horse explodes.

 

[soloequestrian]

I'm never sure box rest is a great idea because all the good the standing still does is immediately undone when they explode on leaving the box. I don't know much about that injury but my options would be either turn her out and accept that it might take longer to heal (though maybe not if the explosions do set it back) but you'll not have a mentally scarred horse and a physically scarred you OR get a proper sedative from the vet and use that until she goes back out.
I have the feeling that 'box rest' is just the go-to treatment that vets use when they're never the ones who have to deal with the fall out. I am prepared to be shot down for that though.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

When I had to do a 6-week walk rehab I actually found my gelding was fine going out for a walk but was explosive if I walked him round and round in circles. It’s a bit of a risk though if you do lose control. He was in a bridle which I had to secure with a plait as he had tiny ears.

 

[ycbm]

A friend with a 5 or 6 year old horse with a meniscal tear sent him away to retirement livery for nearly a year and hardly saw him until she brought him home. He was sound and jumping 11 years later when I last knew of him.
.

 

[SusieT]

Honestly - I'd speak to your vet, explain the issue - ask what the evidence is for handwalkng, ask if small pen turnout or just stable rest to avoid the risk hand walking would be just as effective

 

[maya2008]

A friend with a 5 or 6 year old horse with a meniscal tear sent him away to retirement livery for nearly a year and hardly saw him until she brought him home. He was sound and jumping 11 years later when I last knew of him.
.

This is roughly what I did with a SJ pony when I was supposed to gradually increase turnout for in a pen then do in-hand work. She was out of her mind and jumped out of every pen we made, however high the sides. So I box rested for a few weeks longer then turned her away for 9 months. Did the trick.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Get some more sedalin from the vet and give her 2 proper doses per day it tends to put them on a more even keel, then time one dose to kick in when you need to hand walk it's the only way I will hand walk a horse on box rest or its just to dangerous.

 

[Britestar]

After meniscal surgery ours was on box rest for 6 weeks, and then he was turned out into a small pen - approx half size of tennis court.

He stayed there for 4 months gradually making larger each month.

Given 6-10% chance of returning to work.

Now back in full work, and totally bonkers!

 

[magicmoments]

I think vets go straight to box rest, if they can, but that is often not the best way for both the owners and horses physical and mental health. I had a vet want box rest for an abscess. I blank refused. The horse concerned was not a good candidate. I knew the horse, he didn't. However I did try box rest for a believed fetlock injury (can't remember the exact name at moment). It was an absolute nightmare for the 2 days I tried. Box walked the entire time on one sedilin a day. Was stressing me out, never mind the horse. Turned out after dosing up first. It did heal.
You certainly need to find another way. Whether that be rehab yard, small turnout pen in field, or full field. You know your horse best

 

[mle22]

My daughter had her arm very badly broken and wrist dislocated four weeks ago, walking her horse on box rest. The mare, who normally would not dream of kicking anyone, cow kicked and caught daughter on the arm which then needed operated on and plated. So - I’d just say be very careful! Horse is now on rehab yard.

 

[Orangehorse]

I was in the same situation, seriously worried me/horse would end up injured with him rearing and bucking in one easy move, or tearing round at a gallop on the end of the leading rope, and this was with bridle, roller, side reins, etc. etc. Sedalin wore off.

I discovered that my insurance would pay for the livery rehab, which was a nice surprise and relief.

In desperation I sent him to a rehab livery, where the YO knew him well and was utterly shocked at his appalling behaviour. "Lucky it was me on the end of the reins."

She phoned up the vet who prescribed Bromide - but she knew the YO very well and knew that it would be used responsibly. It was a tiny dose, but the first night he was off his feed and YO was walking him round at 10.00 p.m. trying to get him to eat some grass and his insides working. "Oh yes, it sometimes does that" said the vet.

But - it worked like magic, it just took the edge off him and he was sensible enough to be able to be slowly exercised gently, I was able to ride him while he was at the yard, but I didn't give him any when he came home.

Apparently it is given to TB colts if necessary when they are being broken in. (And there was a report of it being detected in a show horse a year or so ago).

 

[meleeka]

Mine went from dope on a rope to a fire breathing dragon when hand walked. He coped well with box rest as long as he didn’t come out!

I had Sedalin which took the edge off. I did resort to a leadrein with a chain under his cheek. He only ever felt that once and remembered his manners after that. When your vet is worried for your safety, needs must sometimes. Mine also injured himself again because his antics, so I’m not sure I’d do box rest with controlled walking again.

 

[Landcruiser]

Thank you for your replies everyone, you have given me some real food for thought. I have the vet coming Fri to do her second IRAP joint injection, and I will get some more sedalin for now. I'll also talk to her about increasing the pen size, at least a little. Unfortunately my hand walking options are very limited for those that suggested using other routes. My yard opens onto a national speedlimit B road on a straight section, so although very rural and relatively quiet I wouldn't want a horse getting loose on it or to be leading one which is tw@tting about. I'm stuck on the yard plus a not very good footing turnout area. I have decided to write the arena off as an option.

I've just sent an email enquiry to a local rehab yard to work out if I can afford it. I think my insurance is pretty much bottomed out, £5000 goes pretty quick with diagnostics and a 4 day stay in horsepital along with exploratory surgery...

 

[Birker2020]

Thank you for your replies everyone, you have given me some real food for thought. I have the vet coming Fri to do her second IRAP joint injection, and I will get some more sedalin for now. I'll also talk to her about increasing the pen size, at least a little. Unfortunately my hand walking options are very limited for those that suggested using other routes. My yard opens onto a national speedlimit B road on a straight section, so although very rural and relatively quiet I wouldn't want a horse getting loose on it or to be leading one which is tw@tting about. I'm stuck on the yard plus a not very good footing turnout area. I have decided to write the arena off as an option.

I've just sent an email enquiry to a local rehab yard to work out if I can afford it. I think my insurance is pretty much bottomed out, £5000 goes pretty quick with diagnostics and a 4 day stay in horsepital along with exploratory surgery...

There is usually a contingency fund for rehab, normally an additional £500 or similar that is seperate from the vet fees cover. It would be worth looking at your policy in more detail or ring your insurance company for clarification.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Like many people with horses there is sometime in their live when their horse has to be on box rest according to the vet. Sometimes its a leg, hock, fetlock injury. When they want box rest for a considerable time I'm afraid I'm totally against/ They twist & turn putting untold pressure on their injury. I tend to make up a small pen outside in a paddock and turn them out in it. They aren't bored, they have grass & can see their friends & they are so much happier. |When \i say small pen I mean no larger that their stable. You end up with a much happier horse, not doing himself any self harm through boredom, it's got to be a lot better for them.

 

[Birker2020]

Like many people with horses there is sometime in their live when their horse has to be on box rest according to the vet. Sometimes its a leg, hock, fetlock injury. When they want box rest for a considerable time I'm afraid I'm totally against/ They twist & turn putting untold pressure on their injury. I tend to make up a small pen outside in a paddock and turn them out in it. They aren't bored, they have grass & can see their friends & they are so much happier. |When \i say small pen I mean no larger that their stable. You end up with a much happier horse, not doing himself any self harm through boredom, it's got to be a lot better for them.

I agree to an extent. As long as its a small area and the horse is sufficiently sedated after a period of box rest they can be turned out but its dependent on the injury obviously.

With my old horse the vet said turnout in a small area rather than prolonged box rest was best for her as she had arthritis so it was the lesser of the two evils.

 

[scats]

I don’t do long periods of box rest and I certainly won’t hand walk anything that has been on box rest for a long time and may explode (been there, got the T-shirt). I tell my vets that I’m turning out in a small pen with ample forage and ask for some Sedalin for the first few days.
Having nearly had a box rested horse come down on my head when hand walking, I will no longer take the chance. I’d be no good to that animal in a coma or with a brain injury. If they don’t come right, it’s a chance I take and I will then make a decision based on that.

 

[maya2008]

I would have a good discussion with your vet if you cannot afford rehab livery and cannot safely follow vet instructions at home. There are always alternative options - they will advise.

 

[Landcruiser]

Like many people with horses there is sometime in their live when their horse has to be on box rest according to the vet. Sometimes its a leg, hock, fetlock injury. When they want box rest for a considerable time I'm afraid I'm totally against/ They twist & turn putting untold pressure on their injury. I tend to make up a small pen outside in a paddock and turn them out in it. They aren't bored, they have grass & can see their friends & they are so much happier. |When \i say small pen I mean no larger that their stable. You end up with a much happier horse, not doing himself any self harm through boredom, it's got to be a lot better for them.

She has a daytime pen off her stable which is about the size of two additional stables. Two other horses loose in area immediately outside her pen. No grass but good footing (we are on heavy clay so horses tend to be off the grass now anyway and on yard/large turnout off yard).

 

[Lady Tinseltime]

Let Sedalin become your friend

 

[Goldenstar]

Keep with the dopey paste there are some injuries where I would not persevere and take an alternative route but a stifle injury is one not of them .
If you can afford a good rehab livery that’s what I would do .

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'll do full box rest for a suitable period of up to a month for an injury, but I have survived to eventually see sense and have now absolutely bailed from progressing to walking a box rested horse out in hand. It's too fecking hazardous, sleepy paste or not. And all my horses normally have very good ground manners.

So it's small pen turnout inc the walking, which IME is far less dangerous. I'm no good to my horses if my skull is caved in.

 

[Landcruiser]

Update. I tried the Rehab livery nearby - they have no space. My insurance doesn't cover any rehab, or rather it does but it's within the 5 grand I've already used up, so I'm disinclined to look further afield, especially as my two older horses are also having lots of medical costs for this and that and the horse money pot is pretty much empty. So vet has agreed a slightly larger pen than the one off her stable, out in my turnout area which has a tiny bit of grass, a hedge, and is a nice change of scene. The two boys will be "with" her just over the electric fence. She's given me more Sedalin and permission to increase the dose if I need to. I'm hoping all this will help - vet is back in 2 wks for her last IRAP so we can reassess at that point.

 

[Sealine]

Years ago I had a mare that unfortunately spent alot of time on box rest with in-hand walking. I actually found it safer to walk her on concrete around the farm where she was fine. As soon as she stepped on soft ground she exploded. She was usually very well mannered but she managed to kick me quite badly on arm while grazing her in hand and would also rear. It's really not worth risking your safety and if I was in that situation again I wouldn't do box rest. I followed all the vets instructions to the letter and she still never came sound.

Your plan of sedalin and a small pen sounds much safer for you and less stressful for you both.

 

[maya2008]

Glad you have a plan! Hope all goes well.

 

[canteron]

While you can’t work her physically - you can work her mentally and teach her to enjoy learning - and to bond with you.

There are so many things you can teach, depending on her limitations.

I have taught horses laughing at (bad) jokes) catching things, lifting legs when pointing at them, and so much more.

Endless resources available, but pm me if you want a few suggestions.

 

[Landcruiser]

Update. We are 13 weeks post procedure and 11 weeks into daily handwalking. Things are going much better now, I have learned several lessons which have made things much safer for both us us but especially me.
1. Use a long rope (15 ft) and expect a "smile" in it at all times, ie keep her several feet away from me. (I use a rope halter with the rope attached without metalwork, so can send shakes up the rope without slapping her with a metal clip).
2. Always carry a long crop with a very noisy carrier bag attached to the business end. This is used for reinforcing (by shaking the noisy bag) when she encroaches/tries to bite.
3. Work slowly. She gets bored trolling up and down. I now use a lot of step by step, getting her to match my movements including sideways and backwards, including over poles on the ground (OK'd with vet). Lots of breaks and relaxes in between. She's now ground tying (fairly enclosed yard) which at the beginning of all this was inconceivable. (She knew it before the injury).
4. Keep out of the arena and off nice soft surfaces because she will GO BONKERS and roll and leap arond and rear despite points 1-3. Point 1 kept me safe while I was learning point 4).

Walking time is now 50 mins a day, which mostly we manage. That said, OH is having a knee replacement tomorrow and I have managed to find a lovely local rehab yard for her which she's going to for the next couple of months - what with my work, running daughter to and from work (they are currently learning to drive) having the other two horses in to keep the invalid company, and also having to take over OH's half of the household/outside/dog duties for the next few weeks...well let's just say rehab isn't not cheap but it's priceless to me.

 

[Gloi]

Definitely stay out of the arena. What about a walk down a quiet road with steady companion once you have control? Nice views, a friend to keep her steady, boring tarmac under foot.

That sounds deadly. A freak out where she gets loose and anything could happen. Someone, or her, could get killed. In an arena at least she can't go anywhere.