how do i go about rehabbing my horse from surgery

[a.bay.called.alex]

hello, my horse has just recently been given the green light to be turned out with her friends again after having a very nasty kick. resulted in an infection in the bursa and has been operated and casted for 2 months. shes an ex racer who is now 15 and an extremely lively, where we are we have to turn out in like 2-7 horse herds of same sex horses. i do not want to have her back in a field where she will be injured again ( she’s a massive push over and got bullied a lot when she was on field livery ), i can’t afford to give her a bit of sedalin everytime she goes out ( £23.50 a syringe online ) i’ve hand grazed and loosely lunged her in a walk before putting her in a field on her own and this seemed to help a lot with the liveliness. she likes being on her own as long as she can see everyone else she’s happy. i’m scared of putting her out with the horses that kicked her as i feel like it might result in another injury or worse having to PTS because she can’t be operated on the hock again.

would it be better i rehab her properly and get some strength in her back end as she is extremely weak from being on box rest or do i just put her out with the others

and if i do rehab her before putting her out with the others what should i be doing with her? i’m currently hacking in hand on the road as she used to be very nappy before her injury and she’s come on really well with doing this for 10-20 minutes a day with 2-3 hours of turnout alone while i do her stable

 

[[69117]]

Hello, many years of running rehab yards here. I would just put her back out if the vet has given the all clear.

In hand work and slowly building things up will be very beneficial, but I would continue this alongside proper turnout, provided the vet has given the all clear.

 

[ycbm]

Welcome to the forum.

That sounds like a nasty incident you've been through.

I'd be inclined to go with vets advice, but if she is happy separated and is bullied in any group, I probably wouldn't want her on group turnout. Is there a quiet buddy she can have?
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