I can't cope with her behaviour!!!

Just spoke to a different vet as head vet is off today and she said it's ok to turn her out if she'll stay calm. Going to make a pen and get her out. She said she can stay in it 24/7 as bringing her in at night then turning her out again in the morning might cause her to hoolie around. Thank god!!!
 
I know what you mean about her hurting someone. The yard we sent our boy to laughed at me as I kept saying how dangerous he had been. They specialised in this sort of thing and handled him fantastically. They also lunged him for me for the vet prior to him leaving as I was too scared! It was their job and they were extremely professional. He behaved quite well for them and they said they had had much worse:eek:

If you cannot get something like this service then do not try yourself. To be honest given the same situation again I would probably just small pen him in his usual field in the day and gradually increase it. He was rested for 12 weeks for suspensory damage.

I hope your girl makes a good recovery. You will remember this stress for ever - but she won't. Please do not put yourself at risk, you cannot look after her if you are injured.
 
Ilovefoals said:
Just spoke to a different vet as head vet is off today and she said it's ok to turn her out if she'll stay calm. Going to make a pen and get her out. She said she can stay in it 24/7 as bringing her in at night then turning her out again in the morning might cause her to hoolie around. Thank god!!!
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Great news:) Be careful turning her out.
 
My sister's horse is currently doing 'time' ie box rest for 6 weeks whilst having treatment on suspensory ligament (one leg only). He's not had an op but the vets have said 6 weeks box rest/restricted turnout plus 15mins/day walking in hand. He is a pretty chilled soul but he too is getting a little frustrated (not to the extent of yours though). I think if she's going to be more settled out in a small paddock then do this. My sister bought some extra high electric fencing poles as hers has a tendency to pop over the small ones and so we have him in a small - maybe double stable size pen on the grass and we have made a larger pen next to him in which I put my youngster in in the day. My older horse then goes in the stable next to my sister's at night.

I don't know what choice of companions you have but if you can 'rota' them like this then it seems to work and they get in a routine then.

If yours is used to being stabled then she may cope with a pen in the day and a stable at night but if she's not used to a stable at all then maybe just put her in the pen 24/7. I really think if she's going to be calmer outside than in then you're not going to make her any worse as box walking/stressing is gong to make her much worse and won't help the injury at all. we had one horse once who you couldn't stable - we had to once as he cut a leg (this is how we found out he didn't 'do' being shut in a stable). We arrived in the morning to find him out of the stable - he's managed to knock down the whole of the back (timber) wall! From then on we just left him out!!! Lol

Some horses just can't cope with being shut in at all.
 
Ilovefoals said:
She had surgery on her hind suspensories last monday. I spoke to the vet yesterday and they said no to a small pen. She's not allowed in one for 3 more weeks. I'm tempted to ignore them and do it anyway but I'd be gutted if she got out and did herself damage. :(
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I dont see why she cant go out into a small pen (literally the size of her stable - whats the difference?!). If you make sure the electric fence is high enough so she cant jump out I dont see any problem. If she's happier outside in a field with horses round her, I'd go with that. Sounds like she's causing herself damage being kept in!
 
This is exactly why I have cancelled my boy's op - he was supposed to go in for a navel hernea op in 2 weeks time but I just can't cope with the fact he will need to be on box rest for 6 weeks he's a yearling ! never mind the behavior in the box what happens when I try to get him to the field again ??

It doesn't bother him so I am leaving alone

I really feel for you op - you must feel really powerless - I hope she settles once she is out
 
Glad that you have found a solution.

This probably goes without saying, but please be careful turning out and wear hat, gloves and BP just in case. Lead with a lungeline too or perhaps her bridle to give you some more control?

I have seen so many accidents when Horses are being turned out, after box rest :( Most haven't worn the correct gear that couldv'e decreased the risk of injury.
 
Ilovefoals said:
Just spoke to a different vet as head vet is off today and she said it's ok to turn her out if she'll stay calm. Going to make a pen and get her out. She said she can stay in it 24/7 as bringing her in at night then turning her out again in the morning might cause her to hoolie around. Thank god!!!
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Brilliant news!! Obviously sedate her before trying to get her out there and please please be careful; but I am sure she will be happier and heal faster.

I was talking to GP's practice nurse about healing in general and she says the worse thing you can do with a human is to put them in a situation they hate.. it does actually delay healing. I assume the same has to be true for all species.

Please let us know how you get on.
 
Hey all,

Firstly, thanks so much for your support and wise words! I really felt at my wits end earlier today. So, I made a pen in my smallest field about the size of 2 stables, gave her a tube of sedalin and went to my daughters open day at school. Came back an hour later and donned all manner of protective gear and lead her to the field. She was as good as gold, had 1 slow motion trot once she went in then settled down and ate solidly for 3hrs. I put my yearling in with her and the 2 of them were fine. Just taken them both in and they are eating their hay quite happily thank goodness. Plan for the morning is to dose up on sedalin again, leave for an hour and then turn out. Hoping this plan will continue to work. Here's a wee pic of the gorgeous diva, not long after she'd had her 2nd foal....
IMG_8424a.jpg
 
What a relief:) You must be exhausted. I am glad she was good to turn but do put a hat on tomorrow won't you:) - Sorry I am just very safety concious.
Hopefully her new routine will suit her and she will revert to her old self.
I can't see the pics though:o
 
It is there. Maybe just taking a while to load. Don't worry. All the gear will definately be on again tomorrow :) I'm so tired, I think I might go to bed at the same time as my 4yr old daughter!
 
so glad you managed to sort it out. hope it all works out for you!!

I'm sure you don't need me to say you have done the right thing no matter what the outcome!!

loads a healing vibes
 
I've just read this thread and I am so glad that you have put her out for a while each day in the pen. Our mare (17.2 Dutch Warmblood) was on long term box rest after fracturing a splint bone - luckily she was an angel on boxrest. However, when it came to letting her graze in hand it was a totally different story. We dosed her with sedative, my daughter and I both put on our hats, gloves and body protectors, used two short lunge lines and carefully led her out to graze.......

Well she just bolted, we couldn't hold her - she galloped up the stone track, turned just before the stubble field, came careering back, jumped over the huge mounting block, fell over and then got up and calmly walked over to us. I have never been so scared in my life. After we had put her back in the stable I rang the vet - he came out and checked her and then said turn her out for a short time each day gradually increasing it. Never again will I hand graze her after box rest, not only could she have seriously damaged herself, she could easily have done myself or my daughter serious damage as well.

Hope things work out well for you.
 
wonkey_donkey said:
Ring your vet and explain how bad she is.
You are totally wasting your time with box rest if she is getting in a right pickle and making herself worse.
She would be much better turned out in a small paddock with an adjacent friend and a pile of hay to pick at.
Good luck.
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Agree with this /\/\

Sorry to hear your having such a nightmare, I do hope it all settles down soon

ETS: I have seen you have since updated on the situation, I only read a short way down. That is great news, hope your lovely mare recovers soon
 
Ditto, Ditto and Ditto - see if she can have a few hours turnout in a small electric area. Surely she would be happier and calmer out there than knocking six bells out of you!
 
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