I don't know how much longer I can do this for...

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_jetset_

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As many of you know, Grace has been on box rest and being walking under saddle for three weeks now. The walking had progressed to around 35 minutes (mostly lateral work to keep her feet on the ground) and on Saturday morning we introduced the trot work
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This did not go to plan and she just lost her mind... I ended up voluntarily dismounting after 25 minutes, feeling a bit shaken and also very sorry for Grace. The poor thing just couldn't control herself, she must be so bloody frustrated
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I got on her again last night after walking her around the stables in hand for 5 minutes first and she was much better so I thought we may have cracked it (it was a bit warmer and very still last night). However, this was short lived and she came out of her stable all guns blazing this morning
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I walked her around for 5 minutes but she was leaping and plunging on the concrete (despite sedalin an hour earlier). I know that by keep putting off the trot work it is only going to prolong the issue and there was no way I was getting on her a) because of how hyped she was and b) because she had the sedalin in her system.

So, to my absolute shame (and believe me... I am very embarressed by this) I put her on the lunge and took her into the arena. For the first 8 minutes she actually walked, stretching down (she had the kavalkade on as that seems to help much more than side reins in these situations) and started to relax. However the damned ducks that reside in next door's garden started squarking and flapping and that was it... she was off
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I managed to keep her on a huge circle by running her up and down the arena as I didn't want to pull her onto a small circle, but she literally plunged, bucked, squealed and lept her way around for a good 5 minutes
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Not great for a horse supposed to be trotting large
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I now know what she is doing when she is buckin when I am on her and how I have managed to stay on. She almost folds herself in half by sitting right down on her hind legs, putting her head more or less on the floor inbetween her front legs so when she is bucking it is more a rocking horse motion rather than a big twisting buck... Good to know!

But, having seen how much pent up energy she has on the lunge, I am very reluctant to get back on her and sit to that
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Especially when 90% of the time I am there on my own should anything happen. I would say I am quite a confident rider and don't really worry about getting on new horses in different situations, but on Saturday and having seen her this morning, Grace has really worried me
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I am waiting for the vet to call me back as I have left a message saying I really need to have a chat with him and reassess. They want me to just trot for a few days on straight lines, but that is not a posibility with this mare so we need to find a new plan. I know lunging her this morning was just stupid and we could have put all the hard work back to square one, but she was just going crazy in her stable, I couldn't walk her in hand and I can't bear to see her like this.

This morning I didn't even recognise the horse I love so very very much
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Sorry, not much of a point to this... I just needed to get this off my chest so apologies.
 
Oh no, i'm so sorry you are stillhaving problems with her.

I'm not sure what to suggest really....if the Sedalin has no impact i'm guessing ACP doesn't either??

You need to definitely chat with the vet and decide on the best option for her. Her coming right has to be second to your safety in priorities!!!

Have a hug in the mean time!
 
Do you have a large walker? The one we have at my yard is massive so not tight circles. At least on there you can control the pace and you are both in a safe environment. I know it's not a straight line, but it's got to be better than nothing?
 
I would definately use acp. I have had numerous nutters that i have had to bring back into work and i swear by the stuff. Much better for both you and grace if you can take the edge of her.
 
This is why we didn't box rest for a Hole in Suspensory. The vets advised us against turning out, but we went ahead as we knew the horse wouldn't stand box rest and he was in a small herd so there was no messing about.

Could you not put her in a small paddock for an hour a day to get rid of the fizz.

Good luck whatever you decide.
x
 
Lill, she has mild inflammation to the Impar Ligament... No other ligaments within the foot have any issues, the xrays are all fine and MRI showed it was only mild inflammation, no tears etc.

Prognosis very good.

Treatment was 3 weeks walking under saddle, then a few days of trotting in straight lines before working her as before. IRAP treatment three times with the final one being this Friday.
 
What a nightmare for you
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huge hugs (((((())))))

Have you considered turning her away? At the end of the day she is a horse and she will settle eventually to living out. A little tough love will go a long way on refocusing her mind to the important things, like eating to live, not eating to store energy to deposit you.

She is now dangerous and I am not sure it warrants you risking yourself.
 
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Oh no, i'm so sorry you are stillhaving problems with her.

I'm not sure what to suggest really....if the Sedalin has no impact i'm guessing ACP doesn't either??

You need to definitely chat with the vet and decide on the best option for her. Her coming right has to be second to your safety in priorities!!!

Have a hug in the mean time!

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I knew the sedalin would not do much, it didn't when she had to be walked following colic surgery. Apparently some horses do get any effects from it. We tried ACP for a few days back then too, and again no success.

I didn't know whether I was being incredibly selfish by feeling like this... But you are right, as much as I love this mare, I also have to think of my own safety too. Especially with two other horses to care for, a job to pay for the mortgage and a dog and cat too
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Do you have a large walker? The one we have at my yard is massive so not tight circles. At least on there you can control the pace and you are both in a safe environment. I know it's not a straight line, but it's got to be better than nothing?

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We don't have a walker and all the ones around the area are too circular (if that makes sense). I know this from when I was looking for one last time! Not so sure about the walker either with how she is at the moment, I don't know whether she would cope and I have seen so many nasty accidents in them
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I would definately use acp. I have had numerous nutters that i have had to bring back into work and i swear by the stuff. Much better for both you and grace if you can take the edge of her.

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Thank you for the recommendation but we tried it last time when she underwent colic surgery... no effect whatsoever
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This is why we didn't box rest for a Hole in Suspensory. The vets advised us against turning out, but we went ahead as we knew the horse wouldn't stand box rest and he was in a small herd so there was no messing about.

Could you not put her in a small paddock for an hour a day to get rid of the fizz.

Good luck whatever you decide.
x

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Thank you... and good to know others have had success with this.

This is one thing I am going to speak to the vet about when he phones me. It will take the fizz out of her and where I am she could go out for 30 mins a few times a day too! Unfortunately our fields are under water at the moment (up to your ankles... never known it this bad) but we have a round pen which would be perfect with some haylage thrown in.
 
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What a nightmare for you
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huge hugs (((((())))))

Have you considered turning her away? At the end of the day she is a horse and she will settle eventually to living out. A little tough love will go a long way on refocusing her mind to the important things, like eating to live, not eating to store energy to deposit you.

She is now dangerous and I am not sure it warrants you risking yourself.

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I had thought about it, but cannot find anywhere close enough to allow this (without me having to pay someone to check on her etc). There is one place that I have contacted but they come in at night so not perfect but could be an option.

However, she cannot be worked if I turn her away somewhere so it is whether I accept she will not be ridden and just turn her away or whether we find some other option.
 
I think you need to think a little laterally with her as she is obvs a tricky customer so what the vet advises might not actually be possible. If she was mine I would phone my vet explain that she is going beserk, and that you cannot keep her boxed as she is too volatile and suggest that you turn her out 24/7 to chill out with some v dopey reliable compnay so she doesn't get wound up. Do you have an OAP you can put her with or a v sedate cob? something like that, that won't react to her fizzyness.

Speak to you vet, and explain that what should be done according to the text book in reality can't be practised with this mare and see what he suggests...

I don't think calmers etc and things like that are the route, time out, less/no hard food to take the edge off her till you can ride her again. A few chilly morings in the field with no rug on may well be all that's needed to settle her down, sometimes comp horses are too fit when it comes to behaving like the perfect patient.
 
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I would definately use acp. I have had numerous nutters that i have had to bring back into work and i swear by the stuff. Much better for both you and grace if you can take the edge of her.

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Thank you for the recommendation but we tried it last time when she underwent colic surgery... no effect whatsoever
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Apologies if you have already considered and can't be used, but here are a few ideas...

The vet let me put Felix in a small 'outdoor stable' 12x12 patch in the corner of the field as he was scaring me too with the silliness during his rehabilitation. Definitely brought him down a couple of notches.

I'd take her off the hard feed completely too, even the supplements. If you need to get the Top Spec calmer into her, give it in an apple with the core taken out filled with the calmer.

Also, is she fed really good haylage? Might be worth putting her on some poorer quality hay for a while to get the energy levels down?

Also, do you really have to trot just yet? Can you do loads more walking instead for a while to calm her?

Equissage her if you can borrow one to relax her a bit???

Oxyshot, Nupafeed at loading rate (does TopSpec have a loading rate)?

Erm, stable toys to keep her interested in the stable, so going out for her trot is not soooooo exciting?

Get a crash test dummy type rider on her who has velcro pants!!!!

I feel your pain...Fee came right with the PSD but it was horrible putting up with the silliness in the meantime :-(
 
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I think you need to think a little laterally with her as she is obvs a tricky customer so what the vet advises might not actually be possible. If she was mine I would phone my vet explain that she is going beserk, and that you cannot keep her boxed as she is too volatile and suggest that you turn her out 24/7 to chill out with some v dopey reliable compnay so she doesn't get wound up. Do you have an OAP you can put her with or a v sedate cob? something like that, that won't react to her fizzyness.

Speak to you vet, and explain that what should be done according to the text book in reality can't be practised with this mare and see what he suggests...

I don't think calmers etc and things like that are the route, time out, less/no hard food to take the edge off her till you can ride her again. A few chilly morings in the field with no rug on may well be all that's needed to settle her down, sometimes comp horses are too fit when it comes to behaving like the perfect patient.

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I hate living in this part of the world... we just don't have the grazing for 24/7 turnout. The only place I know of is facing my house but they will not take on another to start with, but certainly one a highly strung orange one that is female
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Troy is out in a field full time, but he is with two colts, so that is not an option either
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Most owners have taken their horses off the fields completely at the moment due to the weather too which leaves an even more limited option... I have not seen horses out in this area for a good few weeks now! Damned British weather!

I am lucky where I am that we have the round pen for turnout when the fields are in the condition they are at the moment... I am hoping that the vet and I can come to some sort of arrangement where she can be turned out up to four times a day for 30 minutes in there as the worst case scenario (she will not stay out on her own and I cannot put her in there with my other mare).

She is on Balancer and Healthy Hoof feed wise, plus adlib haylage... She has a sprinkling of conditioning flakes to keep her eating (plus to disguise the Regumate) but that is all she is having at the moment.

I think you have hit the nail on the head... never before have I had to start riding her in a 'controlled' manner when she has been fit... she has always had months and months of box rest prior to this stage whereas she is still fit at the moment and her muscular structure has not really changed in these three weeks either.
 
I'd ditto the suggestion of turning her away. The last thing you want is an injury like mine (tying from my bed after a morning at the hospital and currently feel like hell
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)

Be is in a tiny, tiny paddock at the moment (at a friends yard), since she came back from the vets 12 days ago. She settled to start with, but is now becoming restless and pacing. I've spoken to the vets and they've agreed that I shall just bring her home and turn her out in her usual paddock. I know it's not ideal, but I think it's best for horses who won't settle. IMO they're going to do themselves far more damage flipping out every time you try to handle them.
 
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I would definately use acp. I have had numerous nutters that i have had to bring back into work and i swear by the stuff. Much better for both you and grace if you can take the edge of her.

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Thank you for the recommendation but we tried it last time when she underwent colic surgery... no effect whatsoever
frown.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Apologies if you have already considered and can't be used, but here are a few ideas...

The vet let me put Felix in a small 'outdoor stable' 12x12 patch in the corner of the field as he was scaring me too with the silliness during his rehabilitation. Definitely brought him down a couple of notches.

I'd take her off the hard feed completely too, even the supplements. If you need to get the Top Spec calmer into her, give it in an apple with the core taken out filled with the calmer.

Also, is she fed really good haylage? Might be worth putting her on some poorer quality hay for a while to get the energy levels down?

Also, do you really have to trot just yet? Can you do loads more walking instead for a while to calm her?

Equissage her if you can borrow one to relax her a bit???

Oxyshot, Nupafeed at loading rate (does TopSpec have a loading rate)?

Erm, stable toys to keep her interested in the stable, so going out for her trot is not soooooo exciting?

Get a crash test dummy type rider on her who has velcro pants!!!!

I feel your pain...Fee came right with the PSD but it was horrible putting up with the silliness in the meantime :-(

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Thanks for all of those...
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She needs her hard feed unfortunately as she is a very strange horse and can suddenly stop eating to the point where she was very very poorly last time so the vet has given me instruction on what to feed etc. She is on Healthy Hoof, Balancer and a sprinkle of conditioning flakes as I also need to ensure she gets the Regumate in her (god knows what she would be like without that at this stage).

Haylage is pretty good, so definitely worth trying to get some hay from somewhere until we are working again... will phone a few numbers this afternoon!

Unfortunately I do have to trot her as this will have to happen eventually... To be honest, the walking has become a bit of an issue in the past week, so I was expecting fireworks, just not as bad as they have been. The sooner I can get this trot sorted out, the sooner she can be worked fully and return to 'normal'.

I have got some balls so will put those in with her, and I tie her up with my other mare every morning so they can have a groom and interact... I think this is important for her and it does seem to help her in her stable etc.

Sorry, had to laugh at the Equissage... she is the only horse I have ever known not to cope with the Equissage (and I used to work for the company). People used to ask me whether I had ever known a horse not accept it and I couldn't lie but how ridiculous did I sound saying, "Yes, mine!"

I am really going to push for the turnout idea... the round pen is only a 20m circle and her stable is 12ft x 18ft so reasonably big anyway
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I had thought of that... but I got my bill out from when she went to one last time (straight after colic surgery as we were going away) and I just can't afford it at this moment in time
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I have tried to find ways around it as we have a place not far from here that has a pool too, but with the vet bill and MRI to pay for, I cannot find the extra money for that!

Why does everything come down to pound signs
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Even if it is a bit further away, if you can find somewhere that she can live in a paddock with a quiet companion and be checked on daily - I'd go for that tbh. The way she's going now it sounds like she will either injure you or herself or both. It is amazing how quickly they settle once they learn that they are out and not going to be pandered to, so long as they have a friend for company. Obviously this might not be the right answer if the vet says more box rest, but I'd be strongly questioning them if that is the case.
 
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Even if it is a bit further away, if you can find somewhere that she can live in a paddock with a quiet companion and be checked on daily - I'd go for that tbh. The way she's going now it sounds like she will either injure you or herself or both. It is amazing how quickly they settle once they learn that they are out and not going to be pandered to, so long as they have a friend for company. Obviously this might not be the right answer if the vet says more box rest, but I'd be strongly questioning them if that is the case.

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There is just no where within an hours drive of here... We are in the crappiest area of the world where we have clay soil and the most ridiculous amount of rain that has come down in the past two months (I have now grown gills and am living up to my star sign of Pisces!)

I have contacted a few people who I know have 24/7 turnout, but their answers are all the same... they have brought the horses in from the fields and they are just getting a few hours out a day. I can do that here so no point paying someone else to do it
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I am just going to be firm with the vet. The original plan was three weeks box rest then return to normal following a few days of trot but not been able to speak to him since and got a completely different story from the vet that treated her last week.
 
I second the suggestion of a rehab centre - they are geared up to deal with horses like this and will have a walker too. Speak to your vet and see if he will provide you with a letter that states she needs to be rehabed on a yard with a walker - I would also bet that going in a spa would speed the ligament repair up too. Your insurance company may well pay for it if a letter from your vet recommends it. It worked for a friend of mine so would be worth you exploring.
 
I will phone my insurance company up and see whether this is an option as there is simply no way I can afford to pay myself for it, plus for the stable where she is now etc.

But you are right, it would be the best option.
 
Could you turn her out in your sand school with a load of hay, and only bring her in for the times when the school is needed? Feel your pain- our pony is off games atm and has gone from being a fairly reasonable old mare to being a liability, who is constantly escaping from her stable and taking chunks out of people.
 
No, not really... The yard is a stud so there are people coming and going all day needing the arena and the round pen etc.

Plus we are not not allowed to put haylage in the arena
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Have you tried feeding her Horlicks powder?

It was used on my boy who had 'Rodeo Issues' when he was backed, the yard gave him 10 mug fulls of powder a day to start off with. It was so funny he was really sleepy all the time and was too busy trying to stay awake to bother about trying to do his circus tricks (I'd previously broken ribs and my jaw trying to get out of a walk safely with him). Once he was settled they gradually weaned him off it.

We've since used it on a number of horses who are on long term box rest, and on the 'babies' when they go to their first shows etc. Works a treat. a mug full or 2 a day and it just takes the edge off and makes them 'mellow', stops door kicking and general grumpiness in the confined. You need to find the dosage for each individual horse though.

There's nothing nasty in it BTW.
 
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