ideas for a horse on box rest..keeping him calm when exercised.

[charlie76]

Meeka has now been on box rest for almost 8 weeks, 4 of which he was cross tied. He is not allowed to be turned out or let loose. The vet told me to walk him both in hand and ridden for three weeks and he wasn't to go beserk or leap about! Ok, easier said than done.
Well, got mid week 2 and he was bonkers so phoned vet and he said to start trotting him as it was too dangerous to ride him on sedalin or anything similar. Been doing that but to be honest, he is still a bit scary!
I am lunging in the morning, hacking at lunch time and hand walking and grazing in the evening and allowing him a roll in the indoor school.
He is on a magensium calmer and Zyklene calmer.
has anyone else used the zyklene?? He is on 2 sachets a day.
I suppose I just have to lump it, get on and pray to survive, if anyone has any bright ideas chuck them this way!
I am tempted to let him canter on the lunge and ridden as I am sure this would be less harmful that the ninja moves he does.

 

[AmyMay]

The vet told me to walk him both in hand and ridden for three weeks and he wasn't to go beserk or leap about! Ok, easier said than done.

Good luck with that one - and don't put yourself at risk. No words of advice, sorry.

 

[JennBags]

I am just about to face the same thing with my boy who has been on box rest for 4 months; I thought he was going to be turned out, but the vets said it would be better for ridden walking exercise. All well & good to say, but they're not the ones getting on him

Mas it was too dangerous to ride him on sedalin or anything similar.

Have discussed doping with my vet, and she doesn't have a problem with him being ridden under sedalin or ACP. I know my instructor has one horse ridden under sedalin (don't know why, but he is a very good horseman, and if he rides under sedalin there is a good reason!).

 

[itsmyparty]

OH is just bringing our 17'2" Irish TB (ex racer) back into work after 18 months off. First 2months in walk. Vet advised Sedalin. He gets one section of the sedalin tube (or less) an hour before ridden and it makes it safer for all concerned. Wonder why your vet thinks it's not safe?

 

[maxapple]

I've just started walking my Tb out in hand after 15 weeks box rest. I am giving him 2measures of sedaline. He has been really good so far (Apart from a spook on the first day when he reared and clonked me on the head - definately wear a hat! There's a hoof print on mine). Today he felt a bit more alert / nervous - possibly due to the wind.

I know its important for his recovery but I don;t really enjoy doing it - it feels like he could just flip at any minute!

 

[Izzwizz]

My mare was on box rest for around 14 months, the last 3 of those were ridden but she had to stay in. The previous 2 months had been walking in hand round the yard and then round the block. I fed her NAF Magic and that helped but we didnt use Sedalin or anything like it. She was a bit boingy when doing the handwalking now and again, moreso when other horses were coming and going to the field. Riding out she was ok until anything ran around in a field we may have been going past, she wanted to join in and it was a bit hairy at times. On the whole she was good and settled down,as long as she was out with a good steady horse for company on the roads. The ridden work was necessary so that when she went out in the field, she could cope with the freedom of being turned out and being left to her own devices. She was recovering from a tear to her DDFT so it was very important to follow the vets advice and get her strong. Shes now sound.