If Grace's ligament wasn't buggered before, it will be now!

It sounds like it was the other horse coming into the school that triggered Grace's explosion. I know it's hard on a livery yard but can you ask people not to use the school whilst you're walking Grace? It won't be forever and I'm sure people will understand.

I'd definitely get it rescanned as soon as possible - it'll be the only thing that will reassure you so press the specialist to give you an appointment as soon as possible.
 
I just want to ride her again!!!

I am getting so very frustrated sat here at home... the vet has not phoned back yet even though he said he would an hour and a half a go
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It broke my heart watching her because she looked absolutely beautiful... what presence that horse has when she is on one, she is a real head turner when she behaves like that. The trot was just gorgeous, really floaty and pingy. You know when you watch these videos of young horses being free schooled that are an absolutely ridiculous price? That is what she looked like
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Side reins could be an option... just worried about if she does start being a prat that she will go up in them as not really had them on that much in the past. But definitely a thought
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I have to say, people telling me their horses have galloped off etc after a similar period of time is making me feel slightly better. I have never dealt with a ligament injury before, so I have no idea of how long they take to heal to a stage where they can be used normally for short periods
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Wiz had done his front suspensory ligaments in as well, both front legs and one day decided to jump over the wheel barrow and career across the yard when on box rest. He was fine.

Go have a cuppa and calm down. Horses are made of tough stuff.
 
I have just read all these answers, and it sounds to me as though you have some fantastic advice, support and that it's highly unlikely she has done any further lasting damage.

Take heart, it's hard when you're at home, not riding, waiting for a call, but definitely do not write her off. You are taking it very hard, and you have obviously had a bit of a shock. But stick with the programme. Wait for a scan. I bet she'll still be on the road to recovery. Even if it's a couple of weeks longer.

You say she looked gorgeous when she was pratting about? Did she look lame?

Patience and positive thinking.

Also, I agree with some of the other answers, lead her out in bit, chain, really firmly, make her toe the line, she has to because she's worth it. The give her grass in the stable. Or readigrass.

((hugs))
 
She did not look lame at all when she was being a complete prat... the left hind was coming right underneath her and pushing off with a lot of force which was how she was so elevanted (but that is what worries me). It is so tempting to put her on a lunge and trot her in a circle because I could see it as plain as anything when she did it, but again that is not an option!

I have rooted her bridle out, and have also found the coupling chain (I don't have a chain lead rope) so that will be going on tonight!
 
i know what you mean they never do look lame when they are being stupid mine never did she never came 100% sound and looked great
put that bridle on and you never know she might be a little angel tonight for you
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When H was coming off box rest he had acp and still had to have 2 people lead him, one from each side to stop him getting away. Might be worth a try (not the acp I know but with 2 people) There was no way I could have held him on my own even with a bridle and stallion chain, but this worked really well. I couldnt let him graze either as he had a tendancy to explode when his head was down as he knew I had less control, so I picked him some grass each day instead. He had done both hind suspenseries
 
I think all the good advice has gone before so all I'll offer is huuuuuuuuge hugs x hope she behaves better tonight and then you can go home and chill with a massive glass of wine.

Good luck and everything crossed that she's not undone any of the healing. Chin up, you know you can do it, epsecially with this lot behind you!
 
How do you manage to find these horses Becki? I think you need to buy a little fat cob thats as hard as nails and will eat anything
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Try not to be so hard on yourself, ive got everything crossed for you.
I would speak to your vet and see if they can suggest anything. They will have been through it all before.
 
Boss exploded when he was on walk exercise after doing his annular and galloped lat out for at least 15 mins.

He was fine. No damage. He evented at 2* 6 months later...
 
Thank you everyone... Would you believe it, tonight with my husband leading her she looked like a beach donkey
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I went armed with her bridle and coupling chain, and hubby thought I was absolutely mad!

I still have not heard back from the specialist, so will phone again on Monday to speak to him
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Ah naughty Grace! I hope no damage has been done. Hopefully it'll be fine she'd surely have stopped if it had hurt her. Hugs to you x
 
been there too my horse was recovering from same surgery and kicked through the back wall of her stable had a bucking fit in frustration at box rest .i was distraught and expecting the worst but she was fine
 
So sorry you are feeling so fed up. No experience of ligament damage but when we first turned our pony out after nearly 4 months box rest, with a fracture, she went absoultely mad and I was just waitng for the bone to crack! She was fine and is now back to her old self. Try and keep your chin up .
 
Becki calm down, there may be no damage at all so stop worrying you will make yourself ill. I am a big believer in horses will only do what they feel they are up to. Whilst I have only read the first page I would like to know what you are feeding her. Mainly because she obviously sounds to be feeling too well. I know you mentioned haylage before (which can be potent if top quality) But what feed are you giving?
 
Stop it, stop it now! Had exact same situation with Will last year, he had a core lesion in the suspensory and was on about 6 weeks box rest folllowed by walking in hand up and down the lane/drive. He'd go out like a donkey then grow horns and a forked tail on the return journey, stand on hind legs and generally dick around. He was fine, it came right really quickly and he had shock wave therapy etc. which I think really helped.

I will add that as soon as he started in hand walking I took him swimming twice a week and it seemed to save his sanity and my arms. He could thrash up and down the pool with no risk to himself and he loved it, he was back in work within 3 months. I know it's complicated with the colic thing as well but am sure she will come right, try not to work yourself into a state, you sound just like me!
 
stick a chiffney on her...walk her round for whatever her "time" is put her back in..

not rocket science..
 
Stick with it, promise it will soon be over even though its hell at the moment.
My advice would be not to go in the school, my horse went ballistic when his feet touched the sand so we never went back in. Get a chifney, she will be able to eat with it in, they are so thin. My horse struggles in a normal bit but was fine in this. I wouldnt use a lunge line, if she gets too far away from you, you could end up double barrelled if shes in such high spirits. We used to attach 3 leadropes, one on either side of the headcollar (hubby on one side, me on the other) and another on the chiffney for me to use just incase and that was just for walking up and down the stable block.
I promise my horse was a maniac when he fractured his leg.
I tried Readigrass as we couldnt get off concrete without him going mad to let him pick at grass but he wouldnt touch it after a few days. I just handpicked grass and put it in a small holed haynet as his treat.
Dont give up, I know hoew you feel but you will get through this.
 
dont panic, i had an arab on box rest (legs stitched up from coronet band to shoulder after a trailer accident) and he turned from complete angel to a devil horse who climbed the internal partitions, kicked a hole in his kick boards, jumped over his stable door and ripped his bandages off with his teeth. we ended up putting him out on the yard. we have an enclosed yard and just restricted him with gates. he was much happier with a small area outside. it wasnt big enough for him to get up any speed but he was outside, could eat the hedges and watch the world go by with the sun on his back.

I wouldnt worry too much about her reinjuring herself, get it rescanned if it make you feel better but horses can do alot without reinjuring themselves, my arab climbed over the wall without ripping a single stitch out!
 
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She can't swallow with the bit in... she chews then it all comes out again mushed up
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Friend's horse was a nightmare for walking out when on box rest. She started taking him out in a chifney just for walkies, then picks a bucket of grass for him to have in his stable. He survived quite happily like this for 6 or so months.

There are other calmers out there besides Mg ones, which are rubbish IME anyway. Try something like Topspec. Also maybe try Equine America Instant calmer (can't remember the name sorry), a third of the recommended amount turned my nutty gelding into a donkey and he fell asleep.

Am in total agreement with Tempi, horse has got to listen to you and have respect. i just wouldn't let her eat when you walk her out, feed her grass later. Why would you want to spend money on Readigrass when you could give her grass from the field?
 
that's nothing - on Dan's first day of box rest after coming home from horsey hospital after the diagnosis of PSD and his first shockwave treatment he barged past me out of his stable, galloped round the car park skidding round the corners on 2 legs and galloped up to his field, finally skidding to a sliding stop in front of the gate! i just carried on with my walking program as before. after about 3 months YO banned me from turning out in my tiny stable sized paddock anymore and said complete box rest or out with the rest so I turned him out and he galloped the fence line for 10mins - he was only doing ridden trot work at the time. again, i carried on with my exercise program as before. it never did him any harm - he was sound all the way through and never had another problem with it. dont give up yet - carry on as planned and if it's safer to ride her then do that - i gave up walking Dan in hand way earlier than planned because he was dangerous - walked like a lamb with me on board - carrying a bit of weight will do much less harm than pratting around like a loony.
 
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Becki calm down, there may be no damage at all so stop worrying you will make yourself ill. I am a big believer in horses will only do what they feel they are up to. Whilst I have only read the first page I would like to know what you are feeding her. Mainly because she obviously sounds to be feeling too well. I know you mentioned haylage before (which can be potent if top quality) But what feed are you giving?

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She is on haylage (good quality, but not excellent), Alfa A (handful) and TopSpec Balancer with her supplements. She is such a fussy eater that she only has a small feed anyway. She will not eat hay, otherwise I would mix some of this in.
 
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Stop it, stop it now! Had exact same situation with Will last year, he had a core lesion in the suspensory and was on about 6 weeks box rest folllowed by walking in hand up and down the lane/drive. He'd go out like a donkey then grow horns and a forked tail on the return journey, stand on hind legs and generally dick around. He was fine, it came right really quickly and he had shock wave therapy etc. which I think really helped.

I will add that as soon as he started in hand walking I took him swimming twice a week and it seemed to save his sanity and my arms. He could thrash up and down the pool with no risk to himself and he loved it, he was back in work within 3 months. I know it's complicated with the colic thing as well but am sure she will come right, try not to work yourself into a state, you sound just like me!

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I really like the sound of the swimming... perhaps when her scar is further on in the healing process this could be an option for Grace
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I'll have a look whether there are any facilities near by that offer this, I am sure there is a new place not far away.

I am usually quite a normal person, but since Grace had colic surgery I have just become neurotic with her
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Perhaps if she ever does return to ridden work, I might just return to some form of normality!
 
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stick a chiffney on her...walk her round for whatever her "time" is put her back in..

not rocket science..

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For a start she has never had a chiffney in before and I believe this would just make her go up as she has a very sensitive mouth... I am not a great believer in chiffney bits, I have seen some horrific accidents with them. While they do have their place and uses, I will try anything but that I am afraid.
 
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that's nothing - on Dan's first day of box rest after coming home from horsey hospital after the diagnosis of PSD and his first shockwave treatment he barged past me out of his stable, galloped round the car park skidding round the corners on 2 legs and galloped up to his field, finally skidding to a sliding stop in front of the gate! i just carried on with my walking program as before. after about 3 months YO banned me from turning out in my tiny stable sized paddock anymore and said complete box rest or out with the rest so I turned him out and he galloped the fence line for 10mins - he was only doing ridden trot work at the time. again, i carried on with my exercise program as before. it never did him any harm - he was sound all the way through and never had another problem with it. dont give up yet - carry on as planned and if it's safer to ride her then do that - i gave up walking Dan in hand way earlier than planned because he was dangerous - walked like a lamb with me on board - carrying a bit of weight will do much less harm than pratting around like a loony.

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Oh God, I think I would just have crumbled
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I know I need to calm down and stop worrying as much, I am aware of that, but after everything that has happened it is so difficult not to assume the worst! I will phone the specialists and book her in for the final scan, I think I need to see what is going on in there... They wanted me to leave it another month because then she will feel well enough to travel. I don't think they realise how well she is actually feeling and looking!

I spoke to the vet at Leahurst yesterday as I sent an email asking for some advice on the turnout period... She is supposed to be turned out for 8 weeks in a small paddock but because the ground is so deep and wet I wanted some advice regarding this. She said I could just carry on as I am doing, or turn her into a small yard or arena with some hay. But make sure she does not eat any of the arena surface...
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stick a chiffney on her...walk her round for whatever her "time" is put her back in..

not rocket science..

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I will try anything but that I am afraid.

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but you're not are you?

most advice folk are trying damned hard to give you here, you come up with some excuse as to why you cant take that advice......

horses ARENT made of glass....
 
I am more than aware that horses are not made of glass, and how dare you say I am not valuing people's advice that has been given... I put her in a bridle last night as Tempi and a few others suggested, and I have spoken to the vets at Leahurst regarding whether she needs grass on every walk out. People have taken the time to give advice, and I am very grateful for that. I am just not willing to use a chiffney, I never have and never will after seeing what has happened when people have used them which includes a horse having a jaw broken so badly it had to be PTS!

I am dealing with two separate issues, the colic surgery recovery is the most important one at the moment, and the suspensory is secondary. Comments like the one you have just made are neither useful nor showing concern!
 
personally would take her off the alfa a too-can make some horses a bit beliigerent. even if its just a tiny amount seeing she on box rest it might not be helping.

I would also suggest, if you can, to take a break for a couple of days. put her on livery and get some objectivity back. you've been through it a bit with her and there's no shame in it
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There is no one on the yard who does livery, otherwise this is exactly what I feel I need
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She is on literally a handful of Alfa A to get her supplements in... she is very fussy and will not eat a lot of things. She also needs some condition putting back on her after the surgery and I was advised to give her a small hard feed by the vets. I have been recommended to put her on the Alfa A because of how it is digested in the gut, which makes it ideal for colic prone horses. I tried her on Happy Hoof but she just was not interested
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I could cut her haylage down a bit, but hate the idea of her being stood without any forage... and I have tried hay but she throws it out of the stable door (literally!)

I was wondering about something like Hi-fi or Alfa Lite if this behaviour continues. Saying that, this morning and last night she was like a beach donkey. Completely chilled and just pottered around the arena with me!
 
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Thank you everyone... Would you believe it, tonight with my husband leading her she looked like a beach donkey
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I went armed with her bridle and coupling chain, and hubby thought I was absolutely mad!


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Thats your solution then, get Andy to walk her out for you
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