If she carries on like this, Grace will never be ridden again!

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This morning I walked her out for some grass for 20 minutes and she was absolutely brilliant. No silliness at all walking to the field and as soon as she was in there she just ate and ate and ate
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Tonight, I walked her to the field and she was squeeling, cantering on the spot and then did three MASSIVE bucks! I managed to get her into the field and once she was in there she was absolutely fine. However, coming out, as we walked back down the track the squeeling started again, and another big buck
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I looked at the scar and it did not look to have done any damage, but I am so worried that she will have done something internal
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She was eating her haylage and had eaten some of her dinner when I left, but I am going to check on her in about an hour or so just to make sure she is ok. The area around the scar felt warm to touch, but then this is the first time I have actually touched it since she came home
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Really I should have done this as soon as she came home so I would know what to compare it to
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I will plait sawdust if she ever gets to the stage where she can be ridden again... if she hasn't done something to herself this time, then she probably will the next time she has a squeeling and bucking fit
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Tbh I'd be more worried if she hadnt been naughty.

If it was straight after the surgery you may need to be a bit worried but it's been what- 3 weeks now? She'll be fine!!
 
Exactly 4 weeks tomorrow she had the surgery...

This is the first time I have dealt with colic surgery in an adult horse so am super paranoid! I didn't want her doing herself any damage, but after four weeks I would expect the healing to be well underway. In another 4-6 weeks she can go out in a 50ft field, and in that she will certainly get up some speed
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Yeh dont worry too much... if it felt hot around the scar remember that they shave it very close to the skin so you will prob be feeling her normal temp but without some of the hair to insulate it! Just keep an eye on her.
 
When one of my liveries had surgery for colic at the grand age of 21 I undertook his care and he too got very fresh. He reared and bucked when on hand grazing which he'd never done before. It didn't do him any harm. But after being in for so long he was getting stress colic as he wasn't used to being stabled, he was out in a small cage at this time so on the vets approval I turned him out 24/7 with his friend on some good grass away from the other liveries and he stopped stress colicking and is now being ridden as normal.
 
Thanks... the rest of her felt cool but like you say it is right to the skin near the scar whereas the rest of her has quite a fluffy coat. She seems still very bright, and was banging and whickering for her tea as she used to before she was ill... I have turned into a really paranoid owner
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I felt the scar again as I was leaving and it was a little cooler so I am wondering whether it was just warm in the area because we had been walking.

I don't think I can cope with another 6 weeks of this, and then the added worry when she goes out!!! I have just read an answer to a H&H question on the website written by a vet and this is what it says:

Tim Mair MRCVS answers: There may be skin sutures that will need removing about 10-14 days after surgery.


The horse will need restricted exercise for at least four weeks; this gives the wound a chance to heal. After that time, the horse may be turned out into a small paddock for a further 4-8 weeks.

So following this, some horses will start turnout around now in a small paddock... Grace did not have anything removed or her gut cut etc. etc. so this has made me feel slightly better about her antics tonight
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She looked absolutely beautiful though... really athletic and elegant when she was passaging next to me
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[ QUOTE ]
When one of my liveries had surgery for colic at the grand age of 21 I undertook his care and he too got very fresh. He reared and bucked when on hand grazing which he'd never done before. It didn't do him any harm. But after being in for so long he was getting stress colic as he wasn't used to being stabled, he was out in a small cage at this time so on the vets approval I turned him out 24/7 with his friend on some good grass away from the other liveries and he stopped stress colicking and is now being ridden as normal.

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She can go out in 6 weeks time into a 50ft paddock which will do her the world of good. She has to go out alone, but I will try to put her next to my other mare so that she has some company
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I will see how she gets on, if she is feeling well and looking well I might ask about turning her out in a smaller paddock in a few weeks time
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I lead my boy out earlier today and I think his passport is wrong, judging by what he was doing above the ground I think he must have some Spanish blood somewhere.
I have been paranoid for 7 months now...horses eh?
 
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I'm sure she'll be fine and you WILL be back on her. Just give her time. If shes being silly whilst being lead out could you not sedate her?

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Thanks hun... I don't really want to go down the sedating avenue just yet as it is a long time ahead that she would need it doing
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I am a bit dubious about adding anything else to her system too!
 
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I lead my boy out earlier today and I think his passport is wrong, judging by what he was doing above the ground I think he must have some Spanish blood somewhere.
I have been paranoid for 7 months now...horses eh?

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I was thinking I might check her breeding
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I was wincing every time she did it...
 
Is there anywhere you can walk her thats very enclosed? Not a school though, my horse turned into Bonfire when his feet touched the sand, I had the same problem when my boy fractured his radius, I was supposed to build up his walk from a few minutes to an hour twice a day before progressing to turning him out in a very small paddock. We never got off the concrete yard which is about 10ft wide stretching the length of 10 boxes as if I did he just exploded. I just increased how many lengths I did, all very boring but I was told his leg could shatter if he did anything other than walk. I hand picked grass and fed it in a net in his stable as a treat which was a nightmare as it was November so not much grass about. I gave sedalin but it made him very depressed if used daily and it stopped working once he knew he was going for a walk and I used a chifney which helped loads. I was nearly crying when I first turned him out in the field as he galloped up and down like a looney.
You will get there and it will all seem like a distant memory when you look back at it.
Good luck.
 
The problem is she has to have as much grass as possible for her stomach... but I do have an area I can walk her around in that is enclosed but it did not stop her doing handstands tonight
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Its terrifying isnt it, I really feel for you. Are you allowed to give her sedalin. I only gave 1ml, not even enough for a 12hh pony and at first it really worked. Maybe and hopefully if you could get her out a few times she may settle down, once she knows she is going for grass???? The chifney really helped keep him on the floor though.
A horse on our yard was box rested for months and walked out in a headcollar, couldnt believe it. Hes a flighty Arab and my boy a ID x
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The first time I took my boy out to the field after he broke his leg (for the second time!) he went ballistic, reared, tried to land on my head and ended up galloping around with the leadrope round his legs for five minutes. He was fine! I honestly believe they know not to do something that will hurt them.
 
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The first time I took my boy out to the field after he broke his leg (for the second time!) he went ballistic, reared, tried to land on my head and ended up galloping around with the leadrope round his legs for five minutes. He was fine! I honestly believe they know not to do something that will hurt them.

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I agree - and the green grass will do her the world of good.
 
The best time to use the sedative is actually now not later.
What you do is give the competition dose of sedalin (vet approving first) for a few days, then gradually decrease the dose.
By this time Grace will be leading out quietly and be used to it, so when you decrease she doesn't behave any differently to her normal routine.
The explosions are because she feels well, but as you understand, she can't be allowed to do that just yet. Do you have a horsewalker?
 
I know it's a bit of a worry and I cannot remember what she was operated on for (sorry!) but when Ty ripped his shoulder open and went into the field for first time he galloped around and bucked and reared - I felt physically sick, but he was ok.

If you sedate her, surely she'll fell less pain? I'd think that was the worse thing to do? No expert though x
 
She has been walked already for two weeks at the YEC when she came out of Leahurst, so this is nothing new to her... We do not have a horse walker, but to be honest I wouldn't use one at this stage because she is supposed to be having as much grass as possible
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I think this is just something we are just going to have to ride out
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What a nightmare - I know exactly how sick you must feel watching her doing that. I can understand you not wanting to sedate her but maybe at least ask your vet's opinion. Otherwise you could try some natural remedies - Rescue Remedy, lavender extract etc. Or perhaps lead her out in a control headcollar? One of mine has been on in-hand walking for the past two weeks after knocking himself. If I tried to lead him in his normal headcollar he was becoming a nightmare but in his Richard Maxwell halter he's much more cooperative.
 
She was in her Maxwell halter
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She cantered on the spot and I stopped her, and then it was as if she was frustrated and started bucking
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I really don't want to start sedating her after she has had a general just 4 weeks ago. Plus she has to be walked out 3-4 times a day which would mean she would have to be sedated pretty much all of the time
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I'm sure it's a sign of good health that she's jumping about a little bit...you'd find it a bit odd if she was really quiet!
As I PM'd you, I took mine walkies, and grazed her in hand for as long as possible. She did the occasional air above the ground when others were galloping around, and most notably when a Hercules decided to skim over her ears
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My vets weren't keen on sedatives as they can affect the digestive system...slowing it down...which isn't ideal. I think you may just have to grin and bear it (or swear and bear it, which is what I did
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About the wound - you actually want her to stretch it a little now and again, to ensure you get a nice elastic wound closure, with less risk of adhesions. It will feel hot to the touch because firstly, (as someone mentioned) they clip the area to the skin, and secondly, the wound is still healing so will have a greater blood supply than usual, as you would expect. My girl also developed a bit of fluidy squishy swelling around the wound a few weeks in...but the vets again said this was just part of the healing process.
You shouldn't see any blood or other discharges though...as fluid leaking can indicate infection...and you shouldn't see any new bit lumps coming out of the wound (a hernia).
Pats to Grace, and valium and strength to you!
S
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My boy had colic surgery too he had 10ft cut out of his small intestine. He was walked out every day for 3 months and he use to do the same I would be left hanging onto the end of the lead rope. He even rolled each time when we got on the grass and he'd get up and buck and rear.
that was in 2005-2006 and he is back to normal and it never touched his scar but I worried just like you.
I think Grace will be fine she is through the worst now. Good luck
 
I definatly would not sedate her. I also remember standing in the field with my boy when it was time to let him graze on his own and I was petrified to leave him but every thing worked out in the end. I don't give my boy any un nessessary drugs. Better to be safe than sorry.
 
Thank you bayhorse and Shilasdair... What would I do without this forum?!

That was my main concern with the sedation... for the number of times I would need to give it to her, surely it can not help! I would like to avoid it at all costs, even when she first starts going out on her own.

There was no change to the appearance of the scar... I took some photos of it actually, but forgot to download them last night. Will do it today and post them
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It is strange because she has always had an odd midline which has a bit of a dent in it near to her udders. Spencer once asked me whether she had undergone colic surgery in the past but she definitely has not. So it looks as though there is some swelling when in fact it is how she normally is.

I just love her so much that it would break my heart for anything to happen at this stage... it's going to be fun today with the wind
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