keeing a stress head happy on box rest?

[Jesstickle]

I currently have a 3yo climbing the walls in it's box and it is only the first day.

Any ideas for keeping her happy? I'm picking up the Sedalin tomorrow but am looking for other ideas too!

 

[kirstyl]

Why is she on box rest? My TB would not cope on box rest at all, in fact would do himself more damage kept in!

 

[Ali27]

Has she got a neighbour to keep her company? My daughter's mare would go mad if she was in on her own and would def need some company.

 

[Jesstickle]

Company makes no difference sadly. She has horses all around and even her best buddy doesn't stop her weaving and box walking herself in to a state.

She is in for a kick to the hock which is still swollen after a month as there is some kind of foreign body in there. She is on box rest as a last ditch to get it to mend itself before we have to resort to surgery.I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced it's going to work but have to try sadly.

She isn't very food orientated either and won't touch likkits or carrots on strings. Silly creature. Will try her with a snack ball but she probably won't want it. She won't even eat her dinner/hay at the moment so can't see her wanting extra nuts!

 

[Revena]

I would recommend a very low energy diet (obviously introduced gradually). There are various toys that you can use for example balls with holes in them that you can put fibre cubes in, you can hang a swede on a piece of string, this will keep some horses amused for hours and others will demolish it in seconds. There are a range of licks I would advise against this as they usually have a high sugar content which your horse doesn't need at the moment.
As stated above, if possible make sure your horse can see another horse, if not possible you can get hold of stable mirrors.
If your horse is on box rest for a while try some readigrass/justgrass to keep her interested in food and try a bit of cider vinegar in her water to keep her interested in drinking as they can get quite down on box rest and lose interest quickly.

 

[Ali27]

Aww bless her! Hopefully sedalin should take the edge off her! I'm lucky that my stress head is food orientated and loves company!
Hope the box rest passes very quickly for the both of you! Is there not any way that you could rig up a small pen outside as sounds like she might do more damage than good being kept inside.

 

[Jesstickle]

Is there not any way that you could rig up a small pen outside as sounds like she might do more damage than good being kept inside.

I promised I'd try her inside first so I'm trying She was happy enough in over winter when the weather was horrid so I hope she might settle

 

[debsflo]

my stress head was best on stable size turnout next to friends with sedalin daily. luckily she was best with friends in sight.. what does she like most..