mild PSD ...... box rest vs turnout

[Cgd]

My mare who i have only had 3 months has been diagnosed with acute PSD. On scale of 1-10 he says the damage is only 2. She wasnt riding lame but showed up in different ways - snatching for farrier, loss of performance jumping ( after had been hunting). He has advised box rest for 3 months with controlled exercise. Shockwave treatment once a week for 4 weeks . Am walking in hand 5 mins a day at mo increasing to 15 mins over the first 4 weeks. Then will be introducing trot work weeks 4-8 and so on. Vet is hopeful of a full recovery.

She has so far only done one week of box rest and i absolutely HATE it - its stressing me out and giving me sleepless nights. She isn't toooo bad but i can tell she not happy and i am sure will get more miserable as time goes on and possible a handful. I do hand graze her once or twice a day when i can.

I keep her at home with my daughters pony and he is miserable too!

Does anyone have any thoughts on turnout in a small paddock rather than box rest? I can make it small using electric fencing which she has always been v respectful of. Other pony can have paddock next to her.

After having a a break from riding for nearly 20 years i am pretty gutted to be in this situ after 3 months! and yes she passed a 5 stage vetting! After keeping my former horse for 22 years she was my next horse of a lifetime :-(. Did however want one i could compete! Lets hope she comes back fighting fit ?!

 

[fishy]

My mare has chronic hind limb pad and has been stabled since the beginning of June. If your horse's is acute then I think the chances of a return to full work are much better. I didn't have the option to make a small pen, but I know that a lot of people have done this. Starting with a small area a little bigger than their stable and gradually extending the size until they are back in their normal field. If you have Facebook there is a great group on their with lots of experience of this condition and very supportive. Speak with your vet about the turnout, ultimately you want your horse to be happy. X

 

[Cgd]

I have just spoken to him and he feels horses kept on box rest have a far better chance of recovery then those that get put out even in the smallest of paddocks......... I have joined the FB group too. So many conflicting ideas re turnout / box rest from what i have read its hard to know what the heck to do!

 

[be positive]

She has so far only done one week of box rest and i absolutely HATE it - its stressing me out and giving me sleepless nights. She isn't toooo bad but i can tell she not happy and i am sure will get more miserable as time goes on and possible a handful. I do hand graze her once or twice a day when i can.


It sounds as if you are more stressed than the horse, she may not be happy but seems to be coping fine, she is likely to actually get more relaxed as time goes on, although the walking may get worse, you really have to go along with your vet as he is the professional involved with the treatment, if you make any changes to his recommended advice your insurance may be void especially if the injury failed to improve or got worse by turning her out.
My horse had 4 months almost total box rest 2 years ago, he wasn't that happy but coped fine with a minimum amount of fussing, plenty of hay and haylage and being left in peace as much as possible, yes they become a bit institutionalised but they do move on once they get back to normality. I would actually sleep less at night thinking of them out in a small pen with the wind potentially blowing the fence down, during the day I would be constantly going to check they had not got tangled up, at least in the stable there are no outside influences to worry about.

 

[Cgd]

yes i will stick with the vet advice and hopefully in time i will adjust and stop feel so guilty. Fingers crossed x