Post kissing spine surgery - how soon before introducing turnout?

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Butterbean

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As the title says, really ... my horse had KS surgery nearly 6 weeks ago & we are doing well on the active walking - up to 30 mins twice a day. However he has been getting more & more explosive when walked out culminating in him bolting off tonight, galloping round the yard & falling over on the concrete.
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I so hope he hasnt damaged his back muscles.
So it is starting to get a bit dangerous for both of us & I feel he could do with some turnout even if only a couple of hours in a small paddock.
Vet initially said turnout could be introduced after 8 weeks, I wondered how soon other people had introduced turnout?
 
I haven't gotten this far yet (stitches not even out yet!) but we are anticipating him getting bolshy at some point and have a couple of tubes of sedalin ready and waiting...... perhaps an option for you?
Also, what are you using as restraint when you are walking him out?

I'm sure my vet notes said turnout in a 20x20m area after 6 weeks, will check for you in the morning if you want
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ETA:
I have an 'exuberant' TB which is just starting handwalking after a tendon injury - I take her out in a snaffle bridle with loose-ish sidereins onto a roller. This keeps her from curling around me if she gets a bit forward and helps stop her turning herself inside out if the mood takes her.
Failing that I take someone with me who walks on the other side, again helping to keep her straight.
 
Nobody has the answer to this however I'd speak to the vet & the surgeon to see is the risk is outweighed by current situation...good luck
 
Heh...the number of times Owen got loose and bolted around his field just a few weeks post KS op.....arrgh I nearly died several times over!! Not to worry Owen is fine now. The explosive nature is to be expected after all that box rest! It is fine to turn them out in a small patch six weeks post op, definately.
 
Vet is coming tomorrow anyway to see one of our other horses so she will be able to check him out.

I walk him out in a bridle, not thought of using side reins etc but up till now I wouldn't have wanted to put a roller on (his wound took a long time to heal as he had a bit of infection in it).
99% of the time he is completely docile, just has become more spooky especially over the last few days, and tends to leap around out of nowhere.
Did think maybe some ACP to calm him a bit for walking, though not used them before so not sure.
 
Great to hear other horses have been turned out sooner, thanks Ouija_Board. I will mention it to the vet.

He has been rolling in his stable from 2 days after the operation, rears & prances in his stable at feed time, so I guess he could damage himself in the stable anyway.
 
Hi, Ryan is an outdoors type of horse and was utterly explosive to walk in hand, so even after 5 wks we only got to do 10mins once a day around the yard. Had a chat with the vet and we decided after 5wks to set up a pen in the field 15m x 15m and turn him out in that with an quiet old mare in the field with him for company. It worked a treat and within a couple of days as the weather was mild he was living in his pen 24/7, it was safer for him to do this that bronc around his stable, he was much more settled.

Svend recommended 6 wks box rest walking in hand, then 6 wks in a pen in the field with ground work in the school, then if all goes well potentially getting back on after 12 wks and turnout in the field normally but keeping things quiet if possible for a bit longer. I kept Ryan out with the old Mare for 6mths as it was easier and safer and I had the option, whilst I got him back into work but most go back into the herd well before that I think.

As long as you can control the enviroment, I think that a very large stable sized area in the field can really help them mentally and in my opinion, allowing them to move around more gives them a better start when you commence the ground work in the school and it keeps them mobile.
 
Hi sounds like he is feeling better.
When you turnout maybe you could do what I did for Ollie (on numerous occassions) and link 6 small paddocks -stable size- he will have to work out how to get through to new grazing and it will keep his mind occuppied.He can also have company which will help settle him.
 
Thanks everyone, B was much more subdued today (probably because of his sore legs, he has lots of cuts and scrapes).
Vet saw him and isn't worried about his back but is consulting hospital re the turnout. May not be able to go out though until cuts have healed a bit more and swelling gone down, small possibility he could have stress fracture aaaarrrghhh).
The good news is that the yard horsewalker (broken for ages) is operational so he has been on the walker today which is safer for everyone.
 
Please be patient, I didnt turn out until my horse was back under saddle and im glad i never. My horse came through this op when he was coming 6 and he is 9 now with no problems,just use some sedalin when you take him out to be safe. This is a very crucial time, hes come through the op well, dont give up.
 
Spike was turned out in a very small paddock 6 weeks post op. for about 3 weeks until he started jumping out!!
We then put him into an acre paddock eith 1 other horse until he was 15 weeks post op. Last week we put him back out with the herd and he has been very laid back about it all. We are lucky because Spike is quite laid back with box rest and turnout. Our physio wanted him out more much sooner due to the muscle wastage, I must say though that turning him out 24/7 has been the best thing for building up his top line and correct muscle in a week he looks like a different horse.
Don't rush turning him back out with lots of other horses restricted turnout would be my bet till 12 weeks post op at least. Good luck.
 
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