raff's halo has fallen off, smashed and then been stamped on

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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23 March 2009
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South Lincs/North Cambs
www.poppywebber.co.uk
quick background:

raff, my beloved safe sane horse (bought to restore my unbelievably low confidence) broke his leg 6 weeks ago. he's been cross tied for 6 weeks. the vet xrayed yesterday and said it's healed so well he's allowed out in hand for 5 mins a day... took him out yesterday, he was good as gold. and i mean, PERFECT. he didn't bat an eyelid and wandered quite happily on the lead rein...

i was SO happy i cried, a lot.

today, i got down there, and was excited about taking him out again.
led him out.
he was well over excited.

he had a twit about. i growled.

he continued to twit about. so i put him on a lungeline instead of leadrein.

and still, he twitted about. and started to rear up. and spin his bum to me and threaten to kick.

i tried desperately not to give up, and carry on.

then he tried to kick me, he properly span round and tried to kick me. and tried to bog off. and he just exploded. he was solid and tense, and quivering and nostrils were almost inside out.

luckily my lovely (brave) YO was there (keeping an eye on me) and so i was able to burst into tears and whimper 'i'm scared' so she came and got him and put him back in his stable.

and then i cried. a lot.

i can't begin to explain how scared i am of all horses except for raff. he's the only horse i'll handle happily, and the only horse i'd ever trust to NEVER kick me. or hurt me. and now i'm so heartbroken.

my lovely YO offered to take him out for me every day, but i can't expect her to do that. but i am now genuinely petrified of Raff now. my confidence is so fragile, and i'm worried i'll never be able to handle him again :( :(

sad times... does anyone have any advice? pleeeeeeease?

:(


anyhoo, vet has said to sedate him. which we have (he was still being twitty) and then he ended up sitting down in his stable (big no no). i suspect because he was sedated.

vet has said he can jab him with something that will 'take the edge' off for a couple of weeks at a time... has anyone heard of that?

p.s. all the time he was exploding, all i could think about was Puppy and her accident, and how vulnerable i was :(
 
Please don't give up and don't lose heart. Poor boy has been tied up and immobilised for 6 weeks. His new found freedom has probably just got a bit much for him, also if you are a bit nervous he will have sensed this and you've probably ended up feeding off each other. If I were you, I'd accept your YO's help and take it one day at a time. A sane sensible horse won't turn into a lunatic overnight, you just both need some of time and tlc to get yourselves back on track. I really think the key to this is letting someone help you a bit until your confidence returns. Good luck :)
 
Oh hun, big hugs. he will chill out again and get back to being your normal lovely safe Raff. he's been on box rest for so long (cross tied is even worse obv) and it can make them utterly stir crazy. been there. not fun for anyone.
i'm happy to come up and help. i've got a good controller headcollar you can use.
tbh i'd let him wander round the yard (shut the big main doors) on the concrete for 5 mins at a time (he's v unlikely to prat about on concrete), and pick grass for him.
will call you tomorrow. xx
 
dont panic.you cant blame him,hes not being naughty and its amazing hes been so good for so long.take a deep breath and see what tomorrow brings and i would have someone around the next few times and maybe a sedative to take the edge off.hes not bad and he wont always be like this but hes been cooped up in a stable not moving for 6 weeks.
 
He is still your Raff - just a slightly different one to normal. Is there any way that an area outside of his stable could be cornered off so he has an 'inside' and 'outside' stable so he can be more active in his own time as such. I think you were doing the right thing in terms of swapping for a lunge line etc. The other thing that help a friends horse when he was on long term rest ws that he was walked out as if he was being lunged so bridle on ,side reins etc and he focused alot more than when he was 'naked' as such . Keep with it you have come so far in these six weeks :) :)
 
starbar said:
I really think the key to this is letting someone help you a bit until your confidence returns. Good luck :)
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i'm scared it won't ever return. i know i sound like a drama queen... but i know how totally fragile my confidence is. and i'm SO scared it's gone. this afternoon i didn't give him his afternoon groom... because i was scared to go in his stable with him. he was sedated and relaxed by this point, but even so, it was like i didn't know him anymore. he really did explode. he's not an exploding horse.

okay, i really do sound over dramatic. perhaps i'm just feeling a bit upset by it all :( and the anticlimax after being on such a MEGA high yesterday. :(
 
OK deep breath.

From your previous posts it seems as though you have a very competent YO. If she is happy to "take over" during this difficult time, then that seems perfect to me.

Like many others, I've been reading the Rafi posts, though rarely log onto reply. I'm sure you realise that most horses don't have the recovery outlook of Rafi purely down to temperament.
A few months down the line, you will have the "real" Rafi back and look back on this with disbelief.

Have a glass of wine or 3, then try to get some kip. It will seem better in the morning.
 
Eek, just an opinion, but personally, I wouldn't let a horse that had been box tied and then been a bit fresh when he was liberated wander round loose on concrete. Would seem to be tempting fate a bit.
 
MrsMozart said:
Hugs. Wise words above.

He wouldn't have actually got you, just saying "Look at me Mum! I'm better!".
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i honestly think he was angry at me. he didn't want me holding him, and was trying to get me off. that's what scared me.

my YO is SO experienced and fab. she always looks out for me because she's desperate for me to get brave. and she'd never over-dramatise the situation. but i overheard her on the phone to the vet saying taking Raff out in hand again would be 'lethal'.

i don't want raff to be 'lethal' i want him to be my darling Raff again.

*howl, sob, rock in corner*
 
Oh bless you, you have been on a real rollercoaster by the sound of things lately.

It isn't nice when they frighten you but you know by the sounds of it he isn't usually like it.

It was lovely to hear yesterday how he was healing.

He sounds like he is a one in a million horse so allow him a one in a million naughty episode!
Why not accept some help while he gets back into a routine and I am sure he will soon be back to his lovely self.
 
Normally Sane Pickle reared tons after box rest, he was utter hell! He is also normally angelic! scared me ****less! bit of sedalin and problem solved safer for everyone! After turnout he was back to his perfect self!
 
I think as said poor boy has just been shut up for too long, doesnt mean he doesnt love his mum. I was surprised how good he was for you when you posted about it yesterday but i think that was new to him being out and today he thought ah, im out again i want to exercise

Horses dont think oh my legs damaged I best not run, take your YOs help just for a bit, any horse becomes a fruit when box rested specially when he cant move, its nothing personal :):)
 
This happened when my mare was on box rest for 3 months. After 6 weeks I was allowed to walk her in hand 5 mins per day, increasing by 5 minutes each day.. She was fine for the first few times but then, she was a nightmare. She reared (she'd NEVER reared before r I hasten to add since) even when I put her in a chifney. She was doing "airs above the ground" and when the vet wanted me to trot her up I was all but ploughed over.. I put her on a Global Herbs calming supplement for the rest of her box rest as with being a twit on the yard she fell over twice :( Not good.. Can say the calmer worked wonders and when she was finally allowed out I ued sedolin for the 1st week. I can honestly say she quickly reverted to her usual good self and has not since put a foot wrong.

It sounds like your YO is wanting to help you, so let her. Yes, you are scared, but thats nothing to be ashamed of. He's still the safe sane boy he was before, he's probably just a bit fed up with it and having a "taste" for outside he wants more. As soon as he realises he has to have the time he gets and no more, he will accept it. Remember, he's getting used to a new routine as are you.

Sending you big hugs and healing <<<vibes>>> for Raff XXXX
 
Sedaline, my friend had a 17.2hh scottish sport horse that was a sod to handle at all times, he then had 4 months box rest due to a fetlock injury, there was no way after that anyone would be able to get him out and stay alive so every day he was given half a tube of sedaline half an hour before going for a stroll and it really worked wonders. hope you find a solution and make good progress, fingers crossed for you.
 
Ewwwww! snot bubbles :p

I think its all been said already, but I just wanted to say (((hugs))) for you! how horrible, and the same for poor Raff! It sounds like its all a bit much for the poor horsey, but I'm sure in time you will get him back to normal! In the meantime, good luck! Deep breaths, and a nice hot bath to calm down :o
x
 
I'm amazed he didn't do it the first day - but aren't you glad he's alive and able to do it! Horses DO NOT change their temperament overnight unless they are developing brain tumours! He's feeling mega-happy to be alive. YO used the word lethal about what he could (un)do to himself.

Yeah, scary. I own a TBx you can (and I do) put a granny on. If he is feeling a bit fresh he can be a total prat to lead. I have checked his frogs without having to bend down on more than one occasion!

Have a good think and put it into HIS perspective, and celebrate he is well enough to be able to do this. Many on here would happily trade places with you, to have their horses back and doing any amount of misbahaving.

You nearly have your old Raff back - forget this episode.
 
It is too be expect after what he has been through, I seriously wouldn't worry about it, he will be back to normal onces hes allowed out and time to be himself again.
 
starbar said:
Eek, just an opinion, but personally, I wouldn't let a horse that had been box tied and then been a bit fresh when he was liberated wander round loose on concrete. Would seem to be tempting fate a bit.
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At the yard in Dorset that Mousey's at they have yards, which are about 15x15 m concrete enclosures. That is the first place I would put a horse fresh out of box rest as, as Kerilli says, they are unlikely to prat on concrete. The yards also have big cattle feeder haylage bales which keeps them occupied!

I'm sure your Raff will come back - let the YO take him out for a bit and just stick to the grooming side to let your confidence come back. Good luck - fingers crossed x
 
Def take the YO's offer, if she is anything like my YO she really wants to help you.

Poor you and poor Raff. 6 weeks box rest is so long for a horse, there's one on our yard and she is behaving totally out of character. Everyone says she will be fine once she is out and back to her routine.

Once he returns to his normal routine, he won't do the scarey stuff anymore and your faith in him will return.

Good luck :)
 
Try to remember you haven't got the real Raff at the moment, he's been kept in a totally unatural way for the last few weeks so it's to be expected that he'll behave in a way that's unatural to him. He must have suffered total sensory overload & simply couldn't handle it.
He would have probably mentally shut down while he was cross tied & suddenly having some extra stimulation blow his mind.
It sounds like you've got good back up in your YO & vet so let them take over until you get the real Raff back again.
You've done well to nurse him through this difficult time, he's making a good recovery from a potentialy life threatening injury & that is down to the love & care that you have given him, he's a lucky boy to have you. I'm sure he will repay you tenfold in the future.
 
Just wanted to agree with all the other comments, the old Raff will come back, he was just mega excited at getting out. I think its quite normal that they are calm the first time out, almost as if they can't believe it, and then after that whoopee. Our vet advised us to keep our pony on acp tablets (she'd needed them for her box rest:() for a while whilst leading her out and again when turning out for the first time, and she still exploded. If your YO is happy to walk him out for you then let her, not sure if it has already been suggested but I would definitely put a bit in his mouth so you have more control. If you are worried about going in the stable with him just talk to him over the door for a while to get your confidence back, but I am sure he will still return to being chilled Raff.
 
Firstly You have the right to be frightened they are your feelings so OWN them acknowledging this means you can deal with it.
Don't beat yourself up over what has happened in the past. Be determined to move on armed with the experience (however scary ) you gained.
I am surprised any horse that has been on box rest let alone cross tied for that amount of time keeps any feet on the floor when 'let out'
The first time went well poss because he wasn't expecting it and was sooo pleased to be out .
The next time he suspected what was going to happen and was excited to get out .
If the yard owner is happy to help could you work with her perhaps one of you each side of him .
Maybe when the initial exuberance is over you could take him for a little time .
Success breeds success .
Try to make small positive steps .
You need to build up your confidence in small steps .
I would use a 'dually ' type headclloar or an bridle and a long line and also as others have said a roller or saddle puts it into a work context.
How many times can he go out ? is it worth doing a smaller amount twice or three times a day so it isn't one big exciting experience.
Horses live in the moment i am sure he wont think your a soft touch just because you found him hard to handle this once.
Put this behind you move forward and remember to breathe!!! You are lucky to have someone experienced on hand to support you.
 
I agree with all the others, he is having a little moment because he has been cooped up for 6 weeks and now he's out, the sun is shining, the grass is green, the birds are tweeting, and WHY CAN'T I GO AND HAVE A RUN ROUND???? Think of it as a toddler tantrum, he was doing the horsey equivalent of rolling on the floor in the supermarket sweetie aisle screaming his head off because he wanted some fruit pastilles;)

It is completely and totally normal behaviour for a horse in his situation and it is not going to be permanent.

As people have suggested, why not start just giving him a little scratch over the door and work up to more active stuff, and take your YO's offer up?
 
Oh sweetie, poor you. I'm another one who's been following your progress but doesn't normally post. You've been given some great advice and a very kind offer from Kerrilli (sp?). So, deep breath take all the help thats offered with grateful smiles and things will be back to normal before you know it.
 
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