'Re-backing' after box rest

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maxapple

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Has anyone had a horse out of work for a long time? How did you go about getting back on board?

My horse has been out of work since the 21st Nov after breaking his leg. After months of box rest (half of it cross tied) , restricted turnout etc he is finally out on normal turnout in a large field. After the last set of x-rays we got the go-ahead to start riding again (hacking).

His shoes are back on and he had the physio last week. We plan to use a wintec saddle to start as he has lost all of his muscle, and to start by walking him in hand in his tack for a few times first to get him used to the idea. We will be taking it very very slowly (5 mins max at first) and all he will be doing from now on is hacking (he is 18 and I am just ridiculously happy to still have him!)

Just to add - because of the nature of his injury, all we can do to start with is walk for 5 minutes or so and build it up very slowly. We can't do ground work as such and most definately can't do any lungeing / schooling etc.
 
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Think you have pretty much answered your own question. My mare was off work and on box rest for quite some time due to a tendon injury. As you say, hand walking in tack, flat surfaces building up to local roads. Then progress to ridden work, building up the time steadily. Introduce hill work, gentle slopes to start and so on. I did lots and lots of work just in walk for a long time. The trot work was later brought in and only uphill and in the bridle. I avoided the school for a long time until she had built up strength in her body/legs as didnt want to risk injury, it being so strenuous in there. We avoided lunging too.

I would also ask the advice of your Physio if you have one, your horse will probably benefit from seeing him/her when back in work, mine did.

Good luck and hope that helps a little.
 
I think you have plan already there with the walking in hand. It's tricky when you can't lunge to take the whizz out of them. My fella was on box and pen rest for 7 months, then walked in hand for 2 minutes at first then built up to fourty min. The next day i tacked up and jumped on!! but it's not something I recommend lol. We have been hacking out in walk for 45 min at moment and short periods of trot in straight lines for the last 2 days. So far so good. Ket us know how you get on!!
 
My horse has been off since august with a tendon injury. In April i started with 5 minutes walking in hand increasing by 5 minutes a week. i did this as she is 19 and our village is hilly.. Once we got to 20 mins i rode under saddle again 5 minutes extra a week. once we got up to 45 min we have gradually introduced trot,always slightly uphill and short amounts. we are now up to an hour daily and so far so good. i prefer to be cautious . good luck.
 
Our girls been off work (aside from a few months) for about 20 months in total now due to continuous lami, pedal bone rotation and an eventual diagnosis of Cushings. She's been on her meds since Xmas now and has been out in a miniature paddock just a stones throw away from her stable for 2 months or so now.
Sounds like you have a good plan there, much the same as ours!! She is 17 and very opinionated - she starts her walks next week and her first one will be a max of 5 minutes; don't want to blow her mind with 'new' surroundings! :)
My thoughts are; if we've waited so long for them to recover, what's the point in rushing :)
K x
 
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