riding after boxrest

[rforsyth1984]

Horse has been on boxrest for over 4 months now - bruised sole/slight pedal bone rotation in right forelimb

The vet and farrier have agreed he can go out for an hour a day now, and be ridden on the indoor menege surface. When he has hoof packs on in a month, he can be hacked out and turnout increased.

So question is, what should I be doing with him in the indoor?

I guess it should all be in walk, with another couple of weeks walking once we resume hacking out as well?

But how long? And should I ride him every day (bearing in mind he is stabled 23 hours a day!)?

I was thinking 20 minutes a day to start with, building up to an hour by the fourth week?

Any ideas how to make it more interesting, (for me and horse!)? walking around the indoor for any length of time will be a real killer!

 

[Holloa]

hiya,
one of my horses has been on box rest since october- he had a tieback and hobday op. Its been a really long slog as he should have been on gentle exercise and minimal turnout 1 month ago, but as soon as we let him out for the first time for about 1 hour, he managed to get an abcess SO more box rest and bloody poulticing!
Anyway, abcess all cleared up now, but waiting for the farrier to come on fri, then we;re going to have him in a small area of the field electric fenced off, and start gentle hacks only in Walk for about 2-3 weeks, prob about 2-3 times a week. He's itching to go out, so i think he's going to be a handful!!!

So to give you some advice, i would only keep in walk until he has his hooves packed. Gently gently! do you have a horsewalker? if so, maybe you could mix up the week by putting him on a horsewalker (slowly) 1/2 days and then take him in the indoor school for 1/2 days. or just take him out for a walk around the yard for a change of scenery. I think walking in hand is really good as well.

Good Luck- roll on 4 weeks!!

 

[pinkcatkin]

I wish you all the luck in the world. After 8 weeks of boxrest my mare was almost unmanageable and ACP didn't help at all, in fact it made her neurotic. I managed her in the end by increasing turnout gradually which made her calmer and then I hacked her out at walk for 8 weeks before trotting at all (although we did quite a bit of jogging!) YOu are lucky to have an indoor school which should make things much easier. I would take it as easy and as slow as you can bear, much better to build up really gradually. I think that prolonged boxrest can cause a softening of other limb structures which should all become accustomed to exercise at a very slow rate to avoid any other injuries.

 

[jumpthemoon]

I've had a couple of horses on prolonged BR. It really depends on the horse how well they take to coming backinto work, and I'd say it takes about 6 months to get them fully fit again. Could you try long reining to break up the sessions a bit? Gentle polework? I wouldn't do any circles or tight turns for at least a couple of weeks - just stick to straight lines. Maybe an Ipod would make it more interesting, or can you put a stereo on in the school? I'd start off by building up to 20 mins over the first few days - 5mins, 10mins, 15mins, 20 mins, a few days at 20mins then increase again and build up to going for a short hack. Good luck

 

[Jomanser]

My boy has been on box rest for 8 wks now. The vet gave me an exercise plan for him, which started off with 20 mins walk on soft surface for 3 days, then 25 mins for 3 days - increasing till I got to 40 mins. Then start short bursts of trot. I cantered for the first time yesterday - woo hoo! Now just discussing with the vet when he can go out, as become very sharp to ride. Hopefully another week, and then will give him sedolin before I put him out.
I would be led by your vet and see what they say.

 

[Quarrybank]

My horse has just gone out after 12 weeks of box rest

However after 6 weeks of complete box rest I was able to start riding in walk only.
During the week I could only go in the school, but I did want to ride him everyday as, as you say he was in for the other 23 or so hours.
The first day I did 15 minute, then 20 the next & so on. If I was in the school, I built it up to 45mins & if we hacked I did up to an hour.
In the school I did circles, leg yielding, shoulder in & halt transitions. He was a 5yo, so this was all new to him, but it made it interesting & he picked it up quickly.
Out hacking I also did leg yields & shoulder in to keep him interested & less bouncy!!

After about 3 weeks I would trot for 1/2 a circuit & built it up from there. Again working on transitions rather than doing long periods of trot.
Good luck. It's amazing how they start to strengthen up & you'll know when it seems right to start doing a bit more.