small turnout paddock for injured horse?

[orsceno1]

My horse has recently been diagnosed with bruising to his tendon which has caused annular ligament desmitis so has to be rested for 8 weeks. Vet said either box rest, or alternatively turning out in a small area as current thinking is some minor exercise helps the ligament? Anyway, would prefer the latter option if horse will behave himself as he is a real handful to walk in hand, even with a chifney AND stallion chain

but should be ok in field.... so how big an area should I fence off to allow him enough space whilst avoiding any silly behaviour (hopefully!) - anyone have any experience of this?
Thanks in advance

 

[Llwyncwn]

Is that the naughty boy in your siggy? He looks very much like my mare who, after having her annular ligament cut a few months ago was getting very much above herself (and me) during hand walking/grazing.

I used electric fencing to section off an area about the size of 3 stables together and grazed her in hand for a couple of minutes until I was sure she would behave herself. There is not enough room for a yee-haaaa so they soon get to grips with the matter in hand - filling their faces.

If you do this 2 or 3 times each day increasing his grazing time, he will be a much happier bunny to be lead back to the stable. I always made sure there was a treat in her manger for when she was lead back to the stable, i.e. Hi Fi Light with some swede in the bottom. Works a treat.

Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

 

[orsceno1]

Yes thats the little darling

He is fine to ride but when it comes to leading in hand, sometimes even when he is out 24/7, he can be a total devil, and certainly likes his airs above ground

Noone else at my yard will actually handle him cos of his naughty streak so you can ust imagine what box rest does to him, especially as he is eventing fit

Will try a paddock the size you suggest, and good idea to keep hold of him just in case! Hopefully it will lead to a happier horse and a less stressed owner

 

[Smurphy]

my tb has been on restricted t/o since mid july, (tendon injury) and I he is still nuts to lead!!! I have on large paddock that i have sectioned of into smaller paddocks, so i just move him round each day!!

 

[shirley123]

hi
when i was allowed restricted turnout for my horse ( damaged collateral ligaments in both front feet), after 5 mths box rest, leahurst advised a 10 metre x 10 metre. he still pratted about in that and was so naughty some days that i had to bring him in. on one occassion he got down to roll near the electric fence - touched it when he rolled over, got up and ran through the electric fence - very naughty boy!!!!
hope your horsey is better behaved and has more brains than mine !!! x

 

[kerilli]

yes, tbh i would find him a small area of concrete (a crew yard, or part of a yard fenced off with those high mesh panels they use around building sites!) this is the best things i've seen for tendon injury rehab. unfortunately no matter how small the paddock, if it's mud/grass underfoot (or woodchip, or anything else soft) horses play on it, buck, rear (i've had them do it on the spot in a 4m square pen!), spin round etc. concrete doesn't light them up the same, they can wander around on it but are very unlikely to do high jinks.

 

[Britestar]

I use a pen about the size of 2 stables, with electric fencing for one of mine. She is however, the most polite horse about electric fences, whereas the others would jump out.

I know some one else who used a 12m x 12m pen, but put another smaller pen inside it so the horse couldn;t get up speed and had to walk around between the 2 fences.