Surviving box rest - long sorry.

H

Hovis_and_SidsMum

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 January 2007
Messages
2,711
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
I thought I'd post a quick update on Sidney and ask for some advice!
After the messing about with the other vet we finally got the head guy out middle of last week. He basically confirmed that she'd totally messed up taking the xrays and took a totally new set. The upshot being Sidney has fractured his leg. I can't remember the name but basically the top layer of bone has been splintered like the top of an egg when you hit it with a spoon (if that makes sense). Its not the whole way through but the worry now is infection and the bone chips.
They've taken the cast off and now have Sidney on high strength anti B's, bute, ACP and yogurt! They're coming out again this week to take another set of xrays and to assess his lameness again. The hospital were sent his xrays on friday and we're expecting their recommendations today.
Its a relief to kow what we're dealing with but the box rest is going to kill us all I think. My hubby (Sid is his horse) is so depressed and worried Sid will never come right. Its not helped by the fact he's getting increasingly agressive. What was a lovely soppy horse (with hubby) is being a lunging, kicking set of teeth on legs. He's never agressive with hubby but has nearly killed him the last two days. I'm the only one who can deal with him and he's as soppy as heck with me. Its really getting hubby down.
So any suggestions as to surviving this. Both in terms of keeping hubbys spirits up, mending whatever has gone wrong between him and Sidney and getting Sid through the other side. Any advice, positive stories would be gratefully appreciated.
 
When I bought my horse he fractured his splint bone the day after I got him home. At first they thought it was a clean break, but later (when he didn't come sound) discovered a loose bone chip. He was on 3 1/2 month box rest
frown.gif
.

The way I coped was to walk him out in a chifney - nothing less - so that he could eat some grass, you could get him some toys/mirrors for his stable. I used to let my mare (who he was friendly with) put her head over his table door to talk to him and leave a radio on. I also got him a massage from an equine sports massage therapist and that seemed to help him.

Another thing that migh help is not to over-rug as it becomes uncomfortable for them, I find. The less rugs he has on, the better - one thick one is better than 3 thin ones etc.
smile.gif


I'm sorry to hear his leg is broken. My horse recovered completely and I hope Sidney does too. There have been some real advances in fracture treatment in the last few years, so hopefully he'll be ok. It will seem like forever - but it does end (and when the time comes to get back on again, you'll probably wish he had another week to go
wink.gif
)
 
Poor horse is probably blaming your hubby for not taking him playing as normal (like any child would) so trying to take it out on him!
If you haven't already, I'd cut out all feed except a handful for his medications (perhaps he hates yoghurt like my hubby?!) and just give ad lib nice meadow hay so he always has something to nibble at. Always use a bit of some sort if you are able to walk out; can you leave a radio on for him (they seem to like something like Radio 4, chat as opposed to music!) can you leave a companion in by him too? What about some hens/pigeons on the yard too for him to watch?
Sadly for hubby, it's a wake up call to horse ownership where sometimes things aren't always easy and kind to us; at least he's an adult so can accept (or should) you are doing your best for the horse, can't do more and you have to leave it to the lap of the Gods and what will be, will be; he just has to accept that and take it on the chin; it's no good getting grumpy about it. (this comes from someone who was told by my OH to stop crying, you can't change anything when my Dad died, so I'm afraid I don't have a lot of patience with grown men being wittery!)
Good luck, box rest is never easy but the more chilled out you can keep horse the better, even if you have to ask others on the yard to pussyfoot about for a bit by not doing any more on the yard than they have to simply to keep your horse quiet if at all possible, you don't want him cavorting around the box because horses are always going past etc.
 
Sorry to hear he's broken his leg.

Re the box rest ,I have a mare who's just finishing three months of box rest. She's hated it as she's normally out 24/7 and she weaves and box walks.

Things we've tried that were successful were:

Using a stall guard during the day instead of the stable door and at the beginning cross tying her across it - she rarely box walks now for which I'm very grateful as she was supposed to be standing still!
Always having a companion visible.
Splitting her feeds into three or four a day with a little extra chaff in each so it took longer to eat.
Upping the ACP when she was stressier.
Carrots and parsnips for her to find round her box.
Haynet hung at usual height but from a string in the roof in the middle of the box so that it moved around.

Things that didn't work for her were:

Radio
Mirrors
TV(!)
Taking her out for a short while (just made it worse when she went back).
Grooming her - she loves it but then expects to be going out - cue even stressier horse. We found that stroking and fuss was ok but anything that made her think she was going out left her wound up again.

Hope some of that is of use to you. Good luck.
 
I think the pessimistic view is a man thing, mine always says "That's the end then!" whenever a horse has a moderately severe injury, and I just ignore him or say it's a good job his Dr doesn't have his sort of outlook..
You need to cut out virtually all feed apart from things like carrots and a bit of alfa A, that means you can feed any medication and make the horse feel it is getting a feed.
Leave another horse in or within close sight, and try and move the horse to another stable for the daytime, returning it to it's own at night. Sounds daft but that worked for us.
We had to have his mare inside on box rest for over a year whilst a crack in he hoof grew out. She did get used to it but would stress if left in alone. We have a mini shetland who is very handy for ocasions like this, he can stay in with minimum mess or feed and the big horses have company.
We made ice lollies out of a lemonady bottle filled with carrots/apple pieces etc, you thread a string through then freeze it, and they kept her entertained for hours.
We left a radio on all day, and gave her the usual toys like lickits.
If he won't settle give him acp with your vet's approval of course for a week, start on a competition level dose and cut it down, by the time the end of the week arrives he should be accepting he has to stay in.
Don't expect him to stay in on his own without another horse in sight, it really gets them wound up..
If you are talking about a star fracture the main criteria is keeping them in a box and rested, so you may just have to acp him for longer, you should also be giving calcium and a joint supplement to promote the healing.
Sorry just realised you already have him on acp, well up the dose!
The agression can't be tolerated regardless ofwhether he's ill or not. Tie him up by first catching him over the door with a headcollar and don't accept any agression.
If necessary one of you stand over him with a whip in your hand whilst the other mucks out. Or if he's fine with you, swap mucking out chores with your husband and he do your horse..
on the good side we have had lots of horses with injuries as severe as this and all bar one recovered fine. I poulticed bone chips out of one mare's wound for almost three months and she went on to compete again.
Not sure why the yoghurt as it will act as a probiotic and my vet advises you not to use that until the course is over, or it compromises it's effectiveness...
 
When my horse fractured his pedal bone he was in for nearly 6 months!
crazy.gif


You could try:
Mirror
Radio
Stable Licks
Readigrass
Freshly picked grass
Treat ball
3/4 daily feeds

I moved him to a stable where he could see what was going on in the yard. I used to make haynets up with haylege and hay mixed and then hide carrots and apples in the haynet.
I also used to put some carrots on the top of his bed after I mucked out so when I left in the mornings he was distracted!
 
Such a shame! But great that you've finally got a proper diagnosis. With box rest I found routine was the most important thing. I also found a mineral lick was v important as it is amazing how much dirt (and therefore minerals) they eat out in the field. Before I realised this, Jack kept on trying to eat the soil in the plant pots on the yard!
Also long grooms finding their itch spots really helps. Makes them feel better I think. perhaps your husband can make this his task - should improve their relationship together? Simulating grazing by hiding treats helps too.
 
Thanks all.
We will get through this I'm sure but it sure has been a wake up call to the down side of owning horses. I think hubby is just struggling with why "his boy" is being agressive with him of all people. Particularly when he is being a lamb with me.
Will definitely try a few of your ideas. At the moment he has a treat ball, a lickit, a salt block thing and isn't touching any of them apart from the treat ball!
As for the yoghurt the vet advised it. He has that in his morning feed and his Anti b's at night. I will ask again though as I did question it at the time.

Henryhorn - what joint / calcium supplement would you recommend?
 
Does he have another horse in with him to keep him company???

My lovely quite Thumper turns in to a raving loony if he's on his own - he just can't bear it........
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top