Think you are doing the right thing! (NOT)

[Walder]

thought id do my horse a favour and leave her out last night for the second time this year - just been up the yard and bought her in to check her over ect, and do some inhand stuff but she is lame - exactly the same as last time she was left out 24 hours - now, i always thought if they suffered form arthritis it was kinder to leave them moving about but im afraid that will be the last time she stays out - she was also so stuffed with grass i couldnt get her to eat her brekkie with her daily bute in it! BUGGER!!! she isnt the 'type' to charge round the field with the others so i dont think that could be the cause - what are your thoughts on it? Im wordering if standing on her bad leg is uncomfortable - her stable has rubber matting and she lays down (she is covered in shavings in the morning - even in her ears!) quite a lot.

 

[gothdolly]

Sorry your horse is lame, I hope its only temporary. Its interesting that you say this - I wonder if the damp/cold gets to her even on a warm-ish summer night? Is the field muddy or water logged?

Cassandra

 

[Walder]

no - no mud or water - arent horses strange creatures? - just when you think you know something they prove you to be a complete idiot who should not be responsile for looking after them - she'll be sound tomorrow (i hope!) if i can get the bute into her x

 

[disco]

Hope your horse becomes sound quickly.

I think you ought play it safe and stick to your routine of out during the day and in at night.

Mine doesnt suffer with arthritus but I left her out during that hot spell we had at the end of April and she went like a barrell!

You had to try it though so dont blame yourself
x

 

[MagicMelon]

Personally I would leave her out. I know you say she's not the type to charge about, but are you sure? Id assume the lameness was probably down to exercising more than normal (even just being out and slowly walking about all night), so Id hope by leaving her out properly that it'd sort itself out and be healthier for her in the long term. I always think horses are better off outdoors, especially if the have athritis like you said.

However I would be very careful not to turn her out on so much grass that she was "so stuffed" with it! That's definately not good for her and obviously laminitis is ringing in my ears! Even my TB x who's always been slim, Id never consider putting out on loads of grass.

She can lie down in the field just as she does in her stable so I cant think thats the problem, although maybe she's not settled in yet so she'll begin lying down more outside as she gets used to it?

 

[ruscara]

[ QUOTE ]
no - no mud or water - arent horses strange creatures? - just when you think you know something they prove you to be a complete idiot who should not be responsile for looking after them - she'll be sound tomorrow (i hope!) if i can get the bute into her x

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't be happy saying my horse was 'sound' if he only came sound having had some bute. I would want him to be sound without it, really. Otherwise, I would be concerned that the bute was masking a problem.