Turning away after injury

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smellsofhorse

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Is this a good option?
How long roughly is the horse turned away?

My horse may have ligament damage, will be scanned next week to find out.

If he has whats the general route?
Some box rest and treatment then turn away, or do some people turn them away immediately?


My horse may have ligament damage in the stifle/patella region.
Any one have experience of this and the recovery period?
 
if my horse had a stifle injury bad enough for me to consider leaving him off work, i would personally turn away for the winter now and then reassess in spring.

mine had a bad stifle injury last year (amongst other things) and it took him about 6 months for it to come right
 
You have to be a bit careful about just 'turning away' after injury. While rest can do so much, often further treatment (physio, walking in hand, leg stretches, whatever) is essential to a good result. And certainly at THIS time of year, being in a cold, wet, muddy field is not necessarily going to be the best option for a horse with an injury!
 
Turning away is not a alternative to box rest it usually comes after box rest followed by walking in hand , controlled turn out in a small area then sometimes walking exercise ridden I am afraid that ligament injurys are not as simple as bung it out see what happens. See what the vet has to say then make a plan .
 
a horse has just arrived with me for grass livery who is being turned away due to a bad tendon injury. Owner received lots of conflicting advice from various vets, physios etc but in the end a very well respected vet & their farrier suggested after all scans had been completed and horse had been on box rest for 3 weeks turnout over the winter was the best option.

She will be with me until late spring & will be re assessed then. She has been out for 3 weeks now & no flare ups!
 
My mare did have Chiro etc but I personally couldn't box rest her! She box walks, being chilled and pootling in the field was much better for her.
 
I would always opt for turning away and would only box rest if it was absolutely the only option. Mine does not cope well with being in, temperament wise or physically.

Got a youngster who was recently started and we think he's done something to his collateral ligament. Getting scans to confirm but assuming thats what it is vet is happy to turn away for the winter months. Again i would not be comfortable box resting such a young horse. IME different vets favour different methods of recovery.
 
thanks you for replys.
I was sure hoe pepolr go about this.
Whether the horse has some treament then is turned away of if they are turned away straight away.

My horse will have been on bow rest for a month next week and is having the scan then.
So options will be discussed then.

he isnt doing well on box rest so im favouring the turning away option.

(Goldenstar)
Also if i did turn away it would be in a lovely field with lots of companions ( i will search high and low for the best place)
No in just a muddy filed where he could cause more problmmes and not be happy.
 
Unless there is some complication such as an open wound or infection I would very much favour the turn away over box rest option. IMO many horses do more damage and get very stressed by being confined, whereas pootling about outside won't do any additional harm and will definately help the mental aspect.
 
blucanoo1990 said:
thanks you for replys.
I was sure hoe pepolr go about this.
Whether the horse has some treament then is turned away of if they are turned away straight away.
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I am about 5 weeks into rehab for a ligament injury (not stifle, check). Box rest and gradually increasing walking out in hand. One more week and then vet is ok for turning out, however with fields as muddy as they are I will probably use our school for turnout with a buddy for a few more weeks.

I would be reluctant to turn anything away without a definitive diagnosis, as you could well find the problem doesn't go away or recurs when the horse is brought back into work.

Hope your horse heals well :)
 
More thoughts on this...sorry but this is a subject that has caused more than one 'heated discussion at the yard!'

Obvs i'd always take advice from the vet, but again it does depend on individual vets and their preference. As an example, a friend of mine's horse tore a tendon and was initially box rested on vets advice. He was eventually allowed to be turned out in a small paddock and became increasingly difficult/dangerous to handle (i used to catch/turn out for her) and twice he got away from me. Both times he managed to get in front of me turn and came at me with his front feet. When being turned out he'd throw himself around the paddock, turning himself inside out. Because of the lack of fitness/movement, in my mind anyway, this put him more at risk of doing further damage. After much discussion with a vet (and some 4 or 5 months later) the vet agreed he could be turned away. He isn't sound due to arthritis but the leg has mended. Some cope better than others but even this calm chap became a nightmare.

I know you cant tell horses to 'take it easy' but box resting doesn't sit right with me at all.
 
I think im hoping for the fairy tale, turn my horse away in a lovely sunny field, give him a pat every day then when reassed he will be cured.

I know this isnt the case and usually the box rest walking out graually is the favored option.

My horse isnt coping too well on box rest.
he is hardly eating, tried bromide but couldnt get it down him, now on acp, but always depressed, has been seen bucking and kicking in his stable, so unlike him)
and at the wekend he had a frantic roll and scraped his face above his eye.
Leaving a slice or hairy skin on his stable wall.

So for the mantal health of my horse im favouring the turn away option but i know the injury may not simply go away and when assessed we could be have no improvement and be at the same point as at the begining.
 
blucanoo1990 said:
I think im hoping for the fairy tale, turn my horse away in a lovely sunny field, give him a pat every day then when reassed he will be cured.
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I wouldn't really call it a fairytale as it often works!

If I were in your position I would go ahead with the scan so at least you know what you are facing. If your horse is a danger to himself and you, he is better off out. It is NOT WORTH putting yourself at risk! He obviously finds box rest stressful and it sounds unlikely he will be safe to lead out in hand.

So, turning away may well be the best option for you and your horse. It really is a viable treatment option and not just 'ignoring' the problem. IME most vets will understand this. I am lucky that my boy is extremely laid back and is coping well with box rest - I can lead him out in just a headcollar - but appreciate that this is fairly unusual!

<<vibes>> that it all works out well, but please keep yourself safe :)
 
rhino said:
I wouldn't really call it a fairytale as it often works!

If I were in your position I would go ahead with the scan so at least you know what you are facing. If your horse is a danger to himself and you, he is better off out. It is NOT WORTH putting yourself at risk! He obviously finds box rest stressful and it sounds unlikely he will be safe to lead out in hand.

So, turning away may well be the best option for you and your horse. It really is a viable treatment option and not just 'ignoring' the problem. IME most vets will understand this. I am lucky that my boy is extremely laid back and is coping well with box rest - I can lead him out in just a headcollar - but appreciate that this is fairly unusual!

<<vibes>> that it all works out well, but please keep yourself safe :)
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Thank you.
yes you are right, theres no point confining my horse to a stable as this is the preferred method of treatment if he is only going to cause himself more damage mentally and physically.
Turning away may be the best plan for him as an individual.
 
I turned my horse away for 10 months and she came back sound after a tendon injury. We did box rest, steroids, physio, surgery etc! Nothing helped so the vet advised turning her away and 'see how it goes' we were both suprised she was sound. It's amazing what time can heal. Good luck.
 
Chestnut mare said:
I turned my horse away for 10 months and she came back sound after a tendon injury. We did box rest, steroids, physio, surgery etc! Nothing helped so the vet advised turning her away and 'see how it goes' we were both suprised she was sound. It's amazing what time can heal. Good luck.
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Thank you,
Scan on Thursday so will have to discuss the options then when we know how bad it is.
 
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