Turning out on Sat for the first time since Nov - help

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zoesophie

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OK so Oscar has been on Box rest since end of Nov/start of Dec recovering from colic surgery. The field we have been given is about a 5 min walk from his box which is gonna be tricky coz hes so excited already about going out for grass in hand
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Last time he was on box rest we were given sedaline (sp?) for the first turn out but it did NOTHING
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. Hes gonna be in a tiny part of a bigger field by himself so he cant run around too much.

Any tips for getting him to the field and keeping him calm. We already have a chifney on stand by
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Lots of ACP? First time I turned Daisy out after box rest in the summer she went completely mad and bronked and reared around the very small field we had let her into. I felt ill just watching her
 
sedolin only works when the horse is calm, if it's already wound up it doesn't seem to have much effect.
You have to play about with the dosage a bit to get it just right, every horse racts different, so perhaps have a bit of a trial with the sedolin tomorrow, so you know how much to give him on the day. And leave it a good 3/4 hr to take effect.
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Have a mooch with batch flower remedies maybe? Rescue remedy or something more specific could help him not to get too excited or nervous - there are websites that can help you to pinpoint exactly which ones to use for what, if you can work out if he will be silly because he is nervous, afraid or excited etc etc. If you ask your vet it might be ok to use it along with sedalin as its 100% natural.

Could you block off any undesireable exits and make a sort of corridor down to that field, so if he did get loose he wouldn't get into harm (apart from the slight issue of the exertion he's be doing!!)

and... could you have something with you to entertain him and keep his mind off the excitement - maybe plenty of his fav treats in your hand for him to be focused on rather than the big wide exciting world?
 
Thanks naturally. Do you have any of the websites to hand
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Its deffo excitement
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The walk to his new field is down a strip inbetween two fields and luckily has gates at either end so we will make sure they are shut. Its not that he will run off from his mum (hes a mummys boy) but he just jumps about like a foal and at 17.1 its a bit daunting.
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He loves his lick-it so may take that up for the walk to keep his attention - good plan
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We turned a horse out last week that had been on box rest for a while.

He was put loose in the school for half an hour first - so he could kick up his heals in a confined space.

He then went out with a quite companion.

Good luck - it's always soooo nerve wracking!
 
I had to use ACP and Valium with my boy who had been on box rest (navicular) for a similar length of time - I was so worried about what he would do, since he managed to double-barrel me in the stomach when I was leading him out for grass in hand
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I was told years ago that a horse turned out with a bridle on (assuming your fencing is ok and bridle can't get caught on anything) is more likely to stay quiet. My old eventer was a nutter in the field and jumped out regularly. Each time he had to stand in we couldn't risk sedative as he had a dodgy tum we used bachs rescue remedy and then grazed him on a lunge rope for the first couple of days and then on day 4 gently undid the clip. Although he did turn himself up side down he wasn't as fast as the excitement had gone by grazing in hand in the small patch first. We also left him with bridle on which definately had him easier to handle and quieter. We started with just 20mins out 2 or 3 times per day so he got over the excitement of going to and from the field. Also put hay and chaff down to distract him as he was a real foody.
 
Are you able to graze him in hand within this confined area for 20 minutes or so or even longer ... and then when you see that the grass is really mesmerising him, unclip the lead rope (I know it is not recommended to leave HC on
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)

...and hope
a) he does not notice
b) his friends don't suddenly start to jump about
c) a helicoper doesn't fly over (one of those lovely 'CHINOOK' ones
d) a hot air balloon doesn't drift past
e) an unexpected 'friend' who is noisy doesn't appear
f) another horse is walk past you
g) .... something else
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I did this to my old boy after 5 months of box rest and it did work
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however I must say that he had been 100% being walked out for grass in hand anyway and he had a 'paddockette' of about 15' x 20' for starters
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I am so pleased you are at this stage... I am dreading turning out Grace for the first time
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She was last out at the end of October
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I would do what others have suggested... have something on hand to keep his attention, perhaps don't give him a big feed in the morning and turn him out a little hungry then he wants the grass. As you know, I wouldn't turn him out somewhere to let off any steam before hand with what he has been through.

I'll keep my fingers crossed it all goes smoothely
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And just be careful!!!
 
I would love to do that first but he would jump out
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as the school fence isnt high enough to keep him in.
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I debated about turning him out in our round pen first but worried its too small.
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Thanks I_should_be_working (me too
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) Hes going out a couple of times a day already but is getting worse. Main reason is the only grass he can graze on is right near the turnout fields so everytime hes walked there to graze he thinks hes going out - bless him. He will be in electric fencing so not sure bridle would be a good idea
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I put a load of nuts and carrots at the bottom of a bucket and carried it with me - B was so busy stuffing herself she didn't notice she was in her field. She is very food orientated tho.
 
hehe thanks both of you - think I will have take something to steady my nerves
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Ill try his lick-it Zalacca - he LOVES it
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Thanks all - very helpful advise!
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hi you try what works for my mare, has limited turnout in the winter as very prone to mud fever, sometimes not out for months at a time. the best way with her is to semi starve the night before 1/2 ratios put large pile of haylage in the field near the gate. instead the normal wall of death impression leaping bronking etc only has one fart and trot and eats, cheaper and nicer than sedation. only semi starved so don't have to worry about colic etc been doing this for two years and it works.
 
Hi honey, that is sooo exciting. I turned out my 3 yr old after 10 weeks of box rest last weekend. Luckily he was as good as gold, only he grew about two hands on the way up to the field, but didn't jump about at all. Then the headcollar came off and that was it he went mad, moved his best friend over with him and he didn't want to run around so kept my youngster quite quiet thankfully. Mine had just been recovering from a hernia operation. I don't really know what to suggest everyone's posts above seem to have covered all angles.
 
Thanks holyandivy123. I had planned to starve him a bit but am also now paranoid he will get colic again. Sounds like you are a pro at this kind of thing
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Im hoping Im worrying about nothing, but we shall see
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Hi luv! Sorry I didnt come over the other week
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I was really hoping he could go out with his best buddy coz he would have kept him calm but he left last wednesday and now Oscar is pining after him.
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Think hes gay
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Im gonna try to video the release so you can all see how it goes
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I was going to suggest the starving them bit (that's what I did with my mare, plus a fair few ACPs and it worked a treat), but difficult with a recent colic patient.

Hope it goes smoothly for you, its so horrible till its done - I spent all morning faffing around to avoid putting mine out the first day, then thankfully she went completely against the grain and was quiet as a lamb!

Good luck
 
When I turned Missie out after boxrest we put her in a small field with a quiet companion away from the others, and gave her her breakfast in the field to distract her. I also gave her some Global Herbs Turnout the night before and that morning. She was fine, but then she is quite a sensible mare generally speaking.
 
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