Urgently need advice! Box Rest

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NB1221

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Just wondering what everyone thinks of my situation. My 6 year old KWPN mare has just been diagnosed with slight kissing spines and we have started to treat this with an injection, but unfortunately she has slightly torn her front proximal suspensory. She is currently in a field with a companion but she isn't the sought to stand around as she is quite energetic so the vet has suggested box rest. Just wondering what everyone thinks about putting her on box rest for 4-6 months? As the insurance only covers her back until December so we need to get it sorted by the end of the year. We have an appointment to have a bone scan for her next week. Any advice would be great!!
 
Can you fence off a tiny turnout area with access to a stable or field shelter? Many horse settle much better this way than on full box rest.

Its difficult with the ground being as wet as it is at the mo, though, you wouldn't want her on a boggy patch, and a small area could get cut up quickly.

Good luck.
 
NB1221 said:
Just wondering what everyone thinks of my situation. My 6 year old KWPN mare has just been diagnosed with slight kissing spines and we have started to treat this with an injection, but unfortunately she has slightly torn her front proximal suspensory. She is currently in a field with a companion but she isn't the sought to stand around as she is quite energetic so the vet has suggested box rest. Just wondering what everyone thinks about putting her on box rest for 4-6 months? As the insurance only covers her back until December so we need to get it sorted by the end of the year. We have an appointment to have a bone scan for her next week. Any advice would be great!!
Click to expand...

I had my mare in for longer than that with Lami

You will know more after the scan


You will find many who will be apposed this, but you know your mare and if she will cope with it ( under vets supervision/advise ) you have to do what you have to do. Keep her amused during this time with any suggestions here http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/horses-on-box-rest.html.

Pay attention to her feet as they will become soft, if allowed to do a little mouch then be careful and used caveson/bridle hard hat/gloves. , If you can get hold of a massage pad then she will enjoy that after the intro. A mild sedative might just keep the edge off her. Always run things by your vet.
 
My horse had ks surgery as a baby & was a pain on box rest. I put him in a penned off area in the field with an old mare (not in the pen) in the field with him for company and he turned from a nightmare into a poppet. I think he just wanted to feel the soil in his feet! It was summer so the weather was ok for 24/7. Is she allowed to walk from stable to field or has she a field shelter you could use?

I also used sedaline as and when during the box rest, but sometimes it didn't work if he was uptight before I gave it to him. He didn't need any sedatives in the field he just settled down and accepted it. This time of year is tricky so if you mare is out in the day make sure she has a field lick/football/Hay etc etc to keep her interested as there's not a lot of grass at the moment. Might also be worth looking at the ARC equine unit, people on this forum appear to have had some success with it, might be worth investigating if it could help with the suspensory. Good luck
 
I would suggest getting physiotherapy treatment as theraputic ultra sound will help assist the healing of the SL. Also a physiotherapist can give you stretches and exercises to help with the kissing spine. good luck :)
 
I totally agree with SullivanB. Therapies to promote healing and good homework done to strengthen the back muscles to hold the back properly. Those carrots stretches are for the back, as well as belly lifts and pelvic tilts. I've read that kissing spines is the result of years of not moving in a collected frame, so I'd keep that in mind as well. With a well balanced trim on her feet, you'd be starting at the ground and would begin to promote better movement. That alone will lift a back, as she is free to move properly...hold herself properly. I've seen it. I'd definitely go for a saddle re-fit when its time as well. Those exercises, I'd be doing before and after I rode her, would be for life. The only kiss you want is the one you plant on her nose. Best wishes.
 
You need to be guided by the horse - if she can cope, great, but not all do. A longer period of field rest might do the trick, but I would take your vet's advice.

Mine couldn't cope at all with box rest or even small paddock rest - if he had hurt another tendon, he'd have had twelve months off in a field and ideally live out 24/7 with sonething old and steady to minimise the silliness. Good luck, hopefully she will cope well x
 
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