What would you do??

C

charlie55

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Ok abit of background:

Jack has been on box rest for 6 weeks after a fall in the field, he damaged his ligament in his stifle.

He has been an angel on Global herbs box rest, but, understandably, he is getting fed up now and desperatly wants to go out. He's perfect temperment is slowly dissapearing.

Anyway, today the 6 weeks are over YAY!!
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But now i have a problem with the weather!! Ive got a little paddock for him to go out in, it hasnt been used for 5 weeks so its not slippery, and does have some nice grass in there to keep him occupied. And hes best friend will be in the field next door.

With this frost though, the ground is very hard.

This weather is expected to stay frosty for another two weeks at least, i cant keep him in another fortnight, its not fair on him.
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Options i can think of....

1) Give him sedalin, boot him up and wait till this afternoon and just put him out, and have everything crossed!! (hes allowed out for two hours today and build it up everyday)

2) Give him sedalin and turn him in the indoor school first, then turn him out in the field, could get energy out of him, but, it could also wind him up and make him worse....

3) Leave him in until the weather improves....

4)Stop being such a t@rt, have a vodka, drug him up, and stick him out!

Over to you, im so scared!! Really dont want him going back to square one
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xx
 
I would wait until frost has gone out of the ground before you turn him out. Even if the surface looks ok, often it's still hard underneath. Can he not go in the indoor school until the weather gets warmer? Just a short time with some sedalin at first? Good luck!
 
Is he usually a prat when turned out?

If the vet has given all clear for turnout - then personally i'd just get on with it. Sticking a nice pile of hay in there for him to munch on.


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When I turned Fin out for the first time after 3 months box rest, we put him in the lunge pen first (right next to the fields, he could see all his friends). He went bananas, broncing and galloping in circles, wouldn't settle (even with a pile of hay)and I thought 'oh gawd, what's he going to be like in the field'.

Put him out in the field - he had a gentle wander around then put his head down and ate! That was it! I think putting him in the area he associates with exercise just wound him up, but once he was back in 'grazing land', he was perfectly happy!
 
I'd be sticking boots on and putting him out. Wouldn't bother with the sedalin either unless he's an easily wound-up type. IME most horses will have a brief run round but are then more interested in the grass when they've not been out in weeks. As you've mentioned, you could always stick him out in the school for a bit first if you want to get the worst of his energy off. Good luck, whatever you decide!
 
He isnt normally a prat when turned out, to be honest he is such a greedy little bugger i think grass will be alot more important then running around. (hopefully)...

I think il wait till about 1 ish and turn him out. Wish me luck xx
 
restrict his feed/hay on the morning whenever you do decide to turnout - he'll want to eat soo much that fingers crossed he do just that,
other than that, sedalin and a quite companion that's not going to react to him,
and do some walking out in hand to get him used to leaving the stable and being under control (use a chifney/bridle)

-there's a similar post from yesterday I think....
 
Agree with Peacelily, if he is greedy turn him out hungry. I worked at a yard that didnt turn out at all in winter, so every spring we had to get them out after months of not being near a field, we always turned them out hungry as they would settle to eat so much faster.
I would also boot up but proberly wouldnt bother with the school.
 
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