When can i start lunging again after laminitis?

[Montyforever]

My mare went down with acute laminitis four weeks ago in 3 feet, it was the second time shes had it (she had lami before i got her) but luckily no rotations and after 2 weeks of box rest she was able to go out for an hour a day in a pen. Shes now gone up to half a day in her pen and shes no longer lame or coming in with pulses in her legs and her hooves are not warm at all. Shes in a pen roughly 18 x 18 and is bucking/rearing/broncing around as shes got too much energy Shes not overweight but i would like to start lunging her again soon as shes got far too much energy and shes very bored and tends to do stupid things when shes bored
So those of you that have had ponies with lami, how soon did you start light lunging once they were sound? I will be asking the vet first but just wanted some opinions

 

[ThePony]

I am assuming she has been under the care of your vet? In which case they are by along shot the best person to offer advice on this. Each horse has its own needs, particularly after something as potentially debilitating as lami.

 

[Dancing Queen]

i agree - the only persons advice i would be taking is the vet that treated her.

 

[Montyforever]

I am going to ask the vet first im just asking for people that have been in a similar situation how long im realisticly looking at before i can start to exercise her so i have an idea

 

[ThePony]

The problem is that each horse recovers in a vastly different time frame, and the time scale for starting exercise depends on alot of different factors. The vet most likely will also prefer to examine your horse and see her trot up before starting to be able to answer that question.

I'm afraid you would get as much sense if you posted asking how long a piece of string is!

 

[Archangel]

Personally I would avoid lunging because it is so easy to overdo it (bronc bronc bronc). It is not very long since she had her attack and even if sound the laminae have had such a trauma and unless you lunge in huge circles very steadily you are placing additional strain on the area. I would go for walking out keeping to the softest surface I could find and gradually build it up.

 

[AngieandBen]

^ yes that I'm afraid! I had a laminitic pony that was box rested for 8 weeks ( only a fairly mild attack at that ) but he was still footy turning on a circle on hard ground for quite a while. We started to ride him after three months, just starting with a ten minute hack around the village and increasing it over a few months until he was doing a couple of hours a day.

Tbh I don't lunge anything, just not keen, rather ride!

Each case is very different, but when you do get the go ahead, I would prefer to walk in hand rather than lunge

 

[fizzer]

How about long lining, I do this around the fields and do lots of figures of eight. I find it much better for one of my ponies, it gives her something to think about.

 

[seoirse]

The laminitis trust say once the animal has been sound for 4 weeks with no painkillers you can start light work, for a few mins a day, building up slowly as long as they tolerate it.

 

[Lotty]

My mare had laminitis last year and was stabled for 5months. The last month she was on box rest she was on no painkillers and the vet said I was allowed to take her out once a day in hand for a 15minute walk and a nibble on some grass. After that month the vet came out to see her in the school moving, once I unclipped her by gosh she moved His words were, you may start to turn her out 1hour a day building up every day, I could also start to ride her but if there was anything out of place I had to ring him straight away. We started with 20minute hacks in walk and did this for 6weeks then upping the time every week. I started to introduce short bouts of trot after 8weeks.

Good luck with your mare x