Work after box rest

[Darcey22]

Hi there
Me again..
So my horse has just had her hocks medicated and had 2 days of box rest. She is to be brought into light work for the next 7 days. What do you constitute as light work? I was thinking of taking her for a hack over some fields at walk and trot maybe a tiny canter? Thoughts please?

 

[Abacus]

If you're slowly bringing into work, I wouldn't canter yet. Start with a walk hack or two, then some steady trot, and work up to canter after a few days.

NB: when mine has had hocks mediated, the vet actually said to turn him out, keep him moving, hack in straight lines for a couple of weeks, and then crack on. The more they move, the quicker the meds work, apparently (although that doesn't necessarily mean fast work initially).

 

[Barton Bounty]

Id turn out gradually as you dont want your horse taking off and galloping about. Work wise, hacking flat and no hills, walk for two weeks and then build from there

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The racehorses get a day on the horse walker and in the field the day after medicating. The 2nd day they trot. 3rd day a light canter. Day 4 right back into work.

 

[Darcey22]

How strange. My vet specifically said 48 hour strict box rest afterwards.

 

[Abacus]

If I remember rightly the box rest is more related to infection of the injection site than to them needing rest. I’ve had different vets advise differently because of this (my current and most trusted vet says to turn out after the sedation wears off). Wouldn’t advise going against your vet of course but I think she’d be ok going back into work.

 

[Birker2020]

Having had a friend whose horse had to be pts after getting laminitis following prednisolone, I'd advise you to keep the horse in as long as you can and restrict grazing for a few days after that.

The weather conditions have brought about an unprecedented number of laminitis cases recently according to local vets. I'd err on the side of caution tbh.

Work wise, like a poster said before me, straight lines on a good surface, short periods of work, I wouldn't be trotting on the roads.

 

[SEL]

The box rest is to reduce the risk of infection, laminitis and makes sure the steroid doesn't leak out apparently - I had to ask because PSSM and box rest are not good companions

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The box rest is to reduce the risk of infection, laminitis and makes sure the steroid doesn't leak out apparently - I had to ask because PSSM and box rest are not good companions

I was always told to keep in for ar least a few days for the same reasons, even longer for a horse that is or could be more prone to laminitis.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Light work after rest means walking either under saddle or in hand.
If the horse has been sore for a while , he won't be using himself properly and will have compensatory issues /pain so you need to re-hab him properly and get him working correctly.
My re-hab started with 2 weeks of walking in hand , 2 weeks of walking under saddle and then adding tiny bits of trot.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The box rest is to keep the joint medication where it is supposed to be. If the horses tits about too soon the steroid could be dissipated away from where it was targeted.

My mare has special dispensation to be walked out in hand post joint medication, as the combination of the sedation for the procedure and then 3 days box rest can make her colicky. This helps to keep her gut working.