My mare is a little Gem (and called Gem!) Found her in the field with her rug underneath her and her leg/knee swollen and found she has to have 2-3 months box rest as she has damaged a tendon and also bruised her knee bone.
When I found out about box rest I felt like killing myself. My mare is very nervous when she's by herself but when with others is as happy as larry. She's currently in this field shelter that is now a stable as it shuts both sides and is well sheltered with no leaks. the shelter is in the middle of her field which is perfect as she's surrounded by her friends so she's relaxed. Problem is we're moving 10 yards up the road to a gorgeous stable block and 14 acre field, the field she's currently in is temporary and we pay rent for it. Next week we're planning to move her up the road to the new block where a warm, thick bedded stable awaits her, problem is:
We don't stable any other horses (we have 6) and when I tried taking Tara, one of our horses from the field today to move her to different yard Gem went beserk, pacing her stable and causing more damage to her leg. Does anyone have any suggestions to calm her down? She's currently on Sugar beet (beet pulp) condition and calm, with a calmer powder and 2 sachets a bute daily. Other problem is, we cannot keep swapping the horses round as she grows an attatchment to one horse, for example, although the other horses were still in the field when Tara was taken, Gem still kicked off.
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Please someone help I'm desperate!
Does her field shelter confine her to no more than a 12x12 space? Because that's what box rest is. If you've given her more space than that, it's an unwise kindness - she ' ll hurt herself moving too much.
I would try very hard not to swap any more horses around until you get her moved, and I'd only move her if absolutely necessary. Make sure she'll have the same horses around her all the time - don't move somewhere she 'll be alone in the stable most of the time! She'll quickly bond with the new horses around her, and settle in well.
Keeping her in the stall with her buddies out - even though she can see them - is hard on her. It might help keep her calm if you always have another horse in the shelter with her - her fav if possible, but any horse at all is better than none.
I'd also recommend reducing her feed. Just grass hay is the best option; lots and lots of it to keep her busy grazing on it. Sugar beet does not provide all the nutrition in the right balance, and is best used only as a supplement. If she absolutely needs more calories than she can get from hay (doubtful, if she's in good shape), then I'd try a commercial blend. They make them for all sorts of horses. Try for a low protein, high fat one.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com These things happen, and the time will pass. But she'll find it easier to settle if you keep a horse next to her all the time.
Can't you wait til she's better then move the horses?
If Tara is the horse she is most attached to the I would leave her at the old yard and move her at the same time as Gem.
Unless she'll drastically drop weight I would take her off the sugar beet, and the hard feed. Use a chaff of some sort, if she needs extra feed to keep her weight then try to find a fibre based one - in the UK I 'd use something like Spillars Conditioning Fibre - it's got good calories and protein but isn't grain based so won't make her fizzy. You can give extra hay - making sure she always has forage will help keep her occupied.
Try something like a treat ball filled with fibre nuts, hide carrots and apples in her haynet etc to give her something to do and she's less likely to fret. Try getting a stable mirror for her - make sure it's polished metal not glass for safety reasons - this might make her feel more secure.
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The other thing to try is if possible use hot tape/electric fencing to section off a small area (like 20 'by 20') at the side of the field which will let her go into the field and feel like she's out with the others without being able to run around. Put hay out for her in the pen to keep her happy. My mares also on box rest at the moment for a tendon sheath injury and was going mental stable and this has worked really well for her. Put it right next to the box if possible so she doesn't have to walk more than a few steps to get to it and ensure she's still got support bandages on even in the pen - you'll probably need a second set so you can dry her day ones as I've found they get wet.
If she's really kicking off and you simply can't keep her calm then talk to your vet and see if you can get a mild sedative which is safe for prolonged use, because as you've found she needs to not bounce around.
I hope some of this helps.
Try singing to her, when you are with her. Something soft and low. I have done this with my animals, it works. I am able to paraphrase any song and slip my cats name in there. it works. try placing a radio near her and find a station that has oldies. don't play it loud. it may help her relax. when you go to scratch her between her ears sing to her or when ever you touch her . she will start to look forward to your coming and touching her. when you move her to a new stall, don't move her alone, she is already scared out of her wits because of what happened to her.
