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Post by fantasykiger on Mar 1, 2009 16:33:03 GMT -5
OK I can tell you after having a very large horse locked up for few months because of a chipped hock and hock surgery. It is tuff to sometimes keep them from being bored and they do accumulate energy over time. Cleo learned to rear and buck straight up in the air without touching the sides of her 12 x12 stall..granted she was 5 yrs old and 16 hands. She never laid down the whole time she was in that stall, but she was always itchy and we groomed her alot as she was also unable to roll. After a few weeks she did get 5 min, hand walks (very scary, all the energy just wants to bolt). Hanging balls in the stall did some entertaining. She had a stall buddy next door at night (she did stay in the barn) and often could see the horses in the pasture, her ruffest time was when they kicked up their heels to run and she was stuck locked up. We did feed an herbal calm remedy as well just for good measure. Cleo' is a calm laid back girl, but confinment can drive even the senseable to react badly after awhile. So having your girl close to the house where you can visit with her more often and she does not see the horses all the time may be better as she has to stay locked up so long.
We did give her glucosamine and MSM in the form of Majesty's Flex cookies double the recommended dose on the bag, as the vet advised. Taking X-rays before and during supplement use over a year to see if it indeed was beneficial to the healing of the bone and reduction of arthritis. I was very helpful in the healing and while the arthritis didn't disappear that developed before supplement use it smoothed out all the ruff edges and most certainly makes it far less painful/irritating which inturn reduced the swelling greatly.
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Post by kigercat on Mar 3, 2009 17:48:02 GMT -5
Along with the lick it balls and perhaps hanging a jolly ball...if you have any large containters (I use the big 20 lb or so cat letter...but could use the 1 gal milk jugs). put a few rock in those so they rattle and tie them up to bounce around. My horses toss them around till they pin them against the walls then love to lean against them and rub till they squash.
They also make those treat dispensers where you put the treats inside and the horse has to roll it to dispense the treat.
Hey...didn't Mr Ed watch TV? LOL If shes close to the house I know folks have mentioned music...maybe put a small protable TV out there and see if she has any interest in watching it =)
Tough to think of things cause it's not like you can give horses a book or video game to play to keep them occupied while on bed rest!
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Mar 3, 2009 20:12:33 GMT -5
I know of someone who would freeze apple juice/water and fruit pieces in a small bucket - then give it to the horse in a larger tub frozen to have a nice treat that kept them busy for awhile.
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Post by lilnagy on Mar 4, 2009 13:37:26 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for all your ideas! I thought of a little wind chime for her to bump around (you know the horses that paint; well maybe mine can learn to be musical!), and a friend last night at 4-h recommended a mirror. She is doing well, bored, but still quiet. And carefully putting weight on that hind. The only time she lifts it to hop is when she is pivoting around to face the other way. And she has still not lay down, but after one of you mentioned the horse with the hock injury that didn't lay down for months, I am not as concerned. I hope she will wait to lay down until she feels confident she can get back up again. Lil
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Post by lilnagy on Mar 10, 2009 21:36:14 GMT -5
Today Isabel had her 2 week check-up, and the vet could feel NO movement in the bone where the break is! She was very surprised, and very pleased. While she did a rectal exam, she had me lead Isabel 4 steps forward, then 4 steps back, and repeat that again, and she felt nothing! She did say that her pelvis feels mis-shapen though, and that if Isabel recovers completely, she would like us to consider having her spayed, which they can do lapriscopically now. At three months, i can start taking her for walks, so we have a ways to go yet. Thanks again everyone for the encouragement, Lil
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dunbnwild
Yearling
Wild horses can drag me away :-)
Posts: 403
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Post by dunbnwild on Mar 11, 2009 8:56:41 GMT -5
That is great news! I think these Kigers--or maybe all mustangs--just seem to heal soooo much faster.
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Mar 11, 2009 11:39:06 GMT -5
Great news!!!!
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Post by angelsdream on Mar 12, 2009 8:43:26 GMT -5
Glad to hear that Isabel is doing better. She's a tough girl and what a trooper!!
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Post by fantasykiger on Mar 12, 2009 11:02:09 GMT -5
That is indeed wonderful news. It is so great to hear that your girl is healing so fast.
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Post by stlkigers on Mar 12, 2009 21:19:45 GMT -5
Awesome news...I hope she continues this awesome progression! Great job with her....
Angela
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Post by lilnagy on Apr 3, 2009 17:58:28 GMT -5
Good news for Isabel; she is 5 weeks out now from her injury, and in the last couple days has finally been able to get to her feet by herself! We discovered at some point that she needed lots of room to scramble to get to her feet, so we would open out one whole side of her stall panels, hook a lead rope on, and my hubby or son would haul her to her feet. A couple nights ago, I had to get her up, and I opened the side of the stall, and then went back to get a lead rope, and while I was doing that she saw the open space and started trying to get up. It took her three tries, but she was up right as I got back. She got up without help again today, though I tapped the top of her rump with a stock whip, which makes a noise on the horse blanket she wears, to encourage her. She had been lying down only once a week or so, but it is now every day, so I think she is feeling more confident! Thanks to all of you for your kind words! Lil
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Post by DianneC on Apr 4, 2009 0:12:46 GMT -5
Oh, that is such wonderful news. Sounds like she is really on the mend.
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Post by desperatehorsewife on Apr 4, 2009 9:05:37 GMT -5
Lil, that is such good news!  |
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Post by stlkigers on Apr 8, 2009 22:03:10 GMT -5
Lil:
How's your mare doing? Still well I hope???
Angela
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Post by angelsdream on Apr 9, 2009 6:58:25 GMT -5
Yes - Id love to know how she is doing as well. Hopefully great!
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