http://www.crystalandcookie.com/1470/227-sunday/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:38:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 http://www.crystalandcookie.com/1470/227-sunday/#comment-14966 OntheBith Mon, 19 May 2008 00:38:03 +0000 http://www.crystalandcookie.com/1470/227-sunday/#comment-14966 I hear your pain about a horse loosing it on stall rest. My horse, Gennyral, got a really bad tendon injury last year and was on stall rest for many months. The first 3 he handled like a champ. He got 20 minutes of grazing a day and 2 5 min walks. I am not joking though when I say that on day 91 he had just had enough. He went crazy every time I took him out after that. He never got away from me but he has a nasty size kick (who knew a horse could kick sideways?) and would bolt/rear/kick at least once a day. It was getting to the point where no one would go near him, my sweet horse was a monster! I talked it over with my vet and really didn't want to put him down but also didn't want to die caring for my horse so we came up with a plan. An out door stall! I was able to make a temp stall with electric fence and some posts (2 sides were real fence) that was just big enough for my horse to stand in and be outside. I was SCARED the first day I turned him out in it (if he moved to much his tendon would tear and he would be put down) but I went at it slowly. I started out attached, let out the line, unclipped and slowly walked away. My horse that had turned crazy took a deep sigh and gave me a look that said "I just needed to have a little space without you" and he was perfect. He earned 5 more minutes a day and a few feet extra for every week that he was good. My horse has NEVER been as calm and sane as he was when he earn his turnout time. Good luck with your guy. Oh and not to make my horse out to be too much of a saint because he had help. Right after we found out he had to be on stall rest my vet (who has known my horse for many years) recomended a long term sedative for him while injured. I hear your pain about a horse loosing it on stall rest. My horse, Gennyral, got a really bad tendon injury last year and was on stall rest for many months. The first 3 he handled like a champ. He got 20 minutes of grazing a day and 2 5 min walks. I am not joking though when I say that on day 91 he had just had enough. He went crazy every time I took him out after that. He never got away from me but he has a nasty size kick (who knew a horse could kick sideways?) and would bolt/rear/kick at least once a day. It was getting to the point where no one would go near him, my sweet horse was a monster! I talked it over with my vet and really didn’t want to put him down but also didn’t want to die caring for my horse so we came up with a plan. An out door stall! I was able to make a temp stall with electric fence and some posts (2 sides were real fence) that was just big enough for my horse to stand in and be outside. I was SCARED the first day I turned him out in it (if he moved to much his tendon would tear and he would be put down) but I went at it slowly. I started out attached, let out the line, unclipped and slowly walked away. My horse that had turned crazy took a deep sigh and gave me a look that said “I just needed to have a little space without you” and he was perfect. He earned 5 more minutes a day and a few feet extra for every week that he was good. My horse has NEVER been as calm and sane as he was when he earn his turnout time. Good luck with your guy. Oh and not to make my horse out to be too much of a saint because he had help. Right after we found out he had to be on stall rest my vet (who has known my horse for many years) recomended a long term sedative for him while injured.

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