dampened spirits,or something else?

S

skye

New Member
Dec 2, 2001
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somerset
www.catinthesack.f9.co.uk
hi guys,
expect most of you probably know my horse punch has been under the weather recently.(laminitis arthritis etc).I recently got the go ahead to bring him back into work slowly.(bearing in mind he is 30yrs old).But for some reason i don't feel something is quite right.He generally seems quiet,with low head carriage.He is in stable alot ,as the vet suggested,could it be he is bored or depressed? i've been walking him out in hand twice daily ,the last couple of days i've ridden him bareback twice no longer than 3 mins.He seems a lot happier when i've ridden him,to the extent he cantered accross the field when i turned him out.in general he seems very quiet and slow ,something that is totally not right for him ,he is normally very forward going ,interested in everything ,extremely bolshy and strong.Any suggestions?
 
if he's been ill for a while he could very well be depressed. when petal was recovering from her accident she was miserable and depressed for quite a while. what i found helpful was spending a lot of time with her, grooming, massaging, and just playing.
old horses don't recover as fast as younger ones, so he's probably just still feeling a bit drained.
i'd try cheering him up by playing with him a bit, and see how he goes now that the weather's improving and he can be a bit more active. those balls that you can get that they have to push around to get food out of are good as well, and if he's playing with it he might be more active as well, which would help the arthritis.
 
thanks es

He has been ill for 5 wks,and generally seems mopey.I try to spend the biggest part of the day with him,which is very difficult but normally he won't spend any longer than 3hrs without a visit (excluding night time)
He is used to going out all day with his friends,but obviously can't now.I spend ages brushing and give him a massage in the afternoon.He generally doesn't play with any toys i've got him in the past,but he does have 2 minerals licks which he has been using.I'm giving him his haylage in a fine net during the day,and a big tub on the floor at night.Any other suggestions to relieve his boredom? i think a lot of his problem is neing stabled so long his joints are very stiff and sore which is probably not helping! i also forgot to mention he has the radio on all day aswell!
 
how busy is it where he's kept? we're lucky to have a really busy riding school and yard, so the box rest horses have a lot to look at and lots of people talking to them. if there are other owners around, ask them to have a chat to him and give him a cuddle when they're about.
is he able to be turned out at all, or just when you take him out? when petal was just being walked out, i found she it boosted her morale if i let her think she was dragging me around and getting the better of me - she used to try, but she was pretty much three-legged, so i had to help her along a lot! i also used to get her to chase me for a carrot, which she found most entertaining.
hmm, what else. carrots and apples hidden in the haynet? swedes and things hung on strings? those lickit things are nice as well.
if it''s possible, moving stables for a bit of a different view can help as well.
i'll keep thinking of other things we do (we take horses for box rest livery, so i'm sure there are other things i can think of) and post again if i do.
 
thanks

The yard is very quiet,my nan owns the yard and i'm there on livery.His stable is the only one that looks over the fields where the other horses are,it also has a spectacular view of exmoor and the local coast line! but i don't think is eyes can see quite that far! he is allowed 2.5 hrs turnout and is walked out inhand 3 times daily,sometimes i ride him bareback.When we are out walking though he seems so quiet and lethargic ,not quite his usual self.If you had asked me what he was like to lead inhand a few months ago i would of said almost immpossible,i know he is very stiff which is probably why he seems so quiet.I have been picking small branches of hazel tree for him,but i'm not sure if that will affect his laminitis again.I don't know he just doesn't seem quite himself.I'm wondering whether having a physio out might help with the stiffness etc,and whether that might cheer him up? But i'm not sure if i need a vet referal,and if i do whether my vet would give one as he is totaly against any alternative therapy! He is currently having devils claw and MSM,which i'm hoping might help the stiffness a bit.Any other suggestions on inhand exercises that might help with stiffness? i'm not allowed to walk him over poles or anything as he must not bang his feet on anything because it will bruise the laminae while they are fully recovering.
thanks for all your help!
 
When my former gelding was somewhat stiff from a bad saddle fit, I had a fellow come out who was a massage and laser specialist. He had some kind of a light generating machine and first he pinpointed the areas that were sore and then treated each one. He also gently stretched the legs and massaged the various muscle groups. Horse loved the attention, and it seemed to help. Different problem from your older gent's laminitis, but an idea...hope he feels better soon, he does sound a little depressed and hopefully better weather will help him rally. Lisa
 
Hi

What about trying to challenge your horse mentally. Like teaching him a few tricks that don't envolve alot of walking.
Playing hide and seek with treats, or teaching him to "kiss"
might relieve the boredom. If those don't suit then try a few that apply to your horses personality. I also heard of punching a few holes in a plastic bottle and suspending it from the ceiling of the stall. He has to bonk it with his head to get a few kernels of grain to fall out.

Good luck with your horse.
from Susan;)
 
you do need a vet referral for a physio. one of our vets is also very anti, but i just badger him until he gives in. if he refuses, get a second opinion.
it can't hurt though, and i'm sure anythin that helps the stiffness will make him happier.
the physio we use gives owners exercises that they can do, so it'd be worth asking them for things you can do. we use linda clarke, my yard's dorset/hampshire border, so she may well work in your area as well. i've found her very good.
 
You could also try some aromatherapy to lift his spirits - several people at my yard use oils for their horses which are stressed, depressed etc. You will need to seek advice from a qualified person though, because some horses can't tolerate certain oils.

Have you tried tying him up outside a 'friends' stable so they can groom each other over the door?
 

Is it possible to turn him out more often during the day or is he pretty much confined to the stable? The fact that he has cantered around in there suggests he enjoys it. Maybe you could give him some more intervals out during the day?
 
thanks guys

I can't really allow anymore turnout than his 2.5hrs as although he is over his laminitis he is classed as an high risk case for another attack.He can walk quite happily for 20mins at a time.He is out with his freinds when he is turned out and is more interested in eating than anything else! He already knows a few tricks and will quite happily give a kiss for some mints.I walked him out with one of his field mates which really lifted his spirits.I alreay use aromatherapy for him which he also enjoys.Will try hiding treats in the stable,and see what happens.Thanks for all your suggestions,will give them ago and let you know how we get on!
 
Is there any way you could take him somewhere for a day instead of turning him out - for some different scenery?

Only a short distance obviously as his muscles may mean he doesn't balance very well in a box. Have you tried takeing a 20 min walk away from the yard.

A change of scenery always cheers my boy up. He is only 11 but he has the attitude of Victor Meldrew! I don't believe it!

:D

Nicola
 
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