field been rested for 3 months..

Dark Storm

Dark Storm

Well I'll be a Krampus's Auntie! :D!
Jan 4, 2009
8,167
49
48
50
Hadfield
Been told twice now that the main field is being rested for three months. I felt like saying, "Well, at the moment, it doesn't matter to me which field they're in" :frown:
Right now, the last thing i'm thinking of is what or where, it's when. And when that happens, how will my horse react? I'm thinking, should I continue to give him hay whilst he's out, as i've asked for him to be turned out alone for a few days, and even then it will be for short periods.
Should I fence a section near the gate just so he can stand out in the fresh air? I really don't know how to deal with this until the vet give him the all clear. I'm faced with the possibility the vet will have to come out again (i'm reckoning wed/thurs), because I have the feeling we haven't won this battle yet.
How do I feel about him going back in that field? We'll never know if or what really caused his illness and lammi, I feel a combination of lack of grazing, crap haylage and maybe eating something bad is probably to blame.
I so want to wrap him up in cotton wool right now, I hate seeing him being forced to stay away from his friends, I know this time away is going to effect herd dynamics, and he'll have to struggle his way back up to the top.
 
Bubble wrap mrs!
I think you've just got to have a good chat with the vet about what should happen next, and then go away think about what she/ he says, and then call back a day later and ask more questions! Trust your instinct though, if you feel its not working, then speak up quick! More healing vibes to Shad x
 
He did seem more resigned to the fact he's in for the duration today, not begging as much, but then my two visits were closer together (i've been leaving a 4 hour gap between fusses), where as today was 2pm and 5pm. He still had hay, and was delighted when he saw his tea (which has shrunk to a measly portion, but hey, he's not starving or going out so everything has shrunk to match).
He seems understand now that he's not going to get what he wants most, which is freedom of a field with pals, which hopefully also means his stress levels are dropping, which can only be a good thing?
Nothing wrong with the poo department or the peeing :giggle: Water intake is normal.
 
The vet was pretty much in charge of my cob when she was seriously ill. She was allowed back out onto the grazing for an hour. That gradually got increased. We know the field made her sick, but I agreed with the vet that she had to be allowed to be a horse. In other words live in a field.

Your lami, my money would be on toxins and going from out to in suddenly, change of diet and drugs. My cob had dropped soles on all four feet because of that dramatic change in being.

I didn't section anything off, she went off with her pals for the hour.
 
Herd dynamics change all the time anyway - daily I think - depending on what is important enough to each individual horse.

For instance my TB was under dog to my friends cob - until it was about coming in. He was fanatical about being at the gate first, and either he put his hoof down hard, or she thought 'whatever' but he was allowed to hog the entire gate and be caught first.

I notice with my current horse and the two field mates he has - we have split away from the herd and rented a field just the three of us because YO has little idea of grass maintenance/rotation, that he is not boss most of the time, but when something is really important to him, he then takes control and becomes boss.

Rotten that yours can't be out because it is horrible keeping them in 24/7, but don't worry about the herd dynamics, he will sort himself out.
 
It must be so stressful for them being in a box - I remember all the times JOe had to cope with it, he was very good with it, being an old tb and fortunately, (rightly or wrongly) in his past life he had been stabled a LOT. However, a normal horse that's used to being part of a herd - well, it must be very difficult for them. I don't know how many he is normally turned out with? I'd probably be tempted to just let him in with the herd right off rather than taping off - he might feel isolated in a smaller paddock? I would do what Flipo said though and have a good chat with your vet - you have to listen to them of course. Has the vet already said that he has to go out alone? You know him best of course - how do you think he will cope with turnout on his own? Sorry for all the questions, I'm not being very helpful am I?!!! Has the vet given you any indication at all of when he might be allowed out? Can he wander about the concrete yard?
 
The soles of his feet are rock solid, to look at them, to really feel them, you can't see anything that indicates there are issues, no event lines, my farrier who was down a few weeks ago (about 3) never mentioned there was a problem. Until now, I never realized stress lammi is like a lightening bolt, you don't always get the warning signs.
 
You've probably already thought about this, but could he have any stable toys to occupy him? We bought Joe a lickit tongue twister (the one that you wall mount and then they have to turn it around inside a ball to get to the lickit). He managed to not trash that one!lol Or is he not allowed lickits because of the lammi? (Sorry for being a numpty, I'm just trying to think of things that might pass the time for him a bit quicker).
 
If he likes playing (as mine does) one of those octagonal treat balls with grass nuts keeps them entertained for hours! Or you could cut up cubes of swede and put that in the ball. Or tie up a swede and let him work for it. Or branches - although being as spring doesn't seem to have arrived that makes it tricky.
 
I have one of those, he can't get the treats out for toffee (not to mention the fact I can't get them out once they're in..), he's a bit thick when it comes to toys :smile:
 
I have a sack of Aygo's (sp?) forage nuts.. would they be any good? ( I was in the process of gradually switching feeds, so stopped altogether when this started)...
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom