03 September 2008 10:55
My horse recently jumped out of her field and crashed onto a road. She’s had a week of field rest, but still seems a bit stiff. Should I leave her in the field or would box rest be better for her?
Answer
By Your Horse
Vet Malene Jørgensen advises:
Horses who fall, especially onto a hard surface, can damage themselves severely, even if it doesn’t seem that way initially. Since she hasn’t improved I think you should call the vet out to have her examined. She might need X-rays to determine exactly what is wrong.
If the field is slippery, I wouldn’t keep her out as she could fall again causing even more damage. However, if she is sensible in the field I think this is preferable to long periods of box rest, unless the injury is serious and involves bone or tendon damage. Strict box rest can cause stiffness and the rehabilitation can be long.
There are some homeopathic remedies you could try to ease her stiffness. Arnica, for example, can be used to ease bruising, sprains and strains. Rhus-tox eases stiffness, especially after rest and in cold or damp weather. Alternatively, acupuncture can also help your horse with musculoskeletal conditions.