HELP!!!

[Andree Lewarne]

Urgently looking for a pair of ice boots to borrow, rent, or buy as my silly horse has injured his flexor tendon - again..... I know them as ice boots - they look like normal medicine boots, but hav gel inserts and you put them in the freezer, and then on horse. I cannot leave a bandage on him, he just politely removes it, so the ice boots are my next and best option. I will be very grateful if someone can help - I will collect if outside George. Calle me on 0725308954. And thank you !

[Andree Lewarne]

Oh, Failing ice boots, I have been advised to use magnetic boots. Anyone out there with a spare pair???

[Debbie Marshall]

OH YOUR SILLY BOY!!!! What will he get up to next?

Hope someone can help.

Maybe try asking Ronel van der Sijde - she may have something.

[Andree Lewarne]

He has hurt off fore tendon. It is very, very slightly swollen and warm, but definitely sore as he is not sound in trot. But he has a death wish or something. He is fascinated by Kathy's Welshie stallion, and Valor most definintely does not feel the same about him. Valor wants to kill B, and Belarus wants to play. How can one possibly have such a naive and trusting horse, how on earth does one protect him against himself? He is covered in bites, and his playmate looks like a show horse, not a mark on him. I don't want to isolate him, but I am starting to think that I should try and do something!!! Anyway, I do love him to bits, even though he has broken my toe........ and I have come right with my homemade version of ice and magnetic boots......

[Debbie Marshall]

Well done on the boots..............and your toe?

Maybe he needs a more subtle camp mate.............gentle folk need gentle folk

[Andree Lewarne]

Toe not too bad as long as I pretend it belongs to someone else. I can still get my riding boots on, so that's fine. The thing with Belarus is that he is not calm and subtle, he still, I think, has to learn the rules when it comes to playing. He is often the instigator, and does not stop playing, but because he wasn't allowed to play as a baby, he never learned what to do. As Kathy says, he is very backward!

[Debbie Marshall]

Poor boy = let's hope he catches on soon

[Andree Lewarne]

Me too, then he can stop looking like someone has chewed on him. But in a more serious vein - I have learned that it is so vitally important for a young horse to be allowed to play. Belarus was abruptly weaned at six months as his dam was put down. He then went into a paddock with his brother and a Thoroughbred mare, who loathed him and adored the brother, with the result that B was shunned all the time. Apparently he was never overtly bullied, but he was obviously never allowed to interact correctly, and this has had a definite impact on his development. So, I am afraid that no matter what some people say about keeping him separate so that he does not get injured, he will stay with his buds, and he will be given every possible opportunity to play, and if that means I cannot ride him for a while every now and then, well, so be it. By the way, he is starting to look very good on his new amd improved diet..... coat has improved and his bum is starting to get rounder!!! And that is just a small part of the external improvement. Yayyy!!

[Debbie Marshall]

Marvelous news re his response to the diet. So exciting!!

It is very sad that so many horses don't grow up in a healthy horse environment. He is lucky to have a mum who wants him to be a horse as a horse should be.

[Casey]

Somebody once told me to buy disposable diapers (the ones with the gel bits), to put them in the freezer for a night, and then onto the leg over a thin bandage, taped up with duck tape, etc. Hav'nt needed to try yet, but I wonder how this would work? Apparently gel bits work like ice boots, and they stay on pretty well with the tape pieces. I would def put over a thin bandage, as I worry about that cold right on the leg? Or am I being a ninny?

[Andree Lewarne]

What a jolly clever idea!! Thanks Casey, I hope I will never have to try it again, but will definitely make a note in my If All Else Fails Try........ book. I do know that Clicks sell a disposable gel type ice pack for under R20, that is also very good. I went mad and at huge expense bought the Stubben ice pack set at the tack shop, and watched my horse remove the bandage every time I thought I had it on. The idea is to have short periods of cold at regular intervals, not longer than 20 minutes, or so my vet said. Anyway, Thanks for the tip. I wonder how many other non nappy uses these disposables are put to?