ways to entertain pony -- he must stand still for 2 hours

[superpony123]

My poor boy has laminitis in all four. Vet orders i ice each hoof each day for 30 mins per hoof. Ends up being around 2+ hours (2+ because my pony is fairly reluctant--understandably--to pick up certain hooves). I for one can whip out my ipod or a book and be fine, but i've got to keep him entertained too. Problem is, ordinary things like grooming and such are not really an option--the only grooming i need to do is brush him down and brush out tail and stuff, since he's been on stall rest and stayed quite clean. plus, when i groom him, he likes to move around. I need to find some way to entertain him that will keep his hooves IN the ice water. he tends to step forward when you try and play with him usually, so its hard to even play with him, other than rubbing his neck and playing with ears and patting him. i have to keep a constant watch on his legs to make sure he won't move, so i'm sort of limited to sitting on this little bench watching. For the first hour or so, he is fine, he nods off, whatever. But for the second half he (understandably) gets quite bored. He doesn't do anything stupid, but he will try to move around a bit (probably for comforts sake, so i do allow him to move around a bit, but i have to kind of move the little rubber tub thing with him. But he'll gnaw on the crossties (which he does do when he's bored, but not that often because in general i don't let him get bored on a usual day--as in when he's not hurt--and he even gets tired of that sort of fast.

Does anyone have any ideas of what i can do to keep him quiet, in one place, and entertained? He isn't a big fan of staying in his stall all day, but he isn't quite ready to go for a stroll around. He is doing less laying down each day, does improve each day, can walk around his stall at his own will and doesn't look like he's in terrible pain, but thats his comfy bedded stall. When you ask him to walk out onto the concrete or gravel, though his hooves are packed with this putty-like stuff, it is noticeably more uncomfortable for him.

I wish I could get him a lickit or something for his stall--except he can't have all that sugar. Do they make any non-sugary treat toys for stalls? And what can i do to keep my pony happy while he stands in the ice?

TIA

[neigh.neigh]

Could you ice more then one foot at a time? Like with two buckets

[AppendixQHLover]

Poor baby...

My guy got a boo-boo on his back leg and is a super pansy about his leg medication. I can't imagine having to ice his feet.

[AutumnCowgirl]

I have never had to ice hooves, but why can't you ice them two at a time? This is assuming you are doing them one at a time... 4 hooves x's 30 minutes is 2 hours.

Aside from that I can't think of anything minus the typical rubbing/talking/ear scratching.

[poltroon]

This would be a perfect clicker training task/tool... except for the part where you can't give him any treats.

I basically just did something similar this weekend with a pony at a parade. I had a fanny pack full of tiny bits of carrot, and he got a click (actually I used a distinctive voice chirrup sound) every time I could catch him standing still and relaxed and not mugging me for a treat. Worked beautifully.

Maybe talk to your vet about the limit on treating. You can make each portion very small - I probably only used three carrots for my two hour stretch.

[QHmom]

Cocktails are my favorite!

[shawneeAcres]

what about using thick rubber, like an innertube put in ice and tie around top of hoof, they also DO make icing boots, then if he moves, no big deal

[Words of Wisdom]

I would definitely ice two feet at a time-- we used to do one my pony's two front feet at the same time, and I see no reason why you can't do the two hind feet at the same time as each other. This willl cut the time down by half.

[Pally]

I would try a soaking boot, as it sounds like he just wants to shift his weight around and take a step here and there, not totally go nuts. This would allow for that without worrying about moving the rubber tub. And definitely try 2 feet at a time.

[dghunter]

if it's not possible to do more than one hoof at time, can you give him a break in between? Perhaps do two and then pick out his stall while he chills and eats some hay or something and then do the other two? (This obviously doesn't work if all four have to be done back-to-back which I don't know much about laminitis so I don't know if that's the case or not, sorry :()

[Zu Zu]

First I get two shallow ground feeders, heavy black rubber kind (larger in circumference the better). Put one front foot in at a time -add water and then ice -- have someone hold him and feed him wisps of hay. After ten minutes if he is restless - take one foot out at a time and let him walk around-- soft area *come back and repeat. He will eventually be able to stand for 30 minutes. Takes a little practice. Also if he is really restless - in order to keep his front feet in the ice -- have someone hold up one of his back feet like a Farrier .- then he has to stand still. And lastly I know you want to entertain him but this is so important to his recovery that making him stand must be done - even if it takes two people one on either side to maintain his position. Might even try standing him against a wall & headed into a corner - then he would only have one direction to move: and it would be easy to maintain him there. :D

[OneMoreTime]

we get the empty IV bags from the vet (we get the used ones for free), cut off the valve end, fill w/ice & tape to the leg. They're thick enough & it makes it easier if they move a bit. Also, you could do at least 2 hooves at a time this way.

In terms of "entertainment", maybe you could practice your braiding skills!

[superpony123]

In terms of "entertainment", maybe you could practice your braiding skills!

i actually thought of this today, except then i remembered he hates being braided and is not generally keen on standing still :lol:

[superpony123]

I wish I could ice 2 at a time. Actually, for the past two days, I've managed to cut some of the time out, because i'll be icing one of his back legs, and he just by chance kind of stuck his other one in there, and lucky for me kept it there. Tried to accomplish the same thing for his two front feet, but unfortunately could not manage to keep both his front feet in there comfortably. I can get his front left in easily, but he is extremely reluctant about picking up his front right hoof for anything, unless he sees food. Poor guy, they were feeding the other horses and he had the most hopeful whinny, like "don't forget about me!" . he's going to have to get used to the whole no-grain thing.

As for the icing boots--we actually do have some in the barn, but he won't let us get one on his hoof :no: Silly boy it'd be a lot easier and comfier for him if he would!

Oh well. I was hoping there'd be something I could do with him to keep him from being so bored, but i guess there isn't all that much I can do.

[OakHollowVA]

If he's a foodie, do a hay bag/or bucket depending on the hay you feed him. Thats what we use for the youngsters with the farrier. Instead of giving them their normal ration for breakfast, half it. Then he will be ready and hungry for hay during foot soak time!

Also, just another comment regarding his lamanitis and "no grain".....you should check out a feed called Purina WellSolve LS. It's a pelleted Low starch and sugar feed with no grains or molasses. They guarantee the level of soluble carbohydrates to be less than 11 percent. I haven't found any other feed that promises that. Most of them say between 0-15 percent, and with that much fluxuation, a horse could founder again. GREAT for lamanitic horses.....Here's the website, http://www.wellsolveequine.com/WELLSOLVELS/ProductInformationSheet/default.aspx We soak it before feeding (some people don't, but if you saw how much expansion those pellets do you may change your mins!!!!!)

Also “High Fiber GOLD ” Forage Feed is great as a hay alternative. It's a chaffy blend so we put it in a muck tub type thing with baling twine where the handles were snapped to the stall (so the bucket doesn't end up around the stall with hay everywhere!!!) It's a blend of timothy, oat and alfalfa hay blended with soybean oil as an alternative to molasses. So it's naturally low-sugar and low-starch level. Here is that website http://www.lucernefarms.com/feeds_GOLD.shtml

Good luck with your boy :)

[superpony123]

If he's a foodie, do a hay bag. Thats what we use for the youngsters with the farrier. Instead of giving them their normal ration for breakfast, half it. Then he will be ready and hungry for hay during foot soak time!

unfortunately, he's on a very very very strict diet right now---laminitis. and he's overweight. he's a fattie. all his hay is being soaked.

[OakHollowVA]

unfortunately, he's on a very very very strict diet right now---laminitis. and he's overweight. he's a fattie. all his hay is being soaked.

Poor guy :(

I kind of figured that may be the case after I posted that response....So simple you probably would have tried it already if he wasn't!!!! :lol:

[lizathenag]

I seem to remember making a cold stall for a foundered horse. It was bedded with peat moss and hosed (perhaps iced) regularly. I remember it was very cool in there when it was hot outside.

[Words of Wisdom]

I wish I could ice 2 at a time. Actually, for the past two days, I've managed to cut some of the time out, because i'll be icing one of his back legs, and he just by chance kind of stuck his other one in there, and lucky for me kept it there. Tried to accomplish the same thing for his two front feet, but unfortunately could not manage to keep both his front feet in there comfortably. I can get his front left in easily, but he is extremely reluctant about picking up his front right hoof for anything, unless he sees food.


Two buckets will make it easier-- put the harder one in first, and then the easier one. I know how difficult it is, had one that needed its feet iced anytime he jumped on hard ground, and he was very, very spooky, but once we had his feet in the buckets, we were pretty good to go. We used feed buckets, since, if he did try to take his feet out, he had a harder time than if we used a shallower container.

[Silver Snaffles]

Could you freeze bell boots ( the water ones) and then pop them on?
Salt / mineral lick?

I would force the issue with the ice boots...

[apachepony]

Like onemoretime said, use the empty fluid bags. I work at a hospital, and that's what we do. Put his foot in one, fill with ice, and tape the top to his leg with 1/2 a roll of elasticon or so. Continue to the rest of his feet, then just leave him alone in the stall. Then you don't have to make him stand like a statue for 2 hours.

[make x it x so]

I don't have any new suggestions, but I'm happy to hear that he's feeling a little better (enough to walk around a bit).

I second whoever said try using two buckets... also they have some ground feeder buckets that are deeper than the usual ones- it might be harder for him to get his foot out of a deeper bucket.

[Zu Zu]

If feeding hay wisps soaked is not even an option * then - forget entertainment - put him up against a wall & headed into a corner - put each front feet in Shallow ground feeders - shallow - to prevent castrophic feelings and the total upset of ice when he steps out -- and then hold him up close to his halter and tell him to "WHOA" STAND ! This is too important to fool around with - he must complete this therapy daily!!! ALSO DO NOT ICE WHEN OTHERS ARE BEING FED - of course that upsets him!!! Take him away from the herd ,so to speak, to a quiet corner with no distractions * get it done!!! You can do this --- just Cowboy UP a little! Not A game IT"S MEDICAL TREATMENT!!!:yes:

[katie16]

unfortunately, he's on a very very very strict diet right now---laminitis. and he's overweight. he's a fattie. all his hay is being soaked.


I do understand your feed restriction, but it is an idea that I would probably try to work with.

So in an effort to entertain him I would try to make the soaking become his feed time. Putting his soaked hay in a muck bucket. That way he is soaking his feet and eating his meal at the same time (rather than getting "extra" hay just to get through the soaking). Of course this means that you will likely have to hold the lead rope as he probably cannot reach the bucket on the cross-ties.

Also, you may want to try getting some thick carpet remnants from your local store. We had a Cushings pony founder a couple of years ago. Walking down the concrete aisle was very painful for him. Even when we walked over the rubber mats. We found that he was much more comfortable walking on really thick carpet (over rubber mats). I would expect that your guy is probably uncomfortable standing on a harder surface than his fluffy stall for 2hrs. I would definitely try this as well.

[WEBSTA]

I recently had the same situation. I bought tube socks at the dollar store and cut off about 4 - 6 inches at the top then put them on his feet and filled them with ice. The vet thought it was a great idea and the coronary band was the most important place to get the ice anyway.

[fair judy]

don't ice on the crossties, but in the stall. use the bags. it is silly to do one foot at a time and i don't get that thought process at all. don't you have a barn manager who could help you to figure out this procedure?

his feet hurt. he is going to feel the need to shift his weight. it is less stressful and softer footing in the stall.

don't understand why you are only icing once a day. that is inadequate, imo.

[ChocoMare]

Hmmm, how about a kiddie pool? Use a couple bags of ice (or block if you can get it), add water, add pony.

Just an idea to chuck out there.

Jingles for the Pony!

[nlk]

When I had to ice my old gelding I took Ziplocks and vet wrap.

Fill the sandwich bags with ice, 2 per leg, and vet wrap them around the pastern area. You have to make sure the vet wrap is tight enough to not let the bags slip but not so tight you cut into the leg, so have someone check it for you.

I put one in front and one in back, as they melt the water runs down the hoof ( you can make small cuts in the bottom of the bag to help with this too). The main area to ice is the cornet band soooo this keeps the ice there and the cold water hits the rest of the hoof.

Keep the ziplock end on the upper half of the the vet wrap so the ice doesn't burst out.

This allows him to walk around in his comfy stall and gets all 4 hooves done at once.

And to those who are getting snarky...remember this is a teenage girl who is watching her bestfriend stand there in pain. This is her first time experiencing this so she is learning while she goes. At one point in time you would have been in her shoes too, following your vets advice to a T. Just because you think this should be easy doesn't mean it is for a young girl who is watching her beloved pony suffer.

[mjrtango93]

Hmmm, how about a kiddie pool? Use a couple bags of ice (or block if you can get it), add water, add pony.

Just an idea to chuck out there.

Jingles for the Pony!

It actually does work too. We had a anciently old large get heat in all 4 and freaked she was foundering. It was much much quicker to do all 4 at once, so we bought a smooth bottom kiddie pool and taught her to stand in it. Took about 3 minutes to get her in the first time, then filled it with water and ice. She only had to be in for 30 minutes, then whenever we had to re-due her the ice and tub was already there. Just if you do it get the smooth bottom because their weight will break the ones with the ridges.

[Zu Zu]

I agree this is a tough thing to do by oneself :sadsmile: - if new to this horrible situation. It is a process that can be accomplished :yes: - and actually should be done three times a day IMO --- but a person needs the right equipment and HELP at first. :eek: Where are the professionals, who should be aiding this owner????? - Of course she is worried and upset and needs some guidance and reassurance. I am involved in this process currently - I ice three times daily (and have done this before ) but it still requires patience and time and understanding and often a second person.I recommend the second person be a "horse " person who's heart is not directly involved to offer stability and kindness!! She should not be responsible for executing this procedure by herself - not good for her emotionally or physically. I totally agree this owner needs as much kindness and support as her beloved pony!! Good-Luck to all!!!

[starkissed]

get davis boots and fill them with ice water. I am sure you can find 4 friends who own at least one. Put them all on at the same time. My vet has several foundering equines this spring and has found it to be the easiest thing.
Good luck

[smay]

... you can try this idea, which we did for our Welshie who has foundered in all four feet several times in his long life but is currently sound and happy *knock knock on wood*

OK, you dig out a shallow square hole in the barnyard, in the lawn, or even the sand arena. Only about 6 inches deep is necesssary, and lay a tarp or section of rubber sheeting or anything waterproof you have laying around in it, and then you can even add some sand on the bottom so as not to "scare " pony about standing on a tarp in a hole. Fill with water and ice and walk pony into the hole to stand with all four feet in the cold water at once. It's kind of like the old cure of having the pony stand in the creek in the cold rushing water and mud. Adding ice makes it even colder, and that's all good. Repeat this as often as you can manage because more is better!

[Gwendolyn]

It might be kind of hard (I worked for a vet, I've seen LOTS of fat ponies ;) ) to FEEL his muscle, but maybe buy a curry like this: http://www.doversaddlery.com/tail-tamers-jelly-scrubber/p/X1-10194/cn/1997/ and give him a massage while he stands there. Dora LOVES her curry!!

You don't have to be a pro (though if there is a massage therapist near you, they can give you some tips), just concentrate on the muscles in his neck, shoulders, back (if he likes it), and hindquarters. Not only will he like it, he'll stand still, it's good for him, and it gives YOU a great arm workout!

Whenever I have some extra time but don't want to ride, I pull out the jelly curry. Dora gets all excited when she sees it. :D

[skrgirl]

get davis boots and fill them with ice water. I am sure you can find 4 friends who own at least one. Put them all on at the same time. My vet has several foundering equines this spring and has found it to be the easiest thing.
Good luck

Thats what we do to soak an abscess. Get a davis boot thats too big, put on foot, fill with what you need. (ice and cold water) Put pony in stall, walk away.

[snaffle635]

I had to do something similar with my pony when I was a kid. We wrapped his feet in standing bandages, then poured ice water on them. Not sure if it will be cold enough for you...but didn't require the pony to stand completely still.

Good luck...and jingles for your pony.

[superpony123]

Well, today i decided enough is enough, we're going to fish out the other ice boots and convince my pony that they won't eat him. Took 30 mins for me and a friend to find a Professionals choice iceboot hiding in the depths of the trailer, but we finally convinced my pony that his leg is not going to be eaten by this blue icy monster. Works like a charm. it was kind of funny though, he stood there in his stall looking down at it on his leg with the funniest expression. he wasn't sure what to make of it at first, but he's alright with it now. I'll be using this boot from now on, thank god ! makes work quite a bit easier.

update on the pony himself? he is walking much steadier, still uncomfortable on hard ground, but moves around his stall comfortably. :) doesn't show any immediate sign of pain.

[Zu Zu]

Great news -- thanks for update. Glad to hear he is doing better.:D