The vet will tell me but I am a “planning ahead” control freak and want to know what the protocol is.
Both lower hocks are being injected with cortisone for arthritis. Horse lives in small paddock with shelter and is a fairly hot ride despite being 15 years old.
How long was the rest period and what was your vet’s “rehab” protocol after the injections?
My vet recommends 3 days completely off, a short walk-only ride on the 4th and 5th days, introducing trot on day 6. Assuming horse seems well and no concerns, ramp back up from there.
Protocol seems to vary from vet to vet, but the above has never steered me wrong. Horse was also always kept in normal turnout and allowed to move about as much as she wanted after injections.
Thanks Kashmere. I am wondering about some sort of mild sedation for first rides. Horse is crazy after a few days off and I don’t want to die
My vet says first day keep in, turnout or handwalk day two, light hack day three, back to normal work day 4. He does not recommend a lengthy down time, in fact, he considers it counterproductive. I’ve followed this protocol many times with no problems. The equine vets around here all have their own ideas and, as you say, protocols vary. It will be interesting to hear what your vet recommends.
My vet is close to AA Hunter above. Two days stall rest, including the day they are done - even if its mid afternoon at the time. Can hand graze. Then 2 days TO, only begin work on day 5, light the first day of work. He also prescribes equioxx or bute for a couple-3 days.
You want to watch the horse closely for any signs of heat, soreness or swelling that might indicate infection.
2 days stall rest with hand walking, 1 day turnout (assuming not a lunatic), 1 day light ride, then back to normal.
If you’re concerned about safety, absolutely talk to your vet about some Ace tablets or something else you can give for the first ride back.
We do stall rest for remainder of day/overnight, then turnout the next day. Give two days off in turnout, then light riding (let’s be honest, I don’t do much more than that) and then “regular” riding for those of you who turn it up a notch at the 5 day mark. Honestly, I feel like injections do not reach full effect for about 2 weeks so be patient. 
Not straight cortisone right? Regardless I agree with one day stall rest then a couple of days of turnout
This is the same as my vet’s recommendation (the day the injection is done counts as one day as horse stays in after injection, then next day stall rest). I was told that you want to limit movement for the first 24-48 hours to keep the medications in the joint as long as possible, and to allow the anti-inflammatory to work.
Ditto some of the above: Keep in after the injection if done in the morning, turn out in a low-stress/non forced movement situation for a day, turn out in same situation + handwalk the day after, light hack (very leisurely - mostly just stretching and bending, mindful of steep turning) for a day, scale it up the day after, and then back to normal. Including the day of the injection, I tend to take five days to get back to “normal”. If you want to be especially conservative, add in another day of just turn-out prior to hand walking.
My horse just got done. My vet has me do 3 days stall rest with cold hosing 20 min X 3, hand walking 20 min X 3, with a dose of banamine am and pm for those 3 days. (Also taking temp on those days.)
Then it’s 2 days of normal turnout and light riding, then ramp back up to normal work over the next few days.
I’ve gotten different treatment plans from different vets, I just follow whatever instructions they have. One vet tweaked his normal protocol for my old horse who didn’t do stalls.
My vet recommends one day stall rest, day 2 turnout and walking, day 3 light ride (easy WTC) and t/o, day 4 back to regular work.
The vet is injecting Celestone/Amiglyde
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