I also had success with Xylazine.
And have another conversation with your vet about reserpine. My biggest regret from my horse’s rehab is not hitting bigger drugs sooner. He was a week away from starting under saddle work after 3 months of stall rest when he re-injured himself. That lengthened his stay to about 10 months total, and I blame that re-injury and the extra months on stall rest, fairly or not, for the complications that he developed that ended his riding career.
When my mare was rehabbing a suspensory, she was 100% fine in her stall, but not good to lead. The vet wanted her on limited turnout throughout, and she was absolutely nuts in the round pen. We ended up doing dorm gel every morning to get her outside. If she gradually woke up out there, she was (usually) okay. It was the initial act of being turned out that triggered the crazy.
You know your horse best, but mine did her rehab completely under saddle (no handwalking) with the vet’s blessing. If I could lead her to the arena, I could ride-walk her with no sedation needed. She was only a nut when she was being led.
My guess is your vet is reluctant to give the long acting reserpine because they have seen a horse who has reacted badly to it: just as the drug lasts a month, so does any bad reaction, and the reaction is quite horrific. (I think people are being too hard on your vet for not prescribing it).
Overall I agree with just walking inside if possible, but:
UPDATE:
Thank you for all the advice. He was ultrasounded again yesterday and great news, he is healing well and was cleared to start walking under saddle! I cannot express my relief, my stress levels have decreased immensely.
So I did dose him with ace again beforehand but holy crap he was so much better than on the ground. I had much more control and he behaved himself much better. And I think this will probably continue as he’s able to get much more exercise under saddle than when hes being a holy terror on the ground.
Be careful! If you can afford it and/or the barn supports it, consider making one stall out of two (remove slats between stalls). I rehabbed a 3 year old for a year – he was calm normally, but stall rest turned him into a bolter, and he scared experienced handlers who agreed to help me (for pay). Reserpine, xylazine may work better. Ace is not really a sedative and horses learn to fight through it. Also they develop a tolerance.
I’m so glad he is progressing! Good luck.
I’m glad he was cleared to tack walk. That’s what I was going to suggest. Drugs can really help, but when a horse is getting rank I am WAY more comfortable up top than down by their teeth/hooves/head. Hope the rehab goes great from here!
UPDATE:
We are now several months into full work and 24/7 pasture turnout and I am so happy to report that my sweet baby horse is 100% back to the super chill laid back guy that came off the track.
Thanks for all the advice. He healed without any complications and is doing his first recognized event next month!
Congratulations.
Sometimes that hair raising hand walking builds a closer friendship with your horse. Not always, sadly.
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