My thoughts, too. I have never trusted training a rear out of a horse.
I’m sorry your husband is hurt and I’m him sending healing vibes.
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Hugs to you {{{{ParadoxFarm}}}} and best healing wishes to your husband. Hang in there and do let your friends help you.
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I’m in a similar boat. My DH fractured his femur 6 weeks ago and yes, we’re looking at 12 weeks of him being out of commission almost entirely, physically, non-weight bearing. His injury wasn’t horse related but everything we have going here with 5 horses and everything else is now on my plate in addition to my job. Luckily our horses are mostly well behaved with the exception of the yearling that is vibing a toddler stage right now, not all his fault.
In your shoes, if you’re able, send the rearing horse to a trainer or turn it out, you can’t fiddle with that horse while you’re the main physical labor. Turn out or vaporize him. Second horse, get help on board b/c you still can’t afford to get hurt right now. Call vet, explain situation, and get a safer way to treat him or farm him out for treatment if you’re able. Ask for help from vet and horse peeps; you can’t afford to get hurt at all right now. The horses have fallen down the priority list.
Dude you’re going to be carrying plates to chairs and back again, doing the laundry and all the errands that involve a car (depending on hip, mine can drive an automatic now b/c left leg was fractured) and cooking, shopping, taking out the garbage, feeding dogs/cats/horses, and picking up all the stuff that is on the floor. You can NOT fuss with horses that can hurt you right now. I do chores like a toddler learning to walk right now. Every step is careful, arms out, orient carefully. lol ugh. When I got into this I was “challenge accepted!” but 3 months is a looong time when you’re used to that partner that shouldered a lot of the physical stuff. For me, everything was set up for HIM to do it, he’s more than a foot taller than I am and stronger. I had to change things to work for me. We got small bales instead of rounds, moved things around, put easy horses together. Simplify it now before you get too fried. You will get fried; don’t go into it thinking you’re going to do all the things b/c you can’t. Safety first, keep things alive, take care of yourself so you can keep taking care of all the things. My motto has been “nobody died yet!” but I’m only halfway through… You might consider shopping help, cleaning help, feeding horses (if basic) help, turn those horses out if you can. I don’t want to outsource, well… anything, but I can more easily hire someone to mow than I can to deworm the horses and build a fence, which I also need to do.
I remember feeling very capable when it first happened but the spring grind just keeps introducing more things on top of things and work and I’m having to let some things flow by. My focus is taking care of things that are alive and then everything else while still working but like a clogged culvert, lots of things are piling up at a very busy time.
I don’t know if you are the “what’s for dinner person” but I am-cook big batches and immediately put them into smaller containers that are microwave friendly, if he’s on crutches or a walker he can’t move a big pot around (took me way too long to realize that lol). Mine is home alone when I am at work so he has to get food/meds so I put all the stuff by the fridge/micro so he didn’t have to step hop around the kitchen. I got mine one of those sit walkers and he uses that to trundle his stuff around by whacking it with his crutches. Others use a fanny pack (keep phone when trundling around) or a wheeled cart. I set him up with snacks by his chair, a light table he can move with his arms, and snacks/chargers/gatorade/tv/books/puzzle/the mail and then also pester him to keep moving b/c blood clots.
I feel you so much right now lol I am just home from work and need to go out and do the chores still, buy hay again, all the things. The stress is real Real REAL. The overwhelm is real. The fear is real! It’s going to be a long haul; right now these two horses feel like the thing but they aren’t, you’re just still in the same mode you were in last week. You have to play the long game with no notice; you both have to come out of this not crazy and in good shape.
If it helps PM me any time, it’s a whole thing! I’m so sorry this happened to your DH and you. Adrenaline in the first few days gets you through for a while but reality is lurking. I remember telling one of my coworkers “guess what happened to me!” and immediately was thinking I was a jerk but if I’m honest? It happened to me too.
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Thanks. OnAMission. I will likely send you a PM tomorrow.
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Just (((((hugs))))) from me.
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I wish I’d thought to say this. It is very true.
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{{{Hugs}}}
You’re going through a Why Do I Have Horses avalanche.
Priority, of course, is getting DH back on his feet & I hope you have Home Health involved.
Care can be stressful without a Medically knowledgeable assist.
IIWM, I’d work his horse from the ground and/or find a local Pro to work on the problem if you don’t want to wait until you’re both recovered enough to deal with it.
Check with your vet about adding Dorm.
I do banamine P.O. too & my 16h TWH is such a complete jerk I end up topdressing his feed with it. I realize this doesn’t put the drug in direct contact with mucosa for absorbtion, but at 5’2" & 74yo, I don’t have the wherewithal to muscle him.
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I’m so sorry - that’s so much at once.
For the cellulitis horse - I’d ask the vet if it’s totally necessary to wrap, or if cold hosing would work. Could he be turned out into a small paddock, rather than being stalled?
And can you give his meds in his feed? Any time I need to give any kind of antibiotics to my horses, I mix it with water and brown sugar or molasses, and mix it with the feed. 9 times out of ten, it works great.
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Sorry, I focused on the rearing horse and ignored the cellulitis horse and the incapacitated partner.
If I were in your shoes, I would turn out everyone but the cellulitis horse and a well-mannered companion for him, and feed them from fence feeders. Fewer stalls, less handling, it’s the ideal time of year to do because the grass can handle the extra wear and tear right now.
I think reserpine or trazadone to make the cellulitis horse easier to manage is an excellent idea.
As far as your immobile partner, please consider for the duration of his incapacity 1.) some extra household help, that is someone to do basic household chores, change sheets, the laundry, etc. You won’t have time and seeing it not done is an added stressor. 2.) a meal kit service. They all have introductory deals that are very reasonable, and some have added “oven ready” - everything’s in a pan and you just throw it in the oven. I have switched back and forth between several different ones multiple times to take advantage of the discounts. Yes, it’s extra expense, but it’s only for 12 weeks. And you’ll be able to focus on your partner, who’s going to need more of your time.
Best of luck to you, and please come vent any time. You’re dealing with a lot.
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I second boot camp
For the bad kid, if your head is t right (and it won’t be with all that’s going on) you could make it worse. If not boot camp, maybe someone will come to you a couple days a week. Dont know what’s in your area.
And I think meds for cellulitis guy are a rousing good idea as well.
You don’t need to get hurt right now and don’t need extra drama or work.
Fence feeders and more turnout are a good idea too .
