Pamper Your Hardworking Horse With These Therapies
There are a lot of things out there marketed toward recovery and athletic support for our hardworking horses. Whether you’re riding at the upper or lower levels, maintaining a healthy equine athlete takes some elbow grease and a bit of investment.
Heels Down waded through the various health & wellness modalities aimed at horses and cobbled together short explainers on each of them – how they work, the benefits, and why.
Thalassotherapy, aka Mud & Seaweed
What is it: Thalassotherapy is the use of seawater in the form of marine products like algae, seaweed, and marine mud for health and wellness. The practice is big in France, which still has the most thalassotherapy spas than any other country.
The science says: Think of it like wading in a hot mineral spring or a mud mask. The principle behind the therapy is that regular immersion in seawater helps restore the body’s natural chemical balance. Algae is protein-rich, and the body absorbs the minerals it needs – like trace elements of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and iodide – from water through the skin.
When to use it: It’s great for before competition to remove muscle tension, and to prepare joints and tendons for strenuous work. It can be used after a hard ride, too, to help in recovery.
Don’t believe us? Watch Kate Buckley from Equi-Libria as she prepares thalassotherapy in this video.
Movement Therapy
What is it: Movement therapy was developed to increase blood flow, and reduce swelling and inflammation by contracting the muscles. The horse isn’t moving but the muscles, ligaments and tendons are. A common misnomer is calling this “vibration therapy”. A horse stands on a TheraPlate machine, which does all the work by moving the muscles from the mat when it’s turned on.
The science says: Every session on the machine treats the horse’s entire body. Most other therapies generally take much longer to treat the whole horse, so usually only the injured area is treated. That means the horse gets benefits in other parts of the body that may be under stress due to compensatory movement, pain or stiffness.
When to use it: It’s great for horses on stall rest, for use in recovery after exercise and for conditioning to reduce the risk of future injury. Typically the horse spends 10-15 minutes on it. There’s nothing to apply – the horse simply stands on the machine. The user can set a vibration speed of zero to 100 Hz per second.
Don’t believe us? Watch Chris Kreiling, owner of TheraPlate, demonstrate its use in this video.
Magna Wave PEMF
What is it: “PEMF” stands for “pulsed electro magnetic field” therapy, which uses pulsed energy waves on damaged or injured areas on the patient’s body to repair cells and ultimately aid in recovery. The pulsing electric waves stimulate cell metabolism. The machine uses an applicator and coils, which are pressed against the affected area, to send pulsating waves into the body.
The science says: A cell produces energy, which is necessary for the normal function of the body and building up and breaking down molecules. In order to produce it, the cell must have oxygen and about 90 other molecular substances – including enzymes, glucose and nutrients. To control all the functions required by cells, they must maintain a strong metabolism and strong membrane at a “90 mV”, or a “millivolt” level. When this electrical pressure drops, the metabolism can become impaired, and lead to low performance levels and even chronic disease.
How to treat: PEMF machines are operated by certified practitioners. So similar to other body work professionals, horse owners can find a PEMF provider in their area to schedule a session. (Magna Wave machines are also available for sale.) PEMF is great to improve blood circulation, oxygen retention and to boost calcium levels. It can used to treat most athletic-type injuries.
Don’t believe us? Dr. Amanda Meyers breaks down the benefits behind PEMF in this video.
Acupuncture
What is it: Acupuncture is an old Eastern medicine tradition used to treat and alleviate pain and illness by placing small needles at specific, targeted points of the body, which can trigger a healing or immune response. It is recognized by the American Association of Equine Practitioners as a “complementary medicine” and generally falls under the umbrella of Chinese medicine in veterinary practices.
The science says: Trained and certified acupuncture practitioners are well-versed in “acupoints” or predetermined pressure points that can illicit a specific immune response or release in the body. It is often coupled with chiropractic or massage work.
When to use it: This therapy can be used as part of a wellness exam to diagnose a medical condition, but it also helps stimulate the body’s endocrine, nervous and immune systems. It aids in blood flow, and relaxation of the tissue and muscle. It has been used to help horses with anhidrosis, roaring, and nerve damage.
Don’t believe us? Watch this local news report on how acupuncture can help in this video.
Celliant Fiber
What is it: Celliant is a polyester fiber embedded with 13 naturally occurring thermo-reactive minerals. By reabsorbing energy from the body, the fibers make more oxygen available to the cells, which results in more fuel for the wearer. Celliant is used on horses through blankets, boots, saddle pads and wraps made by Draper Therapies. It’s also used in fabrics for people and dogs.
The science says: The minerals in the Celliant fiber absorb and re-emit electromagnetic light energy from the body. The minerals alter the wavelengths of this energy, even through multiple layers of fabrics, making it possible for the tissue to absorb it, essentially recycling what would have been lost energy.
When to use it: It’s great to use as a daily wellness routine, especially for horses in daily heavy work. There are no “build up” times, which means products containing Celliant are safe to put on and leave on for as long as you’d like. It’s recommended to leave products on for as long as possible to give the fiber time to work with the body. It helps increase stamina, promote faster recovery and ultimately increase performance.
Don’t believe us? Watch Graham McClue, a researcher with Hyperbaric Treatment & Training Services in Houston, Texas, explain the benefits in this video.
This series originally published in the Heels Down Spark in May 2019. Get more conversation starters in your inbox every weekday morning by subscribing to the Spark now.