The Massage Range

Massage, essentially the manipulation of soft tissues in the body, has been noted to aid the prevention of injury, recovery from fatigue, relaxation and increasing mobility. (Hemmings, 2001). Performance depends on freedom of movement, full flexibility and an absence of musculoskeletal pain, all of which can improve with massage (Gellman, 1998). Traditionally massage methods have been manual but with recent advances in technology, electrical modalities have been introduced.

The Benefits of Massage

Massage therapy has been shown to improve flexibility and promote relaxation by lowering horse’s heart rates. Tension is often one of the most common reasons for poor performance in horses and by increasing relaxation and improving back flexibility; the negative effects of tension can be reduced. Like us, most horses can benefit from a massage session but maintaining a healthy back through massage can help prevent performance inhibitors such as stiffness, hollowness, shortened stride length, or in more serious cases napping, bucking and rearing.

Massage therapy stimulates blood flow to the area treated and has a similar effect to the tissue as heat does ie. promoting vasodilatation. Vasodilatation increases blood flow; bringing with it increased oxygen and nutrient supply to the muscle and after exercise this can help with the removal of toxins such as lactic acid.

When to Use Massage

  • For horses on box rest to promote blood flow
  • After exercise to help with toxin removal
  • Before exercise as part od warm up
  • At a show to help recover from travelling
  • On your horses day off as part of a maintenance programme
  • Anytime as a rewarding treatment

Equilibrium Massage Back Pad

The Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad is designed to offer effective, affordable and easy to use massage therapy. The pad works by stimulating the muscles on the horse’s back, helping to increase back flexibility and promote relaxation. Studies have shown that regular use of the Equilibrium Massage Pad increased back flexibility on average by 46%. There are three sizes available in Pony, Standard and XL.


The Equilibrium Massage Mitt

The Equilibrium Massage Mitt is an easy to use portable hand-held massage mitt for use on large muscle groups in the back, neck, quarters and hamstrings, helping to promote relaxation, improve flexibility and improve muscle condition.


The Equilibrium Hotspot Mitt

The Equilibrium Hotspott Mitt offers comforting heat and massage options, the Hotspot heat pad soothes and relaxes your horse’s hardworking muscles, with the choice to use heat alone, or alongside two different types of massage.

Using heat is a great way to help sensitive horses who may find massage too much. Heat is non-invasive, gentle and well accepted with many associated benefits.

Research suggests that tissue temperature needs to increase by at least 3 to 5°C from the resting temperature (Bockstahler et al, 2004). However using something that is too hot could cause discomfort and even damage to the tissue.

The settings on the hotspot mitt can be changed for various results.

LOW – this is best suited for a relaxing massage:

  • After exercise.
  • On a day of rest.
  • For a sensitive horse.
  • When introducing the Hotspot for the first time.

MEDIUM – this is best suited for general maintenance and everyday use:

  • For a pre-exercise warm up.
  • General maintenance massage.

HIGH – this is best suited:

  • For horses who prefer a more intense massage.
  • Those with thicker coats.
  • Horses who are a bit overweight.

The Magnetic Range

Magnets encourages blood flow and increases cellular activity in the body however, magnets do not heal. When a powerful magnet is placed on the body, cellular activity is increased and this in turn increases the rate at which cells regenerate and repair.

The Benefits of Magnets

The benefits of using magnets can include helping increase the rate of healing when managing inflammation, swelling, stiffness, muscle cramps and symptoms of arthritis.

Which Magnets Are Used and How Do they work?

The body’s cells have electromagnetic properties which means they can be affected be affected by a magnetic field. The magnets used in Equilibrium Magnetic Products, Vitaflex®, present two alternating poles to the body, negative and positive. These stong, linear and permanent magnetic fields of alternating pole sequences penetrate into the body tissue.

Watch a video here on what makes Equilibrium Magnets Unique

When Should You Use the Magnetic Range

The magnetic range is ideal for horses with tendon problems, splints, navicular, bone chips, and general knocks, bumps, and scars, magnetic therapy has been shown to have a positive effect in humans and animals treating scar tissue, inflammation, reducing swelling, stiffness, muscle cramps and arthritis.

The Magnetic Range should be used:

  • Every day as part of your horses’ daily routine for maintaining back health.
  • For horses in work from hacking to competition. This includes horses returning to work or retraining
  • For older horses or those who are slow to warm up
  • Horses on box rest, standing for long periods of time of on limited tern out
  • General knocks and bumps

Equilibrium Magnetic Rug

The Equilibrium Magnetic Rug is suitable for horses or ponies that:

  • Suffer with a cold back
  • Stiff veteran horses or horses standing in for long periods of time
  • Are in high levels of work to encourage repair
  • help relieve stiffness in the pelvic limb
  • Suffer with a sore back from ill-fitting saddle
  • All horses during cold eather to prevent stiffness
  • Pre and post operation for kissing spine
  • Horses with chronic back conditions
  • Horses that are prone to tying-up

Equilibrium Magnetic Chaps

The Equilibrium Magnetic Chaps are soft and comfortable boots, designed for use in the stable, that promote circulation and help to increase the rate of healing in your horse’s leg. They will benefit horses and ponies who:

  • Suffer with arthritis
  • Get fluid filled legs in the stable
  • Are recovering from tendon problems, splints, navicular, bone chips and general knocks and bumps

Combined Use

Combined use of the Equilibrium Magnetic Pad overnight and the Equilibirum Therapy Massage Pad once a day can have many positive benefits.

  • To help maintain a healthy back
  • For horses on box rest
  • Competition horses in regular work
  • For older horses in work
  • For horses travelling long distances
  • For horses recovering from Kissing Spine
  • For horses returning to work after periods of resr
  • For ex-racehorses in retraining
  • For horses in winter, prone to cold backs or just feel the cold

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