The best magnetic rugs for horses have been popular for many years now, as have massage and other therapy rugs, and the best magnetic boots, chaps and wraps. There are a range of therapeutic benefits that come with each type of rug and some combine two types of therapy. They all have a slightly different function and some require power to work, which leads to a wide range of price points. They’re all designed to be used by normal horse owners, and the best magnetic rugs for horses will come with instructions so you can be sure you’re using it correctly.

Best therapy and magnetic rugs for horses

Bucas Therapy Cooler Rug

Type: Natural magnetic field reflection

Sizes: 5ft 6in – 7ft

RRP: £192

Made of extremely fine stainless steel mesh lining, the Bucas Therapy material reflects the magnetic fields within your horse’s body, which stimulates blood circulation and oxygen flow. This helps to reduce swelling and inflammation, so are ideal for use pre- and post-exercise. It can be used on a sweaty or wet horse as the “Stay-Dry” qualities will dry the horse, while enjoying the soothing relief of the therapeutic fabric.

It features attachment points at the neck and rear D-ring, so it can be used and secured under another Bucas rug. Also available as a lightweight turnout rug or medium weight turnout rug.

Horseware Ionic Therapy Mesh Cooler

Type: Infrared

Sizes: 5ft 6in – 7ft 3in

RRP: £125.95

This rug from Horseware incorporates ceramic minerals during the yarn extrusion process, resulting in superior far infrared emissivity that won’t wash out. This technology produces gentle radiant heat that has been shown to penetrate beneath the skin to help increase circulation, activating the body’s natural healing process.

The breathable scrim mesh outer allows for maximum airflow, while the ceramic-infused liner reflects body heat back as far infrared rays. Neck cover fixings allow for extended coverage. Neck cover sold separately. Comes with a two-year warranty. The Horseware Iconic collection also includes a stable rug and turnout rug.

LeMieux Conductive Magno Rug

Type: Magnetic

Sizes: M or L

RRP: £299.95

This LeMieux rug has inner liners that are made with a woven layer of steel fibres that conduct magnetic waves around the lining. The 2,600 Gauss twin magnets that are strategically placed over the shoulder, elbow, hip, stifle and gaskin. The breathable 3D mesh top side releases any heat build up from the magnets, while the lightweight mesh of the lower section encourages the air flow up. The three-way adjustable belly straps ensure a close, secure fit for maximum effect.

Veredus Magnetik Rug

Type: Magnetic

Sizes: S, M or L

RRP: £453

This breathable rug from Veredus is equipped with 32 neodymium magnets that develop a power of 2,400 Gauss each. The magnets are distributed across the shoulders, back and hind end, and are designed to stimulate circulation and prepare muscles and tendons for exercise. It is designed to be used alone or under another rug if it’s cold.

Protechmasta Infrared Fixed-Neck Rug

Type: Infrared

Sizes: 4ft 6in – 7ft 6in

RRP: £189

This Mastacare rug uses far infrared radiation to gently increase blood flow, remove toxins and promote healing. It can be used before work to prepare the muscles for exercise, but most importantly after work to help reduce lactic acid build up and aid the repair process. You can leave your horse to wear this rug unattended.

Premier Equine Magni-Teque Rug

Type: Magnetic

Sizes: 5ft 6in – 7ft

RRP: £185

This mesh rug from Premier Equine has 238 600 Gauss magnets stitched into it around the main muscle groups – 164 magnets in the rug and 74 in the neck. You can gradually build up to using it for four hours a day – before exercise to help warm your horse up and after exercise to ensure they cool down slowly. It has antibacterial nylon lining at the wither and shoulders, and comes in a reusable zip-fastened storage bag to keep your tack room tidy.

Felix Bühler Ceramic Rehab Liner and Stable Rug

Type: Ceramic fabric

Sizes: 5ft 6in – 7ft

RRP: £89.90

This therapeutic stable rug from Kramer can be used pre- and post-exercise or while your horse is resting in the stable. It has a coat-friendly lining, which reflects the horses’ own body heat in the form of infrared radiation, thus providing a comfortable climate and preventing and relieving muscle tension. The rug has a 100g polyfill, extra-high side gussets for freedom of movement, and a t-hook front closure. This rug can also be used as a regular stable rug with an elasticated surcingle and a fillet string.

Equine Magnetix Magnetic rug and neck set

Type: Magnetic

Colours: Blue or navy

Sizes: 5ft – 7ft 3in

RRP: £343

This rug from Equine Magnetix is made from lightweight mesh material with more than 100 2,000 Gauss neodymium magnets – 80 magnets in the rug and 32 in the neck. It covers all major muscle groups and can be used for long periods of time and overnight. It can be used on its own or under another rug. You can also purchase the rug and neck cover separately.

FMBs Combi Pro II rug

Type: Magnetic and massage

Sizes: Pony, standard or extra large

RRP: £4,400

This dual therapy rug from FMBs combines pulsed electromagnetic therapy and deep massage, which can be used simultaneously. It covers the main muscle groups and can be used daily to support performance as part of your warm up and cool down routine. It can be used as part of a rehabilitation or general maintenance program.

The rug is battery operated and incorporates 14 massage modules and 14 pulsed electromagnetic copper coils. It is operated via a control box – the magnetic field can reach 80 Gauss, while the degree of vibration massage can be chosen to offer an individual solution. Comes with a two-year warranty.

What does a magnetic rug do?

All cells in your horse’s body have electromagnetic properties, which means they can be energised by a magnetic field. When a powerful magnet is placed against the body, cellular activity is increased, which can increase the rate at which cells regenerate and repair. It can help to encourage blood flow and increases cellular activity in the body but it’s important to understand that the magnets themselves do not heal.

Magnetic therapy is reported to help…

• maintain circulation
• reduce muscle tension
• aid recovery of muscle fatigue
• improve oxygen supply to tissues

How long can you leave a magnetic rug on a horse?

Every rug is different. Some rugs require that your horse be supervised while he’s wearing it, while with others you’ll need to build up the time gradually. The best magnetic rugs for horses should come with instructions and guidance.

You might also like:

Magnetic boots, bandages, bands, chaps and wraps – all for your horse

9 ice boot options to cool horse’s legs effectively

9 travel rugs worth adding to your horse’s wardrobe

Are you on the search for a new travel rug for your horse? Check out this selection of the best

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

From schooling exercises to carrot stretches, horse owners are always working on ways to relieve tension in horses. Calling in an accredited equine practitioner such as a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath is a key part of most horses’ management, but what can you do in between to help relieve tension in your horse? Moreover, how can you detect areas of tension in the first place?

“When horses feel pain or discomfort, they block it out,” explains Jim Masterson, equine bodyworker and pioneer of the Masterson Method. “In the wild, if they’re dragging a leg or showing vulnerability, they become a target. So, what are their options? They’re going to cover it up.”

Over the years, and through careful study, Jim developed bodywork techniques that encourage horses to reveal where in the body they hold tension and begin releasing it. This, Jim says, is often as much a surprise to the horse as it is to the owner.

Jim Masterson: developing the Masterson Method

Jim began working with horses in 1997 as a show groom in Iowa, US. A relative novice at the time, Jim starting paying attention to the work of equine chiropractors and massage therapists who accompanied riders on the show circuit.

“There was this old horse chiropractor from New Zealand who’d been doing it for 40 years – he really knew his stuff,” Jim tells H&H. “I would follow him around whenever he was at the shows, drive him to different barns to hold the horses for him and just pay attention.

“Let’s say he did a big adjustment to the poll-atlas junction at the top of the neck – he would then step back to see what the horse had to say. The horse would kind of stand there and blink a few times and maybe shake, and then start to yawn repeatedly. That was his indication that he got a good adjustment. That’s what got me interested – reading the horse and the horse’s behaviour.”

It was during these years that Jim learned a technique from another equine massage therapist derived from Chinese medicine, and one that forms a key element of his practice.

“She would start by running her fingers very lightly and slowly along the bladder meridian,” Jim explains, “which follows the top line of the horse and goes all the way down the hind end to the hind foot. We call it the bladder meridian technique. You’re just barely touching the hair, moving very slowly, and watching the horse’s eye for a blink or for some change in behaviour that that shows that horse feels something in that spot.

“I found if you stop, wait there and do nothing, the horse would drop his head. Then, he might start to lick and chew or yawn repeatedly, just like they would for the chiropractor. I thought ‘so, there’s a connection here!’”.

How to relieve tension in horses – the bladder meridian technique

All you need to try the bladder meridian technique are your hands.

“People always want to know how much pressure to use,” remarks Jim, “it’s barely any. You’re looking to have an air gap between your horse’s body and your hand. Your fingertips are in light contact, and then there’s a space between the body and the rest of your hand.”

Bladder meridian works by calling your horse’s attention to a site of discomfort in his body, which is often signalled by a blink or twitch.

“Some horses feel nervous or a little threatened when you point out where there’s tension” says Jim. “They’ll start to fidget, but you just wait there and they’ll give you what I call the release response, like licking, chewing or repeated, yawning, snorting and sneezing.”

Jim says he learned later that this technique meant he was working with the horse’s nervous system.

“There’s the part of the nervous system that blocks out and covers up tension in order to survive, the fight or flight. And then there’s another part that releases the tension, the parasympathetic nervous system that controls responses when not under threat. Without using any pressure, you’re showing the horse where the tension is and helping his nervous system to release it. The result is a more comfortable horse, and it can do a lot in the way of building trust and a relationship with him.”

Jim also has a video on how to release tension in horses using the bladder meridian technique.

Tension in horses: how can you spot it?

Jim says horses most commonly carry tension in their poll-atlas junction, the neck-shoulder junction (where the neck joins the trunk under the scapula bone) and the sacroiliac joint.

“When you’re riding, tension can manifest in your horse bending one way more easily than the other,” says Jim. “He might struggle to pick up one canter lead or become disunited, cross-canter behind or buck over fences, for example.”

Jim notes that while sudden changes such as this warrant attention, horses who have displayed these behaviours for years will also benefit from release.

“Horses who’ve gone in this way for decades have usually stiffened in that direction, so it isn’t hurting him anymore,” says Jim. “You can still help by loosening him up, but it won’t be like pushing a button and fixing it.”

You may also be interested in…

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Learn how to stretch your horse to help improve suppleness

How to encourage your horse to stretch and relax

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the Paris Olympics, Royal International, Burghley and more with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you’ve been holding out for a great deal on one of Equilibrium’s massage products, this bank holiday weekend sale could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Equilibrium Products has announced that all massage pads, mitts, magnetic chaps, rugs and the associated accessories, including batteries, chargers, magnets and heat packs, will be reduced by 25% for the entire weekend (until 31 May or while stocks last). Here are our favourite deals at a glimpse or check out the full sale at equilibriumproducts.com

Top deals from Equilibrium Products

View the full sale at equilibriumproducts.com

You might also like:

Magnetic boots, bandages, bands, chaps and wraps – all for your horse

9 therapeutic rugs your horse will thank you for

Equilibrium Field Relief fly rug review *H&H Approved*

£95

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

A massage gun probably isn’t the first thing a lot of riders think of when considering their supplementary fitness and recovery habits, but when the opportunity arose to test out the Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun, I jumped at the chance to discover whether it really could make a difference. The benefits of the Pulseroll include helping reduce muscular pain, aiding rapid training recovery, helping flush away lactic acid and increasing blood flow – in other words, providing an experience akin to a sports massage in your own home. 

When the Pulseroll arrived, it definitely felt a little like Christmas for me, unpacking the very smart box it arrived in to find a padded carry case, with a sturdy zip and handle, enclosing the gun itself and all the accompanying accessories, each in their own compartment for ease of storage and location. Overall I was very impressed with the presentation and packaging of the product, and the slightly daunting array of attachments available, which fit to the device itself, all with various purposes. Thankfully, a full instruction booklet is provided.

The case includes the Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun, user manual, charger, power adapters, and six different attachments: a large and small round head, flat head, spinal head, pneumatic head and the rather alarming sounding bullet head. Each is depicted with a diagram in the instruction manual, brief overview of their specific intended use, and an indication of their impact level, from one to five. Unsurprisingly, the bullet head, “for pain point muscle massage”, offers the highest level of impact. 

I opted to begin with the large round head, marked as a two out of five on the impact scale, and designed “for full body muscle massage”, which sounded a much more affable experience for my massage gun debut than the promises of the bullet head. The heads are simple to attach to the main gun, which has an on/off switch on the bottom, and a power button at the top to control the intensity of the vibration and change the speed settings (there are four in total, from 1400 to 3000 RPM). 

One of my initial impressions is that the gun is quite heavy; it weighs 1.6kg and this combined with its overall size (it is 25 x 16 x 6cm) meant that I did find it a little cumbersome. Other people, and those used to massage devices, may not find this, but it’s worth considering whether Pulseroll’s Mini Massage Gun, at 0.6kg and 14 x 10 x 4cm in size, might be a better option if you’re concerned about weight or planning to use the Pulseroll while on the move. 

I really liked the manual, with clear instructions on how to use the gun to achieve either a relaxation or activation effect on various parts of the body, including the best attachment to use and recommended duration. There is also a section detailing recommended use to ease pain of certain conditions, such as tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis and carpal tunnel.

However, as a massage gun rookie, I would have appreciated an additional brief guide to the different grips referred to, such as the reverse grip and base grip, as well as some direction on how best to position yourself to target certain areas. I did find some answers online via the informative Pulseroll blog, but some basic techniques listed in the manual would have been helpful.

Personally, I found the glutes, hamstrings and quads the easiest areas to begin with in terms of working out positioning and intensity. The power of the gun, even at its lowest setting, took me a little by surprise – this machine does not lack in the oomph department – but I found that I quickly got used to the sensation and enjoyed the almost instant relief I found it offered my tight muscles. It is also remarkably quiet for such a high-powered device. Over several sessions I cycled through the power settings comfortably and also graduated through the different attachments – although I admit the bullet head is yet to be deployed.

Certainly some parts of the body are easier to target than others; for my upper and lower back, I roped in my husband to make sure the gun was targeting the right spots. 

The Pulseroll can be used for both relaxing the muscles and activating them ahead of a session. As someone with a job that requires me to be sitting at a laptop for much of the day, I’m very aware of the need to activate my glutes and hamstrings in particular before an after-work ride, run or workout, and I added one minute on each side with the Pulseroll to my usual warm-up routine to fire up my muscles before heading out on an evening run. It could be coincidence, but I ran my fastest 5k of the year that night, and without the back niggles that often accompany my hard running efforts. 

A few days later, I got back in the saddle after a few months out, enjoying a two-hour hack with a friend. That evening, I used the Pulseroll on my glutes, hamstrings and thigh adductors, and was pleased to find the next morning that my body didn’t ache as much as I might have expected it to, given that I am not riding regularly at the moment. 

Whether you’re looking for a means to ease and relax tight and tired muscles, or for more targeted relief or activation, the Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun is a high-end, high-spec piece of kit that is reasonably easy to use once you get used to it. While the price point may deter some, I’d recommend it for anyone riding professionally, or indeed any rider who places high importance on their own fitness, strength and recovery, both in and out of the saddle. 

Verdict

A high-end, high-spec piece of kit recommended for any rider who places high importance on their own fitness, strength and recovery, both in and out of the saddle.

Who tested this massage gun?

Polly Bryan is H&H’s dressage, products and sport horse breeding editor. Although she does not currently have her own horse, Polly enjoys catch rides whenever possible, and so is accustomed to the aches and pains that accompany “part-time” riding. She is also a keen runner and gym-goer, and has participated in several half marathons.

Find out more about how Horse & Hound tests products

You might also be interested in:

Uvex Tocsen Crash Sensor *H&H Approved*

£79.99

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Equine massage therapist Laura Marsden takes a look at how massage can improve and maintain your horse’s performance, from increased flexibility to relieving poll tension

As with human athletes, horses can develop strains, muscle tears, adhesions and fatigue as a result of regular or strenuous exercise.

In all aspects of modern horsemanship, owners are finding that massage therapy is beneficial not just to the physical aspect of the horse, but is also improving the horse’s mental well-being.

Techniques used during a massage therapy session range from basic cross fibre friction to the complicated myofascial release (specialised physical and manual therapy used for the rehabilitation of soft tissue and fascial tension).

Below, we take a look at eight areas in which massage therapy can improve and maintain your horse’s performance:

1. Increased flexibility

Poor flexibility is usually caused by muscle fatigue, tightness or inflammation. Massage therapy improves flexibility through stretching techniques, designed to ensure correct alignment and rehydration of muscle fibres following a work-out. Hydrated muscles have more elasticity, and a greater ability to stretch, thus improving flexibility.

2. Improved suppleness

Suppleness is a combination of unrestricted movement in the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. Therapists combine massage with skeletal mobilisation to increase the range of motion in joints, allowing the horse to be more free-flowing and expressive in its movements.

3. Relieving poll tension

The horse’s poll is an area in which a lot of tension manifests itself. Stretching and massaging the horse’s poll can relieve a whole plethora of built up tension, usually culminating with the unlocking and stretching of the jaw through uncontrollable yawning.

4. Tackling psychological issues

Gentle myofascial release work around the horse’s poll and neck can transform the most ill-treated, timid or fear aggressive horse, after just one session of massage therapy.

5. Aiding muscle recovery

Massage therapy will ensure pathways to and from muscle bodies are free of adhesions, allowing the effective expulsion of acids which cause fatigue and cramp, as well as giving access to oxygen rich blood cells to replenish depleted stores, and repair torn fibres.

Continued below…

Liked this? You may also enjoy reading these articles…

What are Franklin balls – and how can they help riders?

Instant visual feedback — and other reasons arena mirrors are a useful addition to your yard

It’s not uncommon to find mirrors in the

6. Harmonising horse and rider balance

A good massage therapist can tell a lot about the rider from the physical tensions felt when palpating the horse. Often, a horse will be one sided through it’s back, if the rider is uneven in their seat.

7. Increased muscle conditioning

By eliminating tight muscles, massage therapy removes restrictions which would hinder the recovery period. Unrestricted muscles are more easily reached by nutrients which allows them to more easily grow and adapt to their workload.

8. Detoxification

Used in between techniques and at the end of a massage, effleurage is the sweeping motion used to guide toxins towards the lymph nodes, where the body can easily expel them as natural waste. Removing toxins prevents cramping and fatigue, and promotes the hydration and suppleness of muscles.

To find out more about Laura Marsden’s work, visit facebook.com/equinemassagebylaura

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Equine Muscle Release Therapy (EMRT) is based on the Bowen Technique &mdash a successful human therapy from Australia. It works on the fascia (a fine transparent membrane) which covers every organ, blood vessel, nerve, muscle and bone in the body.

The fascia should be loose, moist and mobile, allowing free movement between parts of the body and the unrestricted flow of bodily fluids. Injury or stress can result in it hardening and becoming less elastic, with a reduction in the fluid flow.

Internally, problems in the fascia may cause:

• contracted muscles, leading to bones becoming misaligned
• insufficient lymphatic drainage, leading to a build up of toxins
• poor blood supply
• trapped nerves

This can lead to restricted movement and a lack of body symmetry, causing muscle wastage or overbuild, which can be successfully corrected with ERMT treatment.

EMRT aims to stimulate the nerves that carry messages via the central nervous system to the brain to re-programme an area of trauma. As the nervous system affects the entire body, the treatment benefits the whole horse as well as accelerating healing of a problem, such as an open wound or muscle injury.

Practitioners use their hands, fingers and thumbs at key points on the body in a gentle, non-invasivetreatment that many horses seem to find relaxing and enjoyable.

Becoming an EMRT therapist

Training in the UK is accredited to the Bowen Association of Australia. All potential practitioners must understand and be able to handle horses safely.

Training lasts two years and covers equine anatomy and physiology, in addition to spending many hours training and building case histories, before being examined in both the practical application and theory of EMRT.

Treatment is only undertaken with veterinary consent, and a practitioner will make a visual assessment and take a case history in much the same way as other hands-on therapists.

For further information on EMRT, contact Sue Connolly (tel: 01789772413).

Q: When my Irish/Thoroughbred five-year-old gelding is stabled at night he gets very depressed. Usually he’s the most friendly and placid horse. How can I lighten his mood?

Cathy Tindall replies: Horses, by nature, were never designed to stand in small confined spaces, but to roam freely on the plains.

With our intervention their lives have changed and, in order to live with this, horses have had to adapt.

Some deal admirably with the “indoor” lifestyle, but for others and their owners it can be troublesome.

You could invest in a horse toy to keep your gelding occupied, and use a haynet with small holes, so it takes him longer to eat his hay.

You could also try these TTeam calming exercises to reduce stress in the stabled horse. These are techniques that you’ll need to practise:

• Ear work: There are many acupuncture points in the ear so, by working them, you can affect the whole body. Firmly, but gently, rub the tip of the ear between thumb and index finger – this is the anti-stress point that will help quieten and calm your horse. Work each ear for several minutes.
• Mouth work: By rubbing your horse’s gums you will be connecting to the emotional part of his brain, which will help calm him. At first he may show signs ofnot liking this, but do persevere. Once a horse begins to like it, his eyes glaze over, his head drops and he may let out a sigh or a yawn.
• The wand: Stroke a long dressage stick over your horse’s body in continuous, even movements. Cover every part of his body as if painting him. Apply firm pressure so the stick bends slightly in the middle. This will ensure it is not too tickly.

By using this method of wiping the dressage stick over his body, you will help your horse cope with his confinement and you may even find he lowers his head and doses off.

TTouch was created by internationally-known animal expert Linda Tellington Jones. It consists of a series of circular clockwise touches performed on the skin, which can be performed in set patterns or just where your hand takes you. The whole body can be touched including the hairless underside of the dock, the belly and even the soles of the feet.

For more information, visit www.lindatellingtonjones.com

Before you start

• Don’t try these exercises if you are unsure of handling horses.

• Warm up your horse’s muscles before starting by walking or lunging for at least 10 minutes.

If your horse has an existing injury check with your vet before carrying any of these stretches.

Making sure your horse is happy

If your horse is uncomfortable with any of these stretches he will let you know by moving away, if he moves back to you then carry on. If he shows an extreme reaction stop, it may be he is stiff or an indication of a physical problem, if in doubt consult your vet.

Protraction stretch of the front leg

Area: Shoulder and elbow.

What to do: Don’t tie your horse up for this exercise, ask a friend to hold him. Lift your horse’s foot as if you were going to pick his foot out and ‘walk’ his leg out in front of him below the knee – exactly the same way as you would to remove wrinkles from the girth area. Do not use force at any time.

Benefits: Stretches and relaxes the shoulder and elbow.

Neckstretch

Area: Neck

What to do: Ensure your horse is standing square in front. Ask him to turn his head round towards his flank – a carrot will help encourage him round. If there is any discomfort the movement will not be smooth, any tension will prevent him from doing the exercise. Do this three times on each side.

Benefits: Stretches and loosens muscles and increases mobility.

How Mc Timoney chiropractic can help

Symptoms that may benefit from professional help include:

• Lameness that hasn’t responded to traditional treatment
• Unlevelness, especially behind
• Uneven wear of shoes
• Stiffness or a disunited canter
• Sore or “cold” backs
• A sudden change in behaviour, such as refusing, napping, rearind and bucking.

For details, contact the McTimoney Chiropractic Association, 21 high Street, Eynsham, Oxon, OX29 4HE.

Alternatively, contact (tel: 01865 880974) or visit www.mctimoney-chiropractic.org

See the October issue of HORSE magazine for more stretching exercises, or click here to subscribe.

Q: Could you please tell me about Bowen Equus? I’ve heard a few people talking about it at my yard and I’d love to learn more.

A:Bowen Equus is a treatment that involves specific moves across tendons and muscles using thumbs and fingers to apply a rolling action.

This gentle stimulation, often carried out over or alongacupuncture meridian lines, seeks to balance muscles, which in turn align the skeletal system, taking pressure off internal organs and so promoting good, functional health.

Each treatment usually takes about 45 minutes, during which any changes in the horse’s condition and behaviour are constantly monitored.

Owners may see an improvement in that first session, but the healing process will continue for some time afterwards.

A second treatment should then take place between seven and 10 days later.

While one to three treatments may be entirely appropriate for horses, which are already in good conditions, more serious problems may need several visits before the body is balanced and the animal is moving correctly again.

Conditions that Bowen Equus may benefit include:

• Stiffness on one rein
• Pulling
• Stretching on tightness of the neck or a tendency to hold the head high or low
• Tightening in front or apparent restriction of scapula (shoulder) movement
• Uneveness of motion, perhaps with some saddle slippage
• A deterioration in performance
• A shortened stride
• Canter lead problems or disunited paces
• A sore or cold back
• sore or tense withers
• Muscle wastage or uneven muscle development
• Restricted motion, perhaps with stiffness or obvious discomfort
• Not tracking up or over-tracking
• Moving close or wide

For more information contact Bowen Equus (tel: 01580 860246)

Read more Q&As on alternative therapies every month in HORSE magazine, or click here to subscribe online at a reduced rate.

As any rider who has enjoyed a sports massage will tell you, having sympathetic hands working over your aching limbs and back brings instant relief and relaxation. Now horses can also benefit, according to international sports massage instructor Debranne Pattillo.

“Equine massage is the hands-on application for accessing the overall condition of the horse and relieving tense, tight and sensitive muscles,” Debranne explains.

“Since horses can’t communicate verbally, the body worker has to have good horse sense and skills to be able to assimilate the horse’s response and work sympathetically where needed.”

Equine sports massage, which is a development of traditional grooms’ methods, concentrates on muscles that are unable to release themselves. Often, muscle sensitivity is a symptom of other orthopaedic-type issues, injuries or illnesses. Sometimes, excessive use of a muscle can prevent a muscle from functioning properly.

“Horses which work and play hard are most susceptible. Sports such as racing, eventing and endurance tend to have a large amount of injuries. Because most of these horses enjoy their job, they often perform without showing discomfort until it is too late.

“Most soft tissue problems are accumulative, except when affected by trauma, accidents or illnesses. If all owners and trainers learned howto access the overall condition, they might be able to pick up on these problems when they are subtle, and call the vet in for a diagnosis.

According to the experts, horses in pain will often adapt their movement, developing a new way of going to accommodate the discomfort. A horse that is protecting a sore muscle will force others to overwork to compensate thereby losing his freedom of movement. This may result in a drop in performance, a behavioural issue or a physical problem.

“Our aim is to restore the horse’s freedom of movement by reducing the resistance to motion. Skilled body workers can detect and act on subtle changes at an early stage, maintaining a horse’s performance level,” says Debranne.

Although it is the body worker’s job to recognise the symptoms of muscular pain, massage can also help healthy horses.

“Incorporating massage into a regular training programme is beneficial,” says Debranne. “It has recently been proved scientifically that massage can increase the range of motion. In a healthy, sound horse, that means enhanced movement, which is essential to the disciplines requiring elegance, strength and style, such as dressage.

“Increased range of motion also means better stamina, which benefits racing and endurance. If you can imagine even a minor lengthening of the stride of a racehorse, think how many lengths that would be by the end of the race.”

Debranne believes that although equine massage is never a substitute for veterinary medicine, it can make a difference in the health and performance of a horse and also help to encourage a more productive life.

“It’s just another tool in the box for the horse’s wellbeing,” she says.

According to Nicole Rombach, a qualified equine body worker from the renowned School of Equinology in California, the benefits of massage and gentle “passive” stretches can go a long way to improve a horse’s well-being.

Nicole, who is trained in equine sports massage, biomechanics, gait abnormalities, saddle-fitting and dentistry, opened the first equinology training college in Britain at Oldencraig Equestrian Centre in Lingfield, Sussex, where students include vets, chiropractors and massage therapists as well as trainers, instructors and owners.

She believes that equine massage, regularly performed by a qualified practitioner, can go a long way to restoring peak performance by encouraging the release of muscles that have become contracted and fatigued.

“Where a muscle is not functioning correctly, another will compensate and overwork, making it tighter and encouraging the build up of lactic acids,” explains Nicole. “This means that the horse is not able to work with his usual range.

“Massage and passive stretching works well as a preventative and avoids problems before they become an issue, although it shouldn’t be seen as a miracle cure.”

Nicole recommends a full session every seven to 10days as a supplement to training.

“Horses enjoy the individual attention, so the benefits of massage are not purely physical, but psychological, too.

“I always discuss the horse’s medical background with the vet and liase throughout the body work sessions.”

According to Nicole, equine sports massage is ideal for competition and leisure horses alike, as a method of both diagnoses and treatment, so that levels of stamina and fitness are improved using non-invasive techniques.

“By standing him square, I can check his muscular symmetry,” she explains. “I’m looking for any limb deviations or rotations, as well as areas of possible strain.”

The horse is then walked and trotted in a straight line, before being lunged in walk, trot and canter on both reins, allowing his footfalls and willingness to move forward to be assessed.

Nicole will also look at the horse’s teeth and saddle fit before moving on to check for changes in muscle tone and for sensitivity, all of which may indicate areas that could benefit from body work sessions.

The session involves softening isolated or whole groups of muscles, using a combination of gentle passive stretches, which the horse is encouraged to do himself, and massage strokes from head to tail.

Once completed, Nicole issues a worksheet of suggested routines for owners.

“There are various simple stretches that I teach owners to do with their horses. The exercises only take a few minutes and can easily be incorporated into the daily training regime. Most horses learn these quickly and look forward to being stretched after warm-up or at the end of their training session.

“Grooming with a soft rubber curry comb is also extremely beneficial. This should be performed along the whole body using a light pressure, but making sure you avoid the delicate bony areas.

“The horse will often tell you where he needs you to work by leaning into you when he’s enjoying it and moving away when you hit a sensitive area, which is usually a good indication that something not right.”

By doing this every day, it helps to eliminate toxins and promote and maintain circulation.

“The benefits of grooming and stretching are not only physical, but psychological too, as it helps build up trust and increases bonding.”