Just wondering if anyone has an alternative for buying an equiband system for improving core strength and reaching under from behind. I use side reins and horse goes well in them so I don’t want a pessoa system or anything like that…
What DIY ideas do you have for something similar to equiband? (wraps around hindquarters right behind gaskins/above hocks)
I have heard that you can rig polos but I haven’t tried it because I heard they don’t achieve the same effect of ‘grabbing’ the hair and encouraging the muscles to engage.
I just ordered a very affordable set of something similar through EvoEquine, (based in england.) Not sure if she has them listed on the website yet, but she posted about it on her facebook and you can order directly through her from there. She is currently offering them at an introductory price, so they’re much more affordable than the Equibands. This set includes the saddle pad, so there is less to rig, as well.
I just ordered so I haven’t received them yet, so I can’t give a review unfortunately.
https://www.facebook.com/EvoEquine/posts/1521998717975848?xts%5B0%5D=68.ARDO7v798XK2xoA257EwipmbWdby1dhIUCZKbKrhohoJ_O-QCSwRpv8neRBZVbMMMI1Glny1hlO3PA3bubQg1rI_Wh_Q-JM6vyWu7zolJljW7XLT520_wIgvVaGnFcj9fSq7ErjtOo8rg2L0Af-OnhdOMxUpjNnM0EbEHDpav8UnVqrs0oTC5cRHJc-eHcLRaT2r9PB00dsnTkOJ1NFqjRAwHpAqVTs4EJf0K8UhoYXCE2-_-52wjr4tTftDOhyIWiNDdZ9SLlA-zPeLR4gqm1QDyUuMA-ULzT62pvF0Uu1vrLmRtxc3mG5hR5bYAh5ffH9oBOKwBtcfrfFKQJJ1zxuUzZ5-pDs6j72TvA&tn=K-R
I built an Equiband copycat using an old dressage pad, buckles and the gold coloured therapy band from Amazon. Had to pay a seamstress to sew buckles onto pad as that’s beyond my skill set. I think the whole setup cost me less than $70 if I recall correctly. And I still have about 8 feet left of therapy band to use in future.
It works well. I can see the difference in my horse when it’s on. I made him walk up and down my sloping driveway with it last week and I could tell it was hard work for him. IMO, Equiband needs to have a good hard look at their pricing strategy or they will be run out of business by competitors or people making their own. I’m Canadian so with the exchange it would’ve cost me over $300 to buy from them. That seemed pretty ridiculous to me.
I DO have too many pads lying around… 
Where did you get a therapy band in such along length?
I have and love my Equicore - but if you are looking to make your own, Amazon sells rolls of band that you can cut to length.
Pro-core by Thermatex https://www.thermatex.co.uk/thermatex/pro-core-trainer.html
I have a few in stock at www.TheSaddleTree.com
Amazon. You can buy it in 6 yard lengths. Maybe 8 feet left is a bit of an overstatement but still have several feet left. I actually need to cut a new piece for under abdomen as my skinny OTTB has gotten too chunky to squeeze into the piece I had cut previously :lol:
I ordered this from the Netherlands. If I ever actually get it in the mail … https://hypostore.com/harry-s-horse-elastic-band-for-lunging.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw4871BRAjEiwAbxXi20ltwRnX6L7fvhu6KfxAP73JeosXVa5Pz-Vmp0YiFUug4UZMfoM--RoCzOAQAvD_BwE
Do an equiband search on here. I remember researching them on here and someone had posted in their blog about their set up that I think they made from surgical tubing. You need to have a saddle pad with some stability it to attach buckles or clips to it. I have an equiband system and bought extra clips on amazon and sewed the, on a saddle pad to I had a separate set up for each horse I was riding.
Ooh, the elastic surcingle/blanket straps set up looks interesting! That could be a possibility.
I searched equiband on here but I really wanted to know if anyone had successfully DIYd one or if most people just bought them. I’m more of the ‘just buy it’ type unless the DIY is super simple.
I don’t buy from amazon but I might have some resistance bands somewhere and might try to rig up a polo wrap this weekend to see if it makes any difference at all.
If you’re going to rig up your own, do make sure the saddle pad you use is SUPER sturdy, at the very least is stitched with “small squares”. The equiband saddle pad is like a piece of plywood lol
Good to know! I think I might try the polo wrap to the girth route and see how things go.
I have also made my own. I cut holes in a sturdy saddle pad (as others have said, this is important) and got a physio band. I use chip clips and double them up (this style: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/bevara-sealing-clip-set-of-30-assorted-colors-mixed-colors-assorted-sizes-mixed-sizes-10339171/). You want to make sure the elastic is around the flat part of their tummies.
I just use a long, heavy lead rope, weight is the key.
I clip one end to the surcingle on one side, and use about 6 braiding rubber bands to attach the end of the lead on the other side. The lead rope goes around the horse’s hind legs, laying about 6-12" above their hocks (depending on how they move). As the horse moves, the weight of the rope taps their hocks with each stride, reminding them they have hocks back there, and encouraging to step under. Its remarkable how effective it is. So much so, 10 minutes is max for usage, else they can get sore.
If things get western, and a hock catches the lead rope, the rubber bands snap easily and the lead falls safely away.
Do however, be sure your horse is ok with a lead dragging to the side of them. If they’re not, it can be surprising, especially on the heels of some antics.
I only do this longing, not riding.
Buck22 could you help a foggy friend understand how you attach the rubber bands to the lead rope? I can picture it easily if this was the “clip” end of the lead, or is it the end that a handler would hold when leading a horse?
Here, this is clearer for the larks head knot, the guy’s thumb is the surcingle ring, the rope is the rubber band(s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV6STq_wDp8
The little loop you’d have left over is just big enough for the tail end of a lead rope to wiggle through, so it won’t slide out.
Interesting buck22!! Thanks for elaborating on the 5-6 rubber bands-- I thought we were attaching them to themselves in a row and thought, “why not just use one…?” Understand better now!
I think I’ll try this and the polo wrap and see what works. It seems like the lead rope method would be more like the Pessoa system but without the play up front (which I’m not a big fan of)
Your explanation was perfect, thanks! It makes sense that the braiding bands would be small enough to allow the lead rope end to squeeze through, but snug enough so that you wouldn’t need to tie that end. Appreciate it! I’m going to give it a shot next week.
Thermatex’s Equi-Core Trainer is their deal of the week, 20% off. I just bought it for about $100.00 less than the Equiband and that included the pricey shipping.
https://www.thermatex.co.uk/thermatex/pro-core-trainer-1.html
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