I have an OTTB that takes a little while to warm up under saddle. He tends to mind the cold weather, so he stays a little extra blanketed, and is ridden with a quarter sheet. I’ve seen the BOT square pads and wondered if they would help. He’s currently ridden with a Thinline half pad, but I think I’m going to try a Prolite on him and see which pad he prefers.
Any reviews from the BOT users here?
Eddie would tell you BOT is the best thing since sliced bread. :yes: He wears the long sleeve T regularly and has noticed a tremendous difference in how comfortable his arms/shoulders are after a hard day.
The ceramic fibers reflect body heat back into the body, for a gentle warming therapeutic effect. We’ve always had good feedback from all the products. And the ceramic fiber is woven in, so hangs in through cleanings, hard use, etc.
It didnt do anything to help either of my horses, one of whom got such a sore back I took her in for X-rays suspecting kissing spine. X-rays were clean.
Some folks love them. Before I write the theory off, Im going to sleep on one of my back on track wraps to see if I feel a difference in my hip which usually aches come morning.
I thought it helped my kissing spine horse, making him warm up just a little quicker than when I didn’t use it. They are well made and durable, so if it doesn’t work out, you can sell it on and not lose too much.
I have the sheet, although the results are still out for me as well. But I throw it on my OTTB if it’s pretty cold out, for the 20-30 minutes I’m grooming him before riding. (He lives outside and knows where all the mud is…) And it does seem to help a little at least.
But I also ride regularly in a fleece pad (I’m old school, and still love them), and he seems to prefer that way more than a quilt and a half pad. He’s also narrow, and I think it just stays more comfortably still. Oh, and he’s been diagnosed kissing spine as well, but all say he moves the same under saddle as he does without a rider.
I am currently using a thinline half pad with a BOT square pad. Can’t say that I have seen any difference yet…
Been using the saddle pad for a year, religiously. My horse was cold backed and would also get sore. I’ve noticed improvements, he is never, seriously, never cold backed anymore.
I’ve been using the polos and blanket for half a year and that also seems to help a lot. And I’ve personally been using the mattress cover for almost a year. Definite improvement in my shoulder.
I use Thinline pads on both my horses with Back on Track pads.
For my very hot and tight backed Arab, I noticed a significant difference. For my really laid back warmblood, not so much.
I’ve used the human back brace with really good results as well as the wrist brace for my carpel tunnel. The products work best when they can be used for long periods of time - 8+ hours.
I use the Thinline/BOT combo pad on my old guy(can’t remember the actual name, Pro something?). I put it on his back when I start to groom and don’t take it off until I have untacked and brushed him off after the ride and it seems to help him. If for some reason I have to use a regular pad and half pad I can tell that he doesn’t seem to be as comfortable so I think it does make a difference. I love it and it is holding up really well.
BOT products have made a huge difference for my horses. I find the sheet more helpful, but have also gotten great results with the saddle pads. I recommend tacking your horse and letting them sit for at least 20 minutes before riding. I think that many people just put the pad on and get on, which does not give any time for the ceramic fibers to work. The products also have held up very well.
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I am a bigger fan of Draper Therapies products. Not only are they better than BOT they are made in the USA! (Which is a nice change.) They make a world of difference.
Experiment completed. My husband and I sat on Back on Track leg wraps for the 7 hour ride to NYC. We were both just as sore and stiff as we always are when we make this trip. I wanted to be a believer…
I really like my BOT products, but they aren’t a cure all.
The idea that keeping an area a bit warmer makes muscles more comfortable in cold/wet weather is kind of common sense, I think, but there are limits to the benefit you get. I still think they are worth using, and find my horse does seem to come out a little more supple using his BOT pad, but I also warm up carefully, do a fair amount of stretching etc before really going “to work.”
I have used the knee brace on myself, and after finding out that it worked, very well, I started used them on my horses. I have the saddle pad as well as the “back pad” (almost like a quarter sheet), and it makes a big difference for my older WB and my cold backed TB. I am a big believer, as I’ve had awesome results.
I use all their products: stable sheet, quick wraps, hock wraps and back pad (almost a quarter sheet). I have a sensitive, cold backed warmblood and it has done a world of good. He is no longer cold backed, is more supple when starting to work and more relaxed. I put the back sheet as a saddle pad and leave it on for at least half an hour before riding.
Also, I use the stable blankets all night and the quick wraps. The tendons are nice and tight.
I’ve usted their products since 2010 and it has made a difference. My two cents.
I HIGHLY recommend Back on Track, especially in your scenario. It really does help with warming up and avoiding sore muscles and stiffness. Ask any of the 3 major lesson horses at my barn and they’ll tell you the same 
[QUOTE=jody jaffe;6750049]
Experiment completed. My husband and I sat on Back on Track leg wraps for the 7 hour ride to NYC. We were both just as sore and stiff as we always are when we make this trip. I wanted to be a believer…[/QUOTE]
The BOT products are meant to be put in direct contact with the skin…
I suppose you and your husband didn’t drove 7hrs sitting butt naked on your leg wraps?
For your next trip, may I suggest you each an Ogilvy half pad?
I LOVE all my Back On Track products. I have a 5 y/o OTTB mare and the saddle pads have made a WORLD of a difference in getting her to relax her back muscles and use herself properly. I also use the quarter sheet while tacking her up/walking her around and by the time we are ready to start working I feel like she has already been warmed up for 10-15 minutes!
I also use the BOT socks on myself. Due to a medical problem I gained a lot of unexpected weight, and my feet took the brunt of it. It would take me 20 minutes to walk normally in the morning after waking up. Now I sleep with the socks on and I can get up and even run if I wanted to! People who have known me and my foot problems for years now can’t believe that the socks have fixed me!! The insoles are also amazing when you’re on your feet all day.
I WANT to be a bleiever, I really do. I’ve had really bad back issues (SI joint) so when I saw the BOT tent at a recent event and they were having a special, I bought a sheet for my mare to get the human back support thingie and a saddle pad for free. I used the back support on myself for several days and didn’t notice a bit of difference, other than the fact that I would sweat like pig under it. So, a comforting warmth, but that was it, as far as I could tell. Based on that (albeit limited evidence) I sent the sheet back but kept the pad, as it wasn’t too expensive, and I figured a warm back might be nice for my mare. I can’t say that it works one way or the other. I have had some nice rides where she has felt really loose and swingy through the back, and some not so nice rides. The jury is out, in my case.
Just my opinion, but I think all the Back on Track products are therapeutically worthless and an egregious waste of money.
