Back on Track sheet: anyone used one?

[snbess]

Has anyone used a “Back on Track” sheet on their horse? Do you believe it has helped?

I am struggling a bit with my 20 year old dressage horse being tight in his hind end (hips mostly). He warms up out of it, but I feel bad for him that the first 15-20 minutes of our ride. I do some massage pre-ride and some standing stretches with him and he’s on a comprehensive joint supplement. I am wondering if a BoT sheet would give him a little help. I am reluctant to spend $250 on any sheet, so I wanted to get opinions first.

Thanks.

[alibi_18]

Yes. I bought the long ‘quarter sheet’ and use it before my ride, it goes on as soon as the blankets goes off.

I also use it after my ride, once the horse is dry, I put it back on its back until I’m ready to put the blankets back on.

If I plan an easy hacking day, I even keep it while I ride. (I have a key hole type quarter sheet if I plan a harder training session and I need to remove the quarter sheet easily.)

It really keeps the back warm and supple. I think it works better

[islgrl]

I had the sheet, I think it helped keep his back warm, which in turn kept him less tight. All of that was good. The sheet however, fit him so poorly that I ended up selling it. It kept sliding way back over his withers making him very uncomfortable.

[wendy]

I’ve used them on myself and on dogs- the material really does seem to act as a “warm up” on underlying muscles, and have a general relaxing, loosening effect and to relieve muscle soreness. However, I agree the design of the clothing seems a bit deficient. The dog sheets don’t seem to fit any dog in existence very well, and some of their products seem peculiarly unable to be fastened to the animal securely.

[fatappy]

I have the stable blankets and the mesh sheet. They have all fit my horses well. On one horse, who is about was wide as your pinky finger, the sheet slips back, but not to the point of being behind the wither.

I also have their quarter sheet. Which the older one isn’t contoured for the leg, so I don’t ride in it. Just warmup and cool down.

I had a very cold-backed mare who would bite you/ the cross ties while you were girthing. If she had the sheet on for a few hours prior to riding she was much less ugly about the girth. I had the saddle pad for her, and we both loved it.

I also have their quick wraps - love those too. And the dog sheet fit my border collie well.

I’m a huge fan of their stuff. I don’t think it’s majickal, but something about the fabric does trap the heat without making the horses sweat. I also don’t put them on if it’s over 60*. I think that’s what the instructions say.

I went through a phase - as you can tell :winkgrin:

[cswoodlandfairy]

I love love love mine…well my horse does anyways!! My boy has hip issues too and while he is on 24/7 turnout to help with them when he has to be stalled or for horse shows he practically lives in his! I will say that a cheaper alternative is the back pad that they sell too. It goes under the saddle and goes over their hips so you can ride with it on, like a quarter sheet, but it doesn’t flap all over the place and in colder months its great! I got mine through I sell tack.com and provides a more affordable product!!

http://www.iselltack.com/collections/back-on-track/products/therapeutic-horse-back-pad

Also keep your eye out for tackoftheday.com and tackdealz.com. They constantly put up BoT products at a fraction of the actual price! That’s how I got mine for 60% off new!

[PNWjumper]

Search for Back on Track here and you should find lots of threads with lots of opinions about BOT products.

I absolutely love them and have sheets and leg wraps for all of my show horses.

[Laurierace]

My old guys lives in his under his turnout sheet as soon as it gets cold enough to do so. He never moves better than when he is wearing it. If they made a fly sheet he would wear one every day for the rest of his life.

[Mozart]

I have used the producst on myself and felt a difference so I am a believer. I also agree with the back pad suggestion; for my horse with SI issues I would put the back pad on under the blanket as soon as I got to the barn. Then I would go about my business, get out my tack and then groom but leave the back pad on, groom under the pad and put it back on, do the pre-ride stretches with the pad still on his back and finally put the saddle on and then immediately put the cooler on top.

I felt it made a difference to his suppleness and that it helped overall.

[FineAlready]

I have the BOT quarter sheet (the fleece material one for riding), and have noticed a HUGE difference in my horse when he is wearing it. He basically wears it any time it is below about 40-45 degrees. It has been a lifesaver in winter. Without it, he gets very bound up and unwilling to move forward at all. With it, he is much more willing to move out. Well worth the money.

[HorseKrazy]

TOD sent me a pretty decent discount offer for their full body fleece sheet today, normally just shy of $300 discounted to about $150 I think. I’ll have to double check. Select sizes only. I don’t have one yet, but I’m sure I’ll pick one up eventually

[Buttonwillow]

I bought a BOT back brace for myself to see if it was worth getting their stuff for the horse. It did create a bit of warmth but not much more than a warm sweater would have. I will use it when I need to, but won’t buy any of their gear for my horse.

[Laurierace]

It’s not that kind of heat.

[inca]

As Laurierace mentioned, it does not need “heat” to work. I have the knee braces and it is AMAZING how much better my knees feel. I have never felt “heat” while wearing them.

I have the BOT mesh sheet, saddle pads, leg wraps and head cao. I love BOT products and think they really do work. They also have done studies that show they work.

[ThreeFigs]

I have two BOT sheets, one mesh, the other a tad heavier, the quick wraps, knee braces (for me) and one of their little therapeutic blankies, also for me.

My gelding, who had a back injury when I got him, has done well with the BOT products. H wears his sheets in the trailer on cold days going to and from clinics and for a little while he wears them before I saddle up for a ride.

I’ll have to look into their quarter sheets. Must have the complete set! :yes::winkgrin:

[Hermein]

I have BOT leg wraps and hock boots for my group of oldies, and I think they help. I’d like to buy the gloves/glove liners for myself. I hadn’t thought about using the quarter sheet for SI problems, but it sounds like a good idea.

I’m curious about the bell boots. Does anybody have them who will give a report?

[snbess]

Thanks for your opinions, everyone. I’ve also talked with friends outside of COTH and the overwhelming majority are very happy with the BoT results. Now, if anyone sees a fleece sheet (without neck cover) on sale, I would be grateful for a heads up. I’ll be trolling the ToTD and other sites looking.

[Laurierace]

The mesh sheet is the best bang for your buck as it can be worn in somewhat warmer temps than any of their other blankets.

[Buttonwillow]

That was the only thing I could figure out that was supposed to be the cause of the healing. If it’s not the extra heat from the ceramic, what is it?

Their website says “Back on Track’s joint and muscle support are all made of functional textiles with heat reflective properties. The textile is a synergy of ancient Chinese experience and modern scientific textile technology. During the manufacturing of polyester- or polyester fibers, the ceramic particles are fused into the fibers. When heated, the ceramic particles radiate a heat back towards the body. This reflected heat is long-wave heat radiation, which is also known as long wave infrared radiation…It is well established and documented that long wave infrared heat radiation increases the blood circulation. The increased blood circulation in the tissues helps to relieve muscles tension and improves performance. One important property is the injury prevention effect, which you get when the protections are used for training and competition.”

I have to admit that when anyone says it works via “ancient Chinese experience” not only does it remind me of Calgon commercials but makes me wary. Is it magic, inexplicable to modern science?

[MassageLady]

[QUOTE=snbess;7246641]
Has anyone used a “Back on Track” sheet on their horse? Do you believe it has helped?

I am struggling a bit with my 20 year old dressage horse being tight in his hind end (hips mostly). He warms up out of it, but I feel bad for him that the first 15-20 minutes of our ride. I do some massage pre-ride and some standing stretches with him and he’s on a comprehensive joint supplement. I am wondering if a BoT sheet would give him a little help. I am reluctant to spend $250 on any sheet, so I wanted to get opinions first.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

You need to get him several deep tissue massages, a pre ride isn’t going to do much if he’s this sore. I’ve heard good things about the BOT products, but getting rid of the soreness/spasms should be the first thing you do.