Is there any evidence that these products actually do anything? I am definitely not a believer in the menthol type products that just provide an icy hot feeling. I have used arnica liniment on myself that seems to help but it’s hard to tell if it’s just placebo. I have a horse that works hard and I want to help provide him comfort and support, but I don’t want to waste money on stuff that isn’t actually doing anything.
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Not sure if it helps my horse, but sore no more was amazing on my sore back muscles when I took an unplanned dismount. With that, gentle stretching, and red light therapy I’m riding today so a three day recovery isn’t bad at my age.
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Second Sore No More. It’s not hot, smells nice and really helps sore muscles.
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I think arnica has some research behind it? Sore No More is supposed to have more anti-inflammatory properties because of the arnica.
I think regular mud poultice is nice for the cooling effect, but essentially useless once it dries. That’s why we used to wrap over wet paper, to keep the poultice damp longer.
I’ve wondered about liniment too. I don’t discount the cooling effect it has in a bath vs just water, so that’s nice for hot days and hard workouts. But I don’t think it does anything else.
A “poultice” will DRAW fluid out. Which is helpful for infections. A “sweat” will heat, it’s a mild skin irritant, which brings blood to the area. Things that dry out will remove heat in the process, so will cool an area they are applied to. None will make and injury go away, nor will protect FROM injury. Nothing works “in advance”. Pressure will make things look better than they really are, so don’t be fooled into thinking that something has “magically” healed overnight, because it hasn’t just because it looks better in the morning. TIME is the only thing that heals an issue. Incremental and correct training is key to soundness and avoiding injury. Applying bandages and pressure will make things look better than they really are, so are like applying a blindfold to yourself in terms of gauging the condition of your horse. If something is going to swell up, it’s best to be able for you to see that the next morning.
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“I don’t want to waste money on stuff that isn’t actually doing anything.”
You might have the wrong hobby or be on the wrong board…
No; just teasing us all. 
My horse seems to feel (soft eyes, perked up expression as it’s splashed on) that a bath with Sore No More mixed into the water is better than a bath without it. Maybe it’s just the different smell, but… Maybe one can take the position of, “Even if it doesn’t do much, what’s so wrong with some degree of placebo effect for an owner, when it comes to the liniments?” 
You can use them as fits within an individual budget, and if they make owners feel calmer and increase the general laying on of loving hands, well, what’s wrong with that.
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Your horse’s reaction made me think of how different they all are in their preferences. I have a mini who was horrified by Sore No More. He will stomp, kick, shiver, roll his eyes, fling himself around and basically turn into a little demon if I go near him with the stuff. Even just seeing the bottle sets him off. I think he must have a reaction to some ingredient or maybe it’s the smell.
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I am really allergic to something in sore no more. It makes my hands feel like they are on fire. The original vetrolin does the same thing. I wonder if he is too
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YMMV, but here in the very northeast we have found that the ticks don’t like Vetrolin, so a rinse of a horse’s legs after a trail ride can bring the little buggers up to the surface of the hair.
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I think he must be. I gave up trying to use it after several times because his reaction was so dramatic. I checked his skin for irritation and there didn’t seem to be any but that didn’t mean it didn’t sting. I felt bad that I used it more than once but I initially thought he was just being “Himself” and “Himself” can be a handful at times.
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It doesn’t make me red/hive-y either. The only way to stop it is to douse my hands in isopropyl alcohol. It used to be a problem when I groomed for other people because I wouldn’t realize the horse had it on it and then suddenly my hands were on fire.
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I like the way the liniment cuts through dirt and sweat on my horses when I use it as a rinse. It feels nice on my hands when I apply it so if it just even gives them a nice feel, then I wont stop using it after a jump school or XC run.
I use the sore no more under my wraps and I use the hoof pack for some horses. I don’t poultice much anymore, instead I just ice and wrap with sore no more. I still keep a bucket of it in the trailer though just in case.
Does it really make a difference? Who knows, but it makes me feel better and if it does work then what’s the harm?
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Mine HATES absorbine liniment in a bath. Same reaction.
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Really? I didn’t knpw that (I’m in MA), I’m going to hafta try that!
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I used to rub horse’s lower kegs with liniment after hard work or a jump school & at the end of a Show day. Sometimes added standing wraps overnight.
I’ve used Bigeloil, Vetrolin, Absorbine & a gel called Cool Green.
All of them made my hands feel good, so I’d assume horse got the same benefit.
Ditto for a wash on really hot days, glug of liniment in a bucket of cold water, sponged on pulse points for horse & rider.
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Maybe I am just a weirdo, but I cant think of anything I have put on my horse that I haven’t tried as a remedy on myself. Maybe its just a “raised in a barn and stubborn horse girl who cant be bothered to go to the doctor” syndrome
A clay poultice will draw out heat and reduce mild swelling/fluid, and I love the green poultice for when my mare gets a nasty bug bite reaction and puffs up at the bite spot. Has worked well on my own wasp stings as well.
For a particularly sore spot I can target I like voltaren, sometimes mixed with a little DMSO. It also worked wonders in reducing the inflammation on my broken toe.
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Was he chestnut?
My horse Yo would absolutely not tolerate liniment of any kind, even diluted.
No skin irritation but whooo boy did he not like it
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No he’s a true black. And a hellion. I readily admit to having the Black Stallion Syndrome 
.
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Arnica works on me. I feel it. So U use Sore No More liniment on my PSSM guy after his work sessions and on his tight muscles. Also use their poultice if I want something drawn down or out.
Another vote for liniment making my hands burn like fire. I can’t use it even with gloves.
I do love poultice and feel. It pulls out heat beautifully. I’ll do an open poultice or a poultice with standing wraps.
