Does any one have one of the above? Or had used one in the past? I don’t like the idea of the treadmill or a walker as they are tied up and I personally feel like there are more injuries with those. I was thinking about building an underwater type eurocizer (in the ever distant future, just brainstorming currently). That way they are not tied and I like the idea of the euro style panels. I was thinking it would be covered and I would like the water level to be adjustable- basically going all the way down to be “dry” in the winter and being capable of going all the way up to chest level. I think that would be fairly easy to accomplish with proper drainage. The “ring” size would be 80" or larger. My questions would be the footing: does anyone think a rubber or sand footing would work? Or perhaps rubber mats with traction grips? Has anyone built an underwater pool or walker for their farm?
I think it would be much easier to just get the water treadmill than to build a water eurocizer.
http://www.equinespa.com/treadmills/
Since that isn’t a thing, i can’t imagine the cost. I also would be concerned that an accident could become a nightmare pretty quickly in that set up.
I am thinking
Those definitely look cool. And super expensive haha but if you have the money and the space, why not?
I don’t know anyone with anything like that outside of clinics with the more old school hydrotherapy pool, but I do know a few places that have the single horse treadmill spas, which are also available at several shows I have been to. They have the added benefit of being portable.
definitely take pics if you decide to build!
I have only seen two seawalkers in person at rehab facilities - they also had dry eurowalkers as well. We are currently finishing up building for our Eurociser (Q-Line: http://www.vitafloor.com/vfqe/). I would imagine the infrastructure you would need for the seawalker would be quite substantial, and the amount of water you would need if you wanted to drain/fill would be huge (if that is even a possibility). As ladyj79 posted, perhaps a treadmill spa would be easier for that specific need. I have used both eurocisers and treadmills in the past and the horse spa for rehab at other facilities.
The reason we chose to put in a eurociser was for multipurpose use. We have performance horses that could use it especially in the winter for cooling down or or crummy weather days, pregnant mares that are close to term and can no longer go out on grass but still need exercise, and we have several retirees that could definitely benefit from a couple sessions on the walker a week. We priced out both a treadmill and eurociser and the actual unit was less, however we had to build a “pavilion” for it that is attached to our barn, so that is where the costs are very different. Overall, I wanted to be able to get a lot of use out of it. The other perk is I can throw multiple horses on it, whereas a treadmill would take a whole day if I wanted all nine of my horses to get on when it’s mostly just me managing everyone’s daily routine!
I absolutely love a eurocizer. It is invaluable when you have limited or no turn out, getting multiple horses out at once is a life saver.
I know places with both treadmills and eurocizer. The treadmills are used infrequently but the eurocizer works all day. Fights occur on the regular in busy yards over time in the eurocizer.
I’ve kept my horse at plenty of places with a horse walker – where they walk freely between two partitions – and I found it invaluable, especially in winter. Bear in mind that different water levels will affect the limb range of motion and therefore stress different muscle groups. Google “effect of water level on equine kinematics” to get some interesting results. Personally, if I wanted to do water conditioning or rehab, I would invest in a water treadmill rather than a seawalker as you’re able to ensure the horse is traveling straight, something that’s so important to rehab or building muscles correctly.
I’ve had more injuries on a euroizer than on a treadmill. The Eurosizer was one a TB stud farm mainly used by yearlings for sales but racehorses as well. The biggest issue we had was horses figuring out they could just stop and the panels would just go over top of them (electrified at that!) and hang out or fight with the horse behind them.
Don’t get me wrong love the eurosizer but treadmills are more controlled.
I find most horses catch on pretty quickly to working on a treadmill. Would love to have a water treadmill.
Oh and there is the great story - slightly stressful - of a cougar (the feline one!lol ) being found in the middle part of Spruce Meadows indoor eurosizer while there were horses on it! Groom managed to get all the horses off it and shut garage door. Fish and wildlife people came and managed to sedate it and relocate it.
P.
This was exactly my thought when I said if things went wrong in a concrete enclosed water filled eurocizer they could go really bad really quickly.
As I said, I love the Eurocizer, but everyone laughs that I am so paranoid and constantly checking on my horses. But somehow no one’s laughing when I come screaming through the barn because someone else’s horses have done exactly as you said and now there’s a board busting fight going on, with spinning electrified panels and five horses. I don’t want to do that in water. Water treadmill all the way.
I can’t even imagine the size and complexity of the filtration system you would need for an 80’ diameter sea walker. Unless you don’t mind them walking in poop soup. We have had a eurocizer for about 10 years and it definitely is useful. It is a 60’ one, but the horses always walk on the inside track so its effectively about 50’, and walking is all they do, even though there is a fancy computer that can be set for higher speeds. It’s a good tool to have.
I love my Eurocizer. I do not have fights and my electrified panels do the job well. It has been a godsent gift from heaven in the rehab of my two ding dongs! I suggest getting the biggest diameter that you can.
Thanks for the replies all! Having a eurocizer and a water treadmill might fit my needs best, however I did find a company that makes the under water walkers!
