I want to start using liniment more often on my horse (if it’s truely beneficial) After being worked.
Which liniment is your favorite and why??
What is your routine after a horse show? Do you wrap? Poultice? (I do low level stuff)
I use back on track stuff (I have a couple of pads, sheet, quick wraps, and more)
I have used sore no more in the past… I liked it, but not too sure if it really did anything… How can you even tell?
My horse seems to like Vetrolin. I like it because it is good at getting sweat out of the coat.
I tend to wrap or poultice at shows mostly because of how much the horse is stalled.
The first question is, what are you hoping to treat, and what effect do you want your treatment to have?
I think you can probably divide possible treatments into heat, cold, tingly, pressure, and support. Then you can think about how these treatments work on humans, and how they might work on a horse.
Back on Track products work by trapping body heat, which is why they are suggested for horses with back arthritis before work. This is like my doctor telling me to soak my arthritic hands in hot water first thing in the morning. It does work, btw, to reduce stiffness. You could also put a hot towel on the horse’s back, or even a heating pad.
Cold hosing and icing work to reduce inflammation and injuries. This is like putting an ice pack on a sprained ankle. Some of the liniments also have a high alcohol content, and evaporate fast, which would have a cooling effect. But as far as I understand, real ice is needed if you have an actual injury to deal with.
My horse also loves a warm hose bath after a ride, though we only do this in sunny weather. I’m not sure what the effect is here. She would be warmed by the water, but the ultimate effect is gentle cooling as the water evaporates. I think that if you sponge bathed out of a bucket, a splash of something with alcohol might give a cooling or tingly effect (the traditional liniment in the wash bucket), but if you are using a hose, you can’t really do this.
The menthol-type liniments have a tingly effect. I am not 100 % sure how they work. Are they a counter-irritant, or do they bring blood to the area? I have been using McTarnahan’s Blue Lotion on both my horse and myself, since as far as I can tell, the Blue Lotion is pretty much equivalent to human Tiger Balm, but cheaper and in a much bigger container!
Tiger Balm advertises itself as an analgesic (pain relief). I find that these menthol liniments do work overnight to help reduce muscle pain, especially when I am having back muscle spasms. And I find that Blue Lotion seems to have some effect reducing wind puffs on my horse’s hind ankles.
My equine chiropractor uses Blue Lotion after a major adjustment. But it is a very persistant formula. It re-activates in the rain and gets cold and slimy, so you don’t want the horse going out in rainy turnout with the lotion on. And I wouldn’t want to put it under the saddle area where it would get re-activated by sweat.
I have started using sport boots on maresy’s hind legs to support her ankles a bit. I think they prevent a little over-wiggle in her ankles that makes her prone to wind-puffs. This would be like me using a neoprene knee brace on the days my knee feels a bit vulnerable.
Stable bandages would work to reduce stocking up of legs, which might be useful after a particularly busy day. I don’t use a human equivalent, since I just put my feet up on the sofa at the end of the day! Maybe the human equivalent would be pressurized socks for diabetics and people with poor circulation?
Anyhow, I think the first question is, what problems does your horse have and what are you trying to treat? The second question is, how do you measure effectiveness with the treatment? Better performance, reduction in swelling?
The only down side to using liniments would be if you over-used something, or your horse was sensitive, and you caused a skin reaction. Well, the other down side would be cost if you were using a lot of a product that didn’t work that well.
I use an equissage. The new ones come with an attachment for legs.
I love the sore no more clay poltuice. I would use it on my old horse after xc schooling or at a show. I definitley noticed a difference - it helps reduce any inflammation, especially if the horse is going to be stalled for a good while afterward. It’s about $25 for a decent size jar of it. I don’t use it incredibly frequently so it’s not 5oo pricey for me.
As far as liniment, I like Vetrolin. It’s relatively inexpensive which is always a plus. I do a liniment bath after a harder work out. Like a particular challengING jump session or long trail ride. I think it gives a soothing effect…Not 100% sure if it actually does work, but my horses have seemed to enjoy the treatment.
Eventer here, I use sore no more liniment (gel) and have the poultice as well although I have not yet used it since he has yet to run any big prelims and until I start going for time or having long trips after my runs, I don’t see the point. The sore no more does make a difference, although if there is a known injury I use surpass instead as it lasts longer. The liniment goes on after XC or after a particularly hard workout and I also use it when his back gets sore (when he needs an adjustment, unrelated to saddle fit).
I also have back on track products, that I ride with, and if it is cool the night before a show he wears a bot sheet overnight. I do not use bot wraps on his fronts (I do on his hinds) after being recommended to not use them by my vet while dealing with a very minor suspensory strain as we were aggressively trying to reduce inflammation via icing and surpass. The idea being that we didn’t want to heat the leg at all.
I like a to mix a brace after a sweaty summer workout-that’s just one part liniment to 4 or 5 parts water in a bucket. I like to hose the sweat off first then sponge the brace on. I like the products with menthol, personal preference more then anything concrete but I find the smell cooling and think it probably increases surface circulation to relax and sooth a hot, tired horse.
Be careful though. NEVER put it on where the saddle will sit before riding and be careful wrapping over it, especially undiluted. You can irritate or even blister the skin. Always make sure its dry if you wrap or blanket over where you used it or it makes and traps heat.
Anyway, the stuff has been around for centuries, tried and true if used properly.
Never rub and wrap - that’s with linament that might cause skin irritation.
I’ve used Absorbine, diluted, without causing burning…never full strength.
Thank you everyone!
The reason I am looking into is because why not put on something that is soothing after a hard workout? I used to spray on sore no more on the saddle area and legs after a hard ride, but didn’t find it did much. I want to start getting into the routine of putting liniment on after a tough workout though.
I usually will have a long cool off after a hard ride and then hop off and do carrot stretches for another 5-10 minutes.
I picked up some absorbine gel today and rubbed some on the back of the saddle area and legs after the ride. It made my fingers tingly for quit some time afterwards, but It wasn’t uncomfortable.
I’ve also used “refreshmint” stuff in the past and liked that stuff too but the store I went to didn’t have any so I opted to try something different
I like Dr. Milt’s, but it’s stupid expensive. I actually discovered it after my knee surgery. I tore my ACL, MCL and meniscus and I had a lot of pain and swelling. Someone at PT told me about the stuff and gave me a little bottle. It works immediately (pain relief and reduced edema) but unfortunately the effect is relatively short-lived (1-2 hours for me). Still, it was a lifesaver for the early part of my physical therapy and recovery, and I still keep the stuff on hand and use it, for everything from neck/shoulder aches to knee pain and back strains. I even apply it to the back of my neck and temples when I feel a migraine coming. I still take my pill, but the Dr. Milt’s helps. It comes in a liquid form, a gel and a cream poultice which is like a thick lotion. I keep one in the car, one in my purse and several at home because I like and use the stuff so much. I wish it was cheaper though!
I’ve tried tons of liniments. Sore No More, Absorbine, Vetrolin, Ice-tight, plus tons of other human versions like blu-emu, tiger balm and biofreeze, and Dr. Milt’s is the only one that truly is worthwhile for me. All it is according to the label is Epsom salt and some witch hazel and arnica, plus a few essential oils. I should try to recreate my own mix at home and save money.
I was under the impression that all liniment does is distract you or the horse from the discomfort they may be feeling with all the tingling that goes on. I have had more than one horse that hated even well dilute menthol type liniment. Personally I like sore no more because of the arnica.
For a body brace I like vetrolin diluted in warm water and sponged on. If it is really hot out I switch to bigeoil. Just a glug in a bucket of warm water. I don’t use any of it straight. For legs, Sore No More gel is my favorite.
[QUOTE=Pinto;8634327]
The reason I am looking into is because why not put on something that is soothing after a hard workout? I used to spray on sore no more on the saddle area and legs after a hard ride, but didn’t find it did much. [/QUOTE]
Compared to what? You haven’t really indicated specific things you’re trying to treat other than making the horse “feel good.”
I use the Sore No More gel. I had the spray one previously, but I like the gel much better. The consistency is better and you have more control in application. I rub it along my horse’s top line, legs, shoulders, and stifles. He enjoys the routine and my hands feel nice afterwards, so I figure it’s doing something for him, and he seems to bounce back quickly after a hard workout.
I like the Vetrolin because I like the smell and it seems to cut through the sweat well. I can’t say a notice a difference in soreness.
I can’t use Sore No More. My massage therapist used it after a session and he scurfed on his back. I did not ride that day or the next day either. But Finnegan has sensitive skin.
Still trying to figure out my absolute favorite one…but thus far I like Vetrolin the best.
I love Vetrolin (my horse does too). If they made a perfume and line of bath and body for humans I’d be so happy :lol:
[QUOTE=ChasPonyCat;8634644]
Compared to what? You haven’t really indicated specific things you’re trying to treat other than making the horse “feel good.”
I use the Sore No More gel. I had the spray one previously, but I like the gel much better. The consistency is better and you have more control in application. I rub it along my horse’s top line, legs, shoulders, and stifles. He enjoys the routine and my hands feel nice afterwards, so I figure it’s doing something for him, and he seems to bounce back quickly after a hard workout.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like I want to use it the same reason you do. My horse is sensitive and I want to make sure that I do all I can to make sure he is comfortable after a hard workout. It’s not a complicated thing- I just want to use a liniment after work that will provide soothing benefits and reduce and swelling…
I’ll look into the SNM gel.
