Money to spend on therapy tools, what to pick?

[Lunabear1988]

I just sold an old saddle and got a couple hundred bucks for it. I was thinking I would spend this on some therapy tools since I am rehabbing/strengthening my horse’s stifle.

If you could only pick one or two of these things to help your horse which would it be? He already gets regular bodywork every month and has his saddle fitted regularly just to get that covered.

I’m thinking either
*the equiband/core type device
*https://www.equestic.com/ this saddle clip that helps track rhythm and symmetry under saddle

• One of those laser type pad things (not thinking it will actually heal anything but I know it has a warming effect that can be comforting. Plus I can use it on my husband’s arthritic knees)
• Back on track blanket for his SI which also can be mildly sore no doubt from compensating from stifle!

Or if anyone else has anything to add.

Ideally I can only pick one or two of these items depending on price point.

[endlessclimb]

I’d do the equiband and the laser pad, personally. I love the idea of the equistic, but I don’t think the technology is totally proven yet.

[scislandsprite]

I second the Equiband & laser warming pad thing. I have the Equicore/Equiband and it’s great!

The Equestic looks cool but it’s also needs a monthly subscription for all the premium features and I’m not sure how often I would use it. The Back on Track blankets are cool but my horse doesn’t like it due to the static so I don’t get much use out of it, sigh.

[Renn_aissance]

I don’t have the Equiband yet, but I want one. So you can buy it for me and we can share.

[Snowdenfarm]

Well, I am going to be a negative Nelly on the three that I have.

1. Equicore Saddle Pad. I don’t like the pad itself as a saddle pad. My horse ignores the bands after one or two steps. Kind of like a leg left on too long.

2. Equestic Saddle Clip (with subscription). I actually like this to record how many laps you do in each direction, time in each gait and transitions. I thought it was great for symmetry until it didn’t catch my horse short striding a hair up front. If it has to be significant, I can see and feel that without the clip.

3. Infrared light pad. I got one for my husband to use on his neuropathic feet. He tried it on one foot for a few weeks to see if it made a difference. None.

So, I guess the Equestic wins my vote out of the three. What about bodywork classes for you to work on him in between monthly bodyworker visits?

[Lunabear1988]

Hey thanks for the truthful insight! I have tried the equi core saddle pad on my horse that my trainer had. It seemed to significantly improve him on the lunge. But we only did it that one time maybe I should do a couple more tries before buying one.

The idea I like about the clip is that even though I think I will probably feel it as well it would be nice to have something to back me up with the trainers and vets. I tend to feel stuff before anyone else sees it. It’s been a point of frustration for me.

Which laser do you have? I was thinking of this one as I keep seeing good reviews. But it obviously has less research.

Equine Light Therapy® Itty-Bitty | Schneiders Saddlery

[IPEsq]

I agree that the pad sucks on the Equicore system, but the system is good overall. There’s a UK company that makes something like it with a variety of saddle pad bases.

I have the Equisense tracker, which goes on the girth. Similar to Equestic but does not require monthly subscription. Data analysis may not be quite as good/detailed. But it’s good for tracking trends with rehab, and I’m using it on my rehab horse to check how much time I spend on each rein and in each gait, as well as to monitor his general symmetry.

I’ve also got a cold laser and a small Magnawave machine. I can’t recall–did the ultrasound show anything specific? If not, I would probably not invest in laser/light pad for this and just pay your bodyworkers instead.

For stifle strengthening work, I’d probably go with bands.

[NaturallyHappy]

How about poles for stifle strength?

[Lunabear1988]

One vet said signs of old minor meniscus injury (no tear) as well as OC (soft cartilage) and the beginnings of some osteoarthritis assuming from inflammation from old injury.

According to CSU getting him strong is the biggest thing right now. They said based on the ultrasounds they were not concerned about soft tissue involvement at the moment.

[Lunabear1988]

Yes we regularly do pole work and have various small hills around the property.

[Snowdenfarm]

Oops, I got him a PEMF pad, not infrared. Never mind, lol.

[MissAriel]

I just bought the ELT medium pad to help my horse rehabbing suspensory issues. As I’ve only used it twice, too soon to say how it is doing, but there was far more information around this product than many other therapy modalities.
I’m also a bit of a skeptic, fwtw

[No1]

Back on track and, possibly, the equiband.

The equiband is a good system, when adjusted and used properly. I’d be careful about over doing it in a horse with a known stifle injury. Take it slow.

Back on track is always worth the money.

It has been my experience that the infrared light things are never worth it. You would be better off investing in a time or two of shockwave for the stifle, if you haven’t already, than buying a blinky light.

[Texarkana]

Use it for down payment on a Bemer set?

[Lunabear1988]

There is a boarder that has the bemer set, I was going to ask her if she does it on horses or rents it out (I think she does.) He does get PEMF already too.

[Lunabear1988]

We just did Prostride and Adequan and surpass for stifle. No shockwave was suggested but he is doing good so far. I am going to have vet recheck and see about SI. I just wanted to help him in anyway I can.

[Libby2563]

Sure Foot pads? No personal experience to share, just throwing out another option!

[Lunabear1988]

Oh that’s a good idea!! Forgot about this. His massage therapist has some so I could probably try them first.

[vxf111]

If your horse isn’t responding to the Equicore, you might need to adjust the bands. When adjusted properly the horse can’t just “ignore” the bands. They’re supposed to put enough tension on the horse so as to be noticeable. We have them in the barn and use them on literally every horse (more than a dozen) and when adjusted properly there aren’t horses who “don’t react” to the presence of the bands. It might take some experimentation to get the bands right for your horse but my suspicion is they’re too loose or not in the right spot of the horse ignores them.

[endlessclimb]

Outside of the pad being a boring color, I think the equiband pad is quite nice. Thick/stiff so it stays where you put it, small square stitching, flannel underside, square edged.