What are everyone’s experiences with using a Bemer for neck issues? My older gelding has mild OA between C4/C5 and C6/C7. He is also a cribber and a headshaker, so he holds even more tension through his neck because of that.
I am loosely considering getting just the Bemer neck piece because I’ve seen one listed at a reasonable price, but how much does it actually help? Has anyone here used it on their horse with neck issues (and accompanying symptoms!) and noticed a difference?
I have a BEMER and a horse with neck issues. Mineralization at the poll and mild degeneration at C6/C7. Overall, I find that it really helps him warm up, but the electrostim acupuncture and even moreso shockwave seems to be making the most noticeable difference.
I still use the BEMER nearly daily for overall support and will continue to do so, but I wouldn’t, and didn’t, expect it to be a cure for what we have going on.
How was this diagnosed? What were his symptoms?
Well, it was discovered because he started stopping at fences years ago, and during the vet exam when I rode they noticed that he was perfectly content to trot around with his head out but curling his neck into a frame he would get weird and bridle-lamey.
He has some other issues as well so his weirdness is not all totally his neck, and he has great range of motion through his neck with carrot stretches thankfully. But he does have the occasional mild stumble at the walk, and has never settled well into collection-the way my trainer describes it, most horses when they’re taught to go in a light frame are content to stay there, but he never settled into it. He’s also very one sided in that he is happy to bend right but gets really hard in the contact bending left.
His neck musculature is crazy-his neck is super thick for a tb (also partially because of cribbing I’m sure) and it’s all hard muscle.
For my guy, it was dramatic buckling at the knee. He went down on me once while I was on board. That was the most obvious symptom. We also had two flares that were likely NOT the assumed laminitis and were actually related to his neck issues. It never really fit a true laminitis diagnosis; hoof rads were clean every time we did them, he was MORE comfortable on harder footing than softer, and his recovery was MUCH faster than a typical laminitis case.
His thread on all that is here for anyone interested: Tripping Problem - Equine Fusion Ultra Boots + Shockwave Update
Same with my guy. His left lead is pretty nice most of the time, the right not so much. I will say after his second round of shockwave, he’s reaching more into the frame and his right lead canter is much closer to his left than it’s ever been.
@FjordBCRF is the shockwave done by your vet, or do you rent a device, or have someone else come out and do it? Not super familiar with shockwave for necks.
It’s done by the vet.
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