We are looking into purchasing a therapy blanket for our horses. I was looking for some feedback as to whether or not they work well and which one was the best / favorite out there on the market. The three that I have been looking at were the centurion Thera pulse, respond systems bio pulse sentry and the thermotex. I have never used one and would appreciate some feedback. Thanks
I have no experience with that type of sheet, but I know that Back On Track makes a couple, and the BOT products that I’ve used have been very effective.
There’s a longish thread about the different types of therapy clothing available just below this thread. Scroll down to the second title, or use this link: http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?234825-Megnetic-therapy-vs-Infrared-Heat-Therapy
BOT rocks!
I have used the Centurion with good success, but I have no idea if they truly work. I am sure like anything…some improvement in some horses and no improvement in others.
The one thing…you can rent them and I think that some if not all your rental money will be applied to purchase if you end up buying one. I did that with a Centurion Hoof Pad.
The only thing I will tell you, those blankets are heavy! I rented a blanket when I boarded at a barn that did not have an in house one and I promptly returned it as I wasn’t tall enough and did not have the upper body strength to hoist it on my 16.3 hand horse.
A friend of mine has the Respond blanket.
I think it’s personal choice. But do check the overall weight!
Have fun shopping.
I quite like magnetic blanket therapies…yes, some horses respond better than others but overall it’s well worth the investment. I’ve used the Respond Systems blanket and it is a BEAR to work with, and often horses are spooky to it the first few times as it’s really pretty stiff and unwieldy - the magnet “blocks” are basically like dictionaries sewn into a mesh blanket.
I’m currently using and loving the much lighter and more manageable Sport Innivations blanket: http://sportinnovations.net/products/electro-and-magnetic-massage-therapy-blanket/
I quite like magnetic blanket therapies…yes, some horses respond better than others but overall it’s well worth the investment. I’ve used the Respond Systems blanket and it is a BEAR to work with, and often horses are spooky to it the first few times as it’s really pretty stiff and unwieldy - the magnet “blocks” are basically like dictionaries sewn into a mesh blanket.
I’m currently using and loving the much lighter and more manageable Sport Innivations blanket: http://sportinnovations.net/products/electro-and-magnetic-massage-therapy-blanket/
Back on Track is great. It is a sheet/blanket infused with ceramic fibers – so it is an entirely different modality from a magnetic blanket.
I have a horse who has a muscle strain in his butt. I was able to find a used BOT at an incredible price and bought it 10 days ago. When my horse wears it for 2 hours am and pm, his butt does not react at all when I run my fingers over it. If he does not wear it, he collapses with firm touch.
What about anything for the poll and neck
BOT has neck pieces that attach to their sheets and 2 types of pieces for the poll. I have the crown pad and it doesn’t seem to do anything for my horse, but he needs the padding and it’s no more expensive than a gel pad, so I figure it’s doing no harm. On Amazon you can find a BOT fleece sheet with an integrated neck. I think Amazon is selling the Europe versions of the BOT products.
Centurion sells a separate neck price with its own battery pack. Another brand I’ve seen has an integrated neck (Google image and my memory are saying that is probably the Activo-Med) but I don’t have personal experience using one. I have worked at barns that owned Centurion and Respond, and liked both.
I am a big fan of the pulsed magnetic - as in I have been known to wrap myself up in the horse blankets or lie on a hoof pad :D. Very relaxing for me! But I have also seen great results in multiple horses, in the form of increased performance, decreased soreness, and a look of pure bliss in their eyes when it’s on. However, in others, it’s pretty meh, and the odd horse seems just terribly unimpressed with the whole idea. So the Centurion rental program is nice in that you can play around with it a bit to decide for yourself. Alternatively, you could buy a couple of sessions from someone, if you are looking for a specific personal horse. Honestly though, if you have a bunch of horses, I am willing to bet that at least some will love it and benefit. If you can afford to buy, I say go for it, as once you have it, you will be inclined to use it as much as practical, as opposed to if you have to pay for individual sessions, you’re more likely to stretch it out and not see full benefits.
The last barn I worked at one owner had a Thermotex blanket and neck piece. From a grooms perspective I never saw a huge difference in the horses (relaxation when it’s on, sensitivity to brushing, etc). I never rode those horses, but the asst trainer who did thought it helped. I don’t know, I’m less sold on this one, and/or think the BOT could get you a similar effect for less $.
It seems like the centurion is the best buy out the as far as the most desired results.
We are very happy with Bemer vet system.
When buying ANYTHING of this sort ask to see the evidence that it works. Not a stack of anecdotal endorsements but some sort of objective, third party evaluation. If these do NOT exist then don’t buy it or, in the alternative, accept that you are medical experimenter/patient and you’re literally “rolling the dice.”
Note that gambling with your own, or your horse’s, heath is perfectly OK, as long as you know you’re doing it.
The better practice is to do a SOAP on your need and see what is out there that really works.
G.
Wise to put these things in the nice to have rather then need to have bucket. Depending on your budget, if you can afford them, by all means. If it’s a stretch to buy one, maybe better choices.
As a short person, they don’t work for me and can’t see much or any difference using them or not. Other owners will have different observations on their own horses. Can’t argue there is a good bit of marketing behind these products.
Jmo but I suspect snake oil. Trying to think if I’ve ever seen a miraculous therapy wrap or blanket during any of my gazillion human physical therapy sessions, or had one suggested for my use by a PT or massage therapist. No.
Nor seen any clinical trials for or even mention of such products for people in all the medical/nursing feeds I get daily in email, with areas of interest including mental health and arthritis. (Old arthritic psych nurse.) You’d think they’d be a thing for two legged sufferers, no?
Perhaps like many majikal spendy things for equine, wouldn’t work on a skeptical human. Or her horse.
