Description
Our horse massaged pad was developed through clinical trials at Myerscough College, UK. Our innovative design provides effective, affordable equine massage therapy and is proven to improve back flexibility and promote relaxation in horses. The Equilibrium Massage Pad was created in 2007 to help treat a successful ex-racehorse suffering from chronic back pain and sensitivity.
- Clinically proven to improve back flexibility and promote relaxation (see trial results)
- Shaped to follow the contours of the horse’s back, provides coverage from withers to quarters
- Battery operated 30-minute sessions
- Three different, easily adjustable programs that allow you to choose the intensity of the massage
- Perfect before exercise as part of warm up
- Fits a wide range of horses and ponies
- Easy to fit, clean & store with a modern & practical sports holdall
- New high performance battery & universal charger*
- 2 year product warranty
How does the Massage Pad work?
The Equilibrium Massage Pad has three different settings – high, medium and low – which can be selected easily from the attached controller. This enables you to select the intensity of the program to suit your horse. Each program has three different types of massage – pulsing, vibration and stroking –to ensure all muscles are worked in different ways.
The Equilibrium Massage Pad can be easily incorporated into your warming up and cooling down routine. The medium setting is ideal to warm up muscles before exercise, the low setting can be used to cool down after work and the high setting for when your horse requires a more intense massage. Each session will last for 30 minutes however, this can be manually stopped at any time.
The Massage Pad fits an array of horses. It comes in a handy carry bag which makes it ideal for use at home, away. It is easy to store in the tack room and is wipe clean. The bag also has useful storage spots for the battery and charger.
The Equilibrium Massage Pad is now the choice of many Olympians, world champions and top producers.
It can be used on its own or in conjunction with the hand held Massage Mitt for an all over massage.
When to use Massage
The Equilibrium Massage Pad can be used for:
- Horses on box rest to promote blood flow
- After exercise to help with toxin removal
- Before exercise as part of warm up
- At a show to help recover from travelling
- On your horses day off as part of a maintenance programme
- Anytime as a rewarding treatment
Benefits of Massage
Massage has shown to help reduce back stiffness caused by injury and long term chronic conditions such as arthritis. It does this by increasing the blood supply to the affected muscles and removing the build-up of toxins.
Tension is often one of the most common reasons for poor performance and by increasing relaxation and improving back flexibility; the negative effects of tension can be reduced. Relaxed muscles will assist with flexibility and movement in particular for competition horses performing dressage movements and jumping technical fences.
Clinical Trials
As part of our commitment to research and product development, the Equilibrium Massage Pad was tested by Myerscough College in Lancashire, UK.
The results, following six weeks of testing showed that the massage pad offers significant benefits to working horses, improving back flexibility and promoting relaxation and can show an increase in stride length.
Test Methods
The trial itself consisted of high performance horses where the effects of massage were investigated. Firstly the horses were measured for signs of stress/relaxation immediately before, during and after the application of the massage pads over a six week period. Secondly, the horses were assessed in terms of flexibility and suppleness. There were two groups of horses – a treated group and a control group.
Back flexibility was assessed using the ‘Arch Dip Test’. The test involves the use of pressure stimulus to generate a reflex in the horses’ back. Pressure applied to a specific region in the spinal area results in the horse ‘dipping’ away from the pressure, with a more flexible back allowing the horse to exhibit a greater ability to dip away from the source of the pressure. The arch test involves the application of pressure to the horses’ midline, in order to stimulate an upwards arch reflex in the horses’ back away from the source of pressure. Similarly, a more flexible back allows the horse to exhibit a greater ability to arch the back upwards away from the source of the pressure. The horses that had used the pad showed a significant improvement in back flexibility of approx. 46%.
The horses also had their heart rates monitored. It was shown that the horses wearing the massage pad had their heart rates reduced and maintained a state of relaxation during treatment.
Size Guide
While the Equilibrium Standard Massage Pad will fit the majority of horses and ponies, the Equilibrium XL Massage Pad is designed especially for the bigger horse, and shaped for broader or long backed horses which take a 6ft6 rug or bigger. Please contact us if you need any help with ordering
| Point | Take from | Pony (Under 14hh or 5″6′ rug and under) | Standard (14.1hh-16.1hh or 5″9′ – 6″3′ rugs) | XL (16.2hh and above or 6’6″ rug size and upwards) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Length across the top (cm) | 60 | 70 | 80 |
| B | Width from the top to the bottom (cm) | 25 | 30 | 35 |
While the Equilibrium Standard Massage Pad will fit the majority of horses and ponies, the Equilibrium XL Massage Pad is designed especially for the bigger horse, and shaped for broader or long backed horses.
If you are still undecided on how the massage pad can help your horse, check out this video which shows you the Equilibrium massage pad in action.
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