Hydrotherapy - Aqua Treadmill for Horses

Swimming vs the Aqua Treadmill

Conditioning and Rehabilitation for horses is not a "one size fits all"
solution.  Getting your horse to peak competitive condition, and maintaining that condition, is the challenge.

Variety in conformation, breeds, injuries, etc. dictate that the tools used to provide the proper care and approach should be flexible in order to meet the needs of each individual horse.  The more conditioned a horse is, the less injury-prone it is likely to be, and the better it will perform in competition.
Each training day or show participation carries with it the risk of injury and excessive wear on the horse’s joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage and muscle.

The aqua treadmill and swimming are two options available.  These options are very different kinds of exercise. 

Swimming does not provide the array of options truly needed for extensive long term conditioning and rehabilitation.

Longtime trainer and United States Equestrian Team equine therapist Doug Hannum says,
"It (swimming) takes a horse out of his natural plane, making him more or less horizontal instead of vertical, nose up, tail-end down, hyper extending everything. It’s anti-aerobic.  Hydrotherapy, conversely, is aerobic (energy created with oxygen). With swimming, you don’t get concussion that stimulates healing."

The aqua treadmill may be the most perfect type of conditioning and rehabilitation for the equine athlete.

• It enhances and maintains conditioning in a full-body exercise, giving the horse a perfect balance of strength.
• The 40% less body weight is the key to giving range of motion back to an injured athlete, as well as increasing length of stride of the athlete, bringing it back to its optimum state.
• The resistance of the water and the low impact concussion enable horses to work themselves fully and with no pain, using the same muscle groups as in their natural environment. 
• Horses are able to use their normal gait without stress or trauma.
• Works on the whole horse physically and mentally with less depression and anxiety affording a better mind set and calm attitude.

Benefits Include:

• Decreased training-related injuries while conditioning your horse.
  Provides a controlled, safe environment, in a straight line, on a flat surface.
• Speed control allows for safer injury recovery and consistent, safe increases of stride.
• Utilizes a normal gait, with full range of motion and flexibility with the same muscles uses on traditional surfaces.
• Helps recondition veteran athletes and refreshes horses that have been in long-term training.
• Builds muscles cardiovascular strength and lung capacity without excessive wear and tear.
• Safe alternative to stall rest and hand walking in post-surgical care, offering better healing, faster return to normal activity, and less chance of re-injury.
• Mentally revitalizes horses with new activity, while maintaining condition.
• Helps bleeders heal while maintaining condition, increasing their lung capacity.
• Provides perfect exercise when low impact activity is required.
• The jets massage and relax the muscles, increasing circulation.
• Helps condition the back and stifle regions, making horses prone to "tieing up" less susceptible.
• Helps lighten and increase tensile strength of tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules.
• Earlier return to performance after surgery by as much as 50%.
• Ideal conditioning for sales and show prep.

Ideal for treatment for:

• Bowed tendons
• Pulled suspensor ligaments
• Degenerative joint disease
• Hoof, knee and ankle problems
• Sore shoulder, back and stifles
• Neurological rehabilitation
• Conditioning prior to breeding, both mares and stallions
• Safe conditioning for 2 yr. olds (yearlings) prior to start of training