Also called "equine hydrotherapy," hydrotherapy for horses is an inexpensive and effective way to help horses recover from injuries. It is most often used to treat leg pain and muscle soreness in horses, but it can also be used on other body parts.
Uses of Hydrotherapy for Horses
"I prescribe hydrotherapy for all kinds of conditions," says Annie V. Latham, DVM, "from healing after castration to suspensory ligament damage, to deep tissue bruising." In fact, hydrotherapy for horses has become so popular that many barns and stables have constructed stocks for just this purpose.
Joint pain in horses can become extremely debilitating. With water treatment, however, injuries that might have taken weeks to heal improve in a matter of days. When combined with pain-management medication, muscle relaxants and feed supplements, equine hydrotherapy works wonders with many different types of joint injuries.
It is also helpful for easing muscle soreness in horses. "Some of my clients hydro their horses' legs for ten minutes after every strenuous ride," says Latham. Equine hydrotherapy can reduce inflammation and increase flexibility when a horse's muscles have been overtaxed during a ride.
Equine Spa Treatment for Muscle Soreness in Horses
An equine spa is similar to a Jacuzzi that humans might use after a hard day of work or after strenuous exercise. For example, the Equine Hydrotherapy Centre offers a fiberglass equine spa that uses cold salt water to ease muscle soreness in horses, among other benefits. It is shaped just like a stall, but facilitates submersion in the water up to the horse's withers.
Although equine spa treatment is used most commonly for race horses, it can be beneficial for horses of all breeds and disciplines. However, this form of water treatment is not cost-effective for most equine facilities, so it has not yet become standard practice.
Methods of Equine Hydrotherapy
When a horse owner does not have access to an equine spa, hydrotherapy for horses can be accomplished with a simple garden hose. The stream of water is directed above and below the central location of the joint pain or muscle soreness, increasing circulation and improving flexibility.
There are also facilities that have "horse treadmills" where a horse walks through a trough of water with jets aimed at the legs and barrel. For an over-heated horse, hydrotherapy might consist of rubbing him down with a sponge soaked in cool water.
Equine Hydrotherapy Warnings
It is important to realize, however, that equine hydrotherapy is not always the best solution, and that incorrect application can lead to further trauma. "You should never aim a hard jet of water directly at a bruise or laceration," says Latham.
Horse owners should also avoid equine hydrotherapy with horses that have:
- Freely bleeding wounds
- Intense swelling
- Yeast or fungal infections
- High fevers
- Low respiration
Hydrotherapy might be prescribed for these horses, but horse owners should wait for a veterinarian to give his or her expert opinion on the matter.
Garden Hose Hydrotherapy
When using a garden hose for equine hydrotherapy, it is best to use a spray nozzle with several different strengths. The "jet" setting should be avoided at all times, unless recommended by a veterinarian, because it can cause bruising and increase swelling. A lighter spray is recommended, but it should have a fairly narrow span when directed on a horse's body.
"Hydrotherapy works best when concentrated on a specific area," advises Latham. For example, the lower legs, upper legs, shoulder or hip might require equine hydrotherapy for increased circulation or to decrease muscle soreness.
Ten to fifteen minutes is usually sufficient for a water treatment, though treatments lasting fewer than five minutes usually have no effect whatsoever. It is also important to stand at least a few feet from the horse during the treatment in case he or she reacts negatively to the pressure.
Source:
Latham, Annie V, DVM, Telephone Interview, 15 September 2009
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