What are therapy rugs and which ones are available?
The variations of therapy rugs are just as broad as the field of therapy possibilities. Depending on the clinical picture, symptoms or needs of the horse, there are corresponding treatment options and thus also therapy rugs. They are valuable aids in the regeneration of the horse, the prevention of injuries or they increase the well-being of the healthy horse. Therapy rugs thus contribute to increasing and maintaining performance. There are different types of therapy rugs depending on the needs of the horse and the goal of the treatment method.
What are therapy horse rugs?
Therapeutic horse rugs are horse rugs with special functions and a wide range of uses. They support the horse in the regeneration of internal and external diseases. At the same time, they can contribute to keeping the horse healthy and are therefore suitable for older and chronically ill horses, but also horses in training. Depending on the type of rug, they warm or massage, expose the horse’s body to a magnetic field or a combination of these.
Although there are different types of therapeutic rugs for horses on the market, they still have the common goal of loosening the horse’s (back) muscles, releasing adhesions and relaxing the horse. In addition, the blood circulation is stimulated and thus the horse is either prepared for training or vitalised after exercise.
You can find out more about the therapeutic rugs below.
Ceramic fibre rugs for horses
Ceramic fibre rugs work in a similar way to therapy boots, in which incorporated ceramic fibres reflect the horse’s body heat. They usually consist of a synthetic fibre and mesh or fleece fabric into which ceramic powder or ceramic flakes are fused. Mesh is fine mesh material that is tightly woven and both very light and breathable. Mesh fabric is a popular fabric in sports and leisure wear, as well as in equine outfitting for fly rugs. For wicking rugs with incorporated ceramic fibres, the inner lining is usually made of fleece, which absorbs sweat and transports it to the outside.
The ceramic stores the heat emitted by the horse’s body at infrared level and returns it to the body. This is practical in that no external heat supply is necessary, as the material makes use of the horse’s own body heat. The long-wave heat radiation penetrates deep into the muscles and loosens, decramps and relaxes them. The warmth stimulates the blood circulation and helps to remove waste products and toxins. The cosy warm feeling under the rug can also relax the horse’s psyche, which is why heat rugs can be suitable for stressed and tense horses.
Warmth is an effective therapeutic modality for a variety of ailments, except for acute inflammation and infection, but it is also recommended as a wellness component for healthy horses and horses in training. During the warm-up phase, the rug can help warm up the muscles and ligaments before training, making them more supple and therefore more durable. After riding, the warmth promotes the removal of lactate and can thus prevent sore muscles in the back area.
Attention!
A ceramic fibre rug does not replace the professional warming up of the horse. In addition to the muscles, the joints must also be prepared for training. The synovial fluid is formed and the joints are lubricated only during exercise, which a heat rug cannot achieve.
Heat can also provide relief from chronic pain. You should therefore treat your horse to rugs with ceramic fibres if it suffers from arthrosis, for example. But this type of heat rug can also provide relief for mild colic and chronic coughing. If the horse has to cough frequently, the muscles in the area of the intercostal muscles tense up. The applied warmth can have a relaxing effect, provide relief and thus help with coughing.
In addition to ceramic fibres, there are also warming horse rugs that have a fine stainless steel yarn woven into them. The material functions similarly to a Faraday cage, whereby the infrared radiation emitted by the horse’s body is retained and returned to the horse. This creates a heated environment comparable to the way a microwave works.
Ceramic fibre rugs from Felix Bühler Ceramic Rehab
Felix Bühler offers a wide range of ceramic products. With the Felix Bühler Ceramic Rehab range, you can support your horse not only in regeneration, but also in training. The fused ceramic fibres absorb body heat at the level of infrared radiation and reflect it. At the same time, due to the breathability of the materials, moisture is transported away to the outside, which prevents cooling through sweat or heat accumulation. The blood circulation is stimulated and thus a faster regeneration is achieved.
In the field of therapy rugs, Felix Bühler Ceramic Rehab offers the Felix Bühler Walker Rug Ceramic Rehab with fleece lining for cooler days, as well as the Felix Bühler Ceramic Rehab Liner and Stable Rug, 100g and the Felix Bühler Ceramic Rehab Exercise Rug. So you can train your horse in almost any weather as well as support it therapeutically.
Magnetic rugs for horses
Magnetic field therapy is becoming increasingly popular and can be classified as an alternative healing method. Magnetic rugs generate either a pulsating or static magnetic field that is built up around the horse’s body.
The cells of the body work through electromagnetic impulses. Their functioning is inhibited as soon as the horse is injured or inflamed in these areas. In the case of injury or inflammation, the cells have to work harder than usual and can no longer maintain the electromagnetic impulses. A magnetic rug supports the cells in their microcirculation by supplying appropriate impulses to the cells. The magnetic field created around the body stimulates the metabolism down to the cellular level and thus the body’s own defence system.
In addition, the magnets react with the iron content in the blood and stimulate blood circulation. This increases the oxygen saturation in the red blood cells, which in turn promotes the removal of harmful substances and supports healing processes and recovery after athletic exertion.
Magnetic rugs do not necessarily have to cover the entire horse’s back. They are also available for the upper back in the form of a saddle pad or just as a neck piece.
Massage rugs for horses
Massage rugs are in the higher price segments. Nevertheless, this invention has a great effect on horses in a wide range of applications: If the horse is plagued by muscular tension or adhesions, a massage rug can work wonders. In addition, a massage has a deep relaxing effect, so that even nervous and chronically stressed horses can calm down. The parasympathetic nervous system, i.e. the resting nerve of the brain, is stimulated. Using a massage rug before a transport can therefore be a sensible measure for particularly agitated candidates. This is because relaxation minimises the risk of injuries that can result from stress and panic.
Massage rugs can save you time and energy. Once you know how to use the rugs, no special knowledge about the variety of massage techniques is necessary. Of course, massage rugs are no substitute for expert massage and treatment by a qualified equine therapist. Nevertheless, they can be a useful supplement in keeping your horse healthy.
In addition, massage rugs are relatively easy to use as they are designed by the manufacturer to require little to no wiring to ensure the safety of the horse.
Massage rugs come in different models that target specific areas of the horse’s body for therapy:
- Vibration motors with (cable) remote control
- Massage pads with cabling to the control unit
- Acupressure spikes in the shoulder, back and hip area.
Some models combine massage with heat input to achieve an even higher therapeutic effect.
Horse rugs with tourmaline layer
In addition, rugs with incorporated tourmaline are strongly on the rise. Tourmaline is a natural crystal that is often used in energetic jewellery as a protective shield against negative energies. Meanwhile, black tourmaline is ground into powder and incorporated into the rug fabric. It affects the energy flow of the horse, stimulating blood circulation in the muscles. The function of the immune system is increased and the nervous system is balanced, which is why the wellbeing of the horse is enhanced.
Tourmaline rugs can be used both as stable and travel rugs. Due to the stimulated blood circulation, harmful substances such as lactic acid are broken down more effectively after training, thus preventing muscle soreness and tension. Other noteworthy effects of a tourmaline rug are that they restore the pH balance, lower blood pressure with improved blood circulation, improve the oxygen supply of cells and the tissues and make energy available in the body more quickly.