Education Zone
Taking a Stand - How the Massage Pad helped Monty
Jemma got in touch with us on Instagram with some photos of her horse Monty before he used the Massage Pad, compared to after. We were astonished by the immediate clear difference in how he looked so much more comfortable, we asked her to tell us a little bit more about him and their journey!
Introducing Jemma & Monty
Hey, my names Jemma. I’m 30 and I’m from (the sometimes) sunny Cornwall, I work as a HCA in the NHS and I’ve owned & ridden horses from a young age on and off, but have found my love for it again the last couple years after an awful riding accident left both me & my horse Monty with shattered confidence & no trust in each other at all, & so started the long & bumpy journey to getting back into the saddle & restoring our confidence again.
Monty is a 17hh, 13yr old ID x TB & I’ve had the pleasure of owning him for 8 years now, despite it being pretty bumpy at times, he’s a horse with so much love to give, he has an incredibly huge character & many quirks too, he’s actually quite well known as the “Horse who sits like a dog” and actually made it into national newspapers being compared to Eeyore the donkey for the way he “sits” & takes in everything around him ?
Since using the Massage Pad on Monty I have seen such huge improvements in his overall wellbeing and I just wanted to share with you those improvements, it’s the best thing I’ve honestly ever invested in and it’s now a strong part in our daily routine.
Monty is so sensitive, cold backed and has also had the tendency to stand underneath himself which has caused many problems and issues with his back, however since using the Massage Pad and incorporating stretches into his routine, the difference has been incredible.
His back is so much more comfortable in all aspects, he’s nowhere near as sensitive, he isn’t uncomfortable when tacking up, he doesn’t arch his back or appear uncomfortable when it comes to me getting on him to ride, he warms up so much better and his overall general wellbeing has significantly improved. I honestly can’t thank you guys enough, I just wanted to share a before and after photo around a year apart since we’ve started using the Massage Pad and I think you’ll agree that the change and difference is incredible.
Onwards and Upwards
Because of the many issues we faced with our accident & riding confidence in each other, Monty is still very much a blank canvas, but in the last year or so since we’ve really got back into our riding, he’s showing that he has lovely movement & 3 nice paces, once he puts his mind to it.
So, for now we are continuing to work on our flatwork & schooling & building him up over the winter period with hopes next year of dabbling in a little bit of dressage or showing, he’s a big & powerful horse who can really strut his stuff when he wants to, so who know... watch this space?
Do you have a story you would like to share with us? Get in touch using the link below.
While we recommend soaking your munch blocks for dentally challenged or older horses, you may also want to soak them to encourage water intake when the weather is extremely warm, but also when it is extremely cold as a 'winter warmer'. Some horses can also just prefer to eat the blocks like this, so it is completely down to personal preference.
How to soak your munch block:
Ideally the bucket should be deep enough that the block will be able to be submerged in water, however any bucket can be used. For more shallow buckets as per the video below, you may just need to stir and break up the block more than a deeper one.
You'll need approximately 4 kettles worth of water to allow the block to fully expand. If you're tight on time, using 3 kettles of boiling/hot water, followed by 1 kettle full of cold water should allow the block to expand within 20 minutes, but be cool enough to serve almost immediately (always check the heat before serving to your horse). You can add water as needed depending on the consistency you or your horse prefer. If you're not sure, add water conservatively and check and add more as you require to get to the consistency you'd like.
We recommend serving your munch blocks soon after soaking to ensure they stay fresh, and ideally within 12 hours. Regularly stirring the blocks through the soaking process and manually breaking up the block will ensure it fully breaks up. Be aware to check for any lumps that may not have fully soaked before serving. Please use caution when handling the blocks with hot water.
Should I soak Munch blocks in hot or cold water?
This is completely up to you, however warm or hot water will allow the blocks to soak faster. In our tests, blocks were completely soaked within 4 hours with cold water, but hot water can take as little as 20 minutes to fully soak a block. Either way, we would recommend serving the blocks as early as it is safely possible to do so to ensure they are fresh.
From rescuing to rehabilitating to rehoming, Redwings Horse Sanctuary is a charity 100% funded by donations, with all funds going towards helping horses in desperate need.
Redwings Caldecott is the largest Redwings visitor centre in the UK and is a forever home to nearly over 100 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. For many of these four-legged furry friends, their forever home will be at the sanctuary, with those that are fully healthy and have been successfully rehabilitated, are put on the path to finding loving homes too!
Our Team Volunteer Day at Redwings.
Back in August 2021, the team here at Equilibrium Products ventured to Caldecott near Great Yarmouth, for a day of volunteering at Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
The team helped throughout the morning, doing various jobs including gardening and tidying the memorial garden, as well as sorting and labelling through various preloved items that had been donated that would be then sold on to help raise more funds for the charity.
Thank you for your donations!
As our day of volunteering came to an end, we took this as a perfect opportunity to present Redwings with our donation of £3,097.77, with a special thanks going to all our lovely customers who purchased our Crunchit Advent Calendar and Christmas Crackers back in 2020; to whom without we wouldn’t have been able to present such a large donation.
There's still a way to donate!
You can still donate now with every purchase on our website!
Making a Difference to the Lives of Horses, Donkeys and Mules with New Partnership.
We've teamed up with Brooke to improve the lives of equids worldwide.
Brooke is an international charity that protects and improves the lives of horses, donkeys and mules which give people in the developing world the opportunity to work their way out of poverty. Their vision is a world where working horses, donkeys and mules are free from suffering and have a life worth living.
“We’re absolutely delighted that Equilibrium Products have chosen to work with Brooke and think it’s a great fit as two organisations that care so deeply about equids. It’s great to see equestrian companies doing what they can to support less fortunate horses, donkeys and mules, especially during such difficult times. Equilibrium’s support will make a huge difference and will help us to continue our vital work to relieve the suffering of working horses, donkeys and mules around the world and create lasting change for future generations.”
- Chris Wainwright, CEO Brooke.
With a mission statement to create innovative products to make a difference to the wellbeing of the horse, we are proud to be able to support Brooke in their campaigns across the world. You could support Brooke too by donating with your order placed on our website or find us at Your Horse Live 2022 for a selection of Brooke merchandise.
Margaret Donnelly, Managing Director and Founder of Equilibrium Products, says:
“We are pleased to be supporting Brooke, a charity that does so much good for working horses, donkeys and mules across the world. As a charity that has a core focus of education to allow local communities to become self-sufficient and improve the lives of these animals, we felt that Brooke was a perfect fit for Equilibrium Products to support them as one of our chosen charities.”
Choosing the right Tri-Zone Boot for Your Horse.
The Tri-Zone range of boots are trusted by owners and riders to offer tested protection for their horse. The Tri-Zone range undergoes independent testing to ensure each boot is up to it's respective job - whether its a Brushing Boot or a boot designed for High Impact. Regardless of the protection level, each boot design is maximised to ensure it remains as breathable, lightweight and flexible as possible to ensure freedom of movement and comfort for your horse.
Read on to see what each boot is suitable for, and which would be best for you.
The Tri-Zone Brushing Boot.
Expect more from a 'traditional' brushing boot - these boots are the MOST breathable in the Tri-Zone range. Shaped and tested to protect against brushing injuries to the inside of the leg, these boots are ideal for gentle schooling, hacking and turnout for horses at LOW RISK of injury. If your horse is young, a bit 'all legs' or participates in a high impact sport such as cross country or polo, you would want to consider a boot with more protection in terms of a higher level of protection covering more areas of the leg.
The Tri-Zone All Sports Boots.
This boot is essentially the ‘step up’ from the Brushing Boot. Well suited to the all rounder who does a bit of everything, but equally the happy hacker who enjoys long or fast rides, or goes through water! The All Sports Boots provide protection to the entire lower leg, including an internal strike guard over the tendon area, all while remaining lightweight, breathable and flexible. These boots are great for cross country, jumping, schooling, hacking or even turnout! Available in multiple sizes, including XXS, Medium Wide and Medium Narrow to fit all varieties of horses and ponies.
The Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boots.
If you want maximum protection for your horse, this is the boot for you. While normally recommended for high impact sports such as cross country, polo or racing, if your horse is accident prone, ‘all legs’ or if you’re concerned about them – this boot could certainly work for you. Unlike both the Brushing Boots and All Sports, the Impact Sports Boots have a specific hind boot for maximum coverage. They have a similar make up to the All Sports Boots, but feature thicker material, as well as external strike guards placed in high-risk areas.
The Tri-Zone Open Fronted Boots.
Essentially an Impact Sports Boot with a open front, these tendon boots provide maximum protection to the tendon area, as well as some protection to the sides of the leg, leaving the front of the leg open and more vulnerable. Commonly used for show jumping but could also be considered for other activities due to the open front nature allowing more air too the leg and the potential to keep it cooler than the Impact Sports Boots. Designed to pair perfectly with the Tri-Zone Fetlock Boots, which have a smooth lining and measurements to comply with governing body requirements*.
Still not sure? Get in touch for personal advice.
*Always check with the relevant rule books