Equilibrium Massage Mitt Hotspot
• The choice is yours – pick from heat and two different types of massage.
• Tailor the massage with three different strengths.
• Fits into your daily routine with a 10-minute programme.
• There’s no muscle you can’t reach.
• Battery operated to take it with you wherever you go.
Contains 1 x Mitt Hotspot, 1 x Storage Bag, 1 x Equilibrium Battery, 1 x Equilibrium Charger.
Plus – the Hotspot heat pad is not just for horses. You can use it on yourself too!
What inspired the horse Massage Mitt Hotspot Heat Pad for horses?
With the Equilibrium Massage range already helping horses worldwide, it seemed only natural to add the next best thing – heat! Not just a heat pad, Equilibrium have added different types of massage so you can really tailor the session to your horses needs and preferences.
How can Massage and Heat benefit horses?
Our horses work hard for us with a lot of pressure being put onto their muscles through exercise.
Massage and heat are two simple ways in which we can help support healthy muscle function in our horse.
Massage
Performance depends on freedom of movement, full flexibility, and an absence of musculoskeletal pain, all of which can be improved using massage (Gellman, 1998).
These factors also contribute towards keeping your horse comfortable and happy in general too!
Benefits of Massage include:
• Helps maintain healthy blood and lymph circulation.
• Soothes tired muscles.
• Supports recovery after exercise.
• Promotes relaxation.
Heat
Using heat is a great way to help sensitive horses who may find massage too much. Heat is non-invasive, gentle, and well accepted with many associated benefits.
Research suggests that tissue temperature needs to increase by at least 3 to 5°C from the resting temperature (Bockstahler et al, 2004). However, using something that is too hot could cause discomfort and even damage to the tissue.
Did you know?
The Massage Mitt Hotspot has been tested to increase skin temperature by 8.7°C on average?
Benefits of Heat include:
• Helps maintain good oxygen supply to muscles.
• Encourages muscle relaxation.
• Increases flexibility.
Using the equine Massage Mitt Hotspot Heat Pad:
LOW – this is best suited for a relaxing massage:
• After exercise.
• On a day of rest.
• For a sensitive horse.
• When introducing the Hotspot for the first time.
MEDIUM – this is best suited for general maintenance and everyday use:
• For a pre-exercise warm up.
• General maintenance massage.
HIGH – this is best suited:
• For horses who prefer a more intense massage.
• Those with thicker coats.
• Horses who are a bit overweight.
Use cyclical massage for your horse if you are holding the Hotspot heat pad still. This is useful when targeting a specific area.
Use continuous massage for your horse if you are moving the Hotspot heat pad over larger areas. This allows each sweep to deliver the same massage.
Use the heat for your horse on its own for a gentle session to aid healthy circulation. This is ideal for sensitive horses or those returning to work. Heat is also perfect to help warm up muscles prior to stretching your horse.
For the ultimate session, use heat and massage together! This is best suited when holding the Hotspot heat pad in one area or sweeping it over a smaller area.
Who is the Massage Mitt Hotspot for?
All horses and ponies could certainly benefit from the Massage Mitt Hotspot, including those:
• At rest/retirement.
• In work from hacking to competition. This includes horses returning to work or retraining.
• For older horses.
• Horses on box rest, standing in for long periods of time or on limited turnout.
How do I care for the Massage Mitt Hotspot?
The Massage Mitt Hotspot just needs a gentle wipe down with a damp, clean cloth if the material gets scurfy. For Battery and Charger care, please see their safety instructions included in the packaging, or here.
Caution! Do not use on the following (for humans and horses):
• Open wounds, new injuries, or new swelling (for the first 48 hours).
• Where there is suspected infection or malignant tumours.
• Burn injuries or deep vein thrombosis.
• Over the abdomen if pregnant.
• Circulatory problems, causing hypo or hyper sensitivity to heat.
• Active bleeding, bruising or haematoma.
• Bony areas such as the wither, point of shoulder or hip.
• Do not apply more than 2 consecutive cycles of heat in one spot.