The Standard Massage Pad allows an effective massage session for your horse.
• Battery operated 30-minute sessions – give your horse a massage while you complete other yard tasks.
• Four massage motors.
• Elasticated belly straps for a comfortable snug fit.
• Choose the intensity of the massage from three different programs.
• Lightweight and portable – take it with you wherever you go.
• Massage more and charge less with the high-performance battery & universal charger.
• 2-year guarantee.
Includes 1 x Equilibrium Standard Massage Pad, 1 x Equilibrium Bag, 1 x Equilibrium Battery and 1 x International Charger.
The innovative design provides effective, affordable equine massage for horses and ponies sized 14.1hh – 16.1hh or in 5ft9 – 6ft3 sized rugs. If you have a pony or large horse, you may want to look at the Pony Massage Pad or XL Massage Pad. The Pony Pad is designed for ponies in rug sizes 5ft6” and under or 14.0h, alternatively, if you have a horse in 6ft6”+ rug sizes, you may want to look at the XL Massage Pad.
Massage Pad Testing:
Equilibrium take pride in researching and testing their products. The Equilibrium Massage Pad was independently tested by Myerscough College in Lancashire, UK.
There were two parts to the study:
1) The horses were measured for signs of stress / relaxation immediately before, during and after the application of the massage pads over a six-week period
2) The horses were assessed in terms of flexibility and suppleness. There were two groups of horses – a treated group and a control group.
Test Methods
Back flexibility was assessed using the ‘Arch Dip Test’. The Arch & Dip test is a reliable and proven indicator of back flexibility (Pelham & Schobesberger 2006). It involves the use of pressure stimulus to generate a reflex in the horses’ back. Pressure applied to a specific region in the spinal area results in the horse ‘dipping’ away from the pressure, with a more flexible back allowing the horse to exhibit a greater ability to dip away from the source of the pressure. The arch test involves the application of pressure to the horses’ midline, in order to stimulate an upwards arch reflex in the horses’ back away from the source of pressure. Similarly, a more flexible back allows the horse to exhibit a greater ability to arch the back upwards away from the source of the pressure.
The results, following six weeks of testing, showed that the massage pad offers significant benefits to horses. A significant increase in back flexibility and relaxation was noted, but it also showed an increase in stride length.
Increased Flexibility
Massage helps to promote flexibility in healthy muscle tissue, fascia, and other soft tissue fibres. The effects of massage on flexibility can be measured using the 'Arch Dip' test to determine the amount of upwards or downwards bend of the horses' back. Test results from the trials demonstrated an overall improvement in back flexibility of approximately 46%.
Stride Length
The trial showed that the stride length of the treated horses increased over the period of the test by 12cms, whereas the control group showed little improvement. Horse owners know that a small change in stride length can make a major difference to the way of going in a horse!
Promoting Relaxation
Using a heart rate monitor, horses wearing the Equilibrium Massage Pad showed an increase in relaxation compared to the horses in the control group.
The results after 6 weeks of testing indicate that 1) the horses appeared more relaxed and 2) the performance of the horse would be expected to improve due to the increased flexibility of the horses’ back muscles. Relaxed muscles will assist with flexibility and movement in particular for competition horses performing dressage movements and jumping technical fences.
How does the Standard Massage Pad work?
The control panel allows you to select low, medium, or high settings and as a result, you can choose the intensity of the program to suit your pony. Each program runs through a cycle of three different types of massage – pulsing, vibration, and stroking –to ensure all muscles are worked in different ways.
Choosing your setting:
• LOW for cool down after exercise, for a sensitive horse or to introduce the pad to your pony for the first time.
• MEDIUM to warm up the muscles prior to exercise or for general maintenance.
• HIGH if your pony prefers a more intense massage.
The massage pad will run for 30 minutes before turning itself off automatically however, you can manually turn it off sooner if needed.
It can be used on its own or in conjunction with the hand-held Massage Mitt for an all over massage, or the Massage Mitt Hotspot to combine heat and massage.
When to use the Standard Massage Pad?
In short, you can use the Standard Massage Pad before riding, after riding or on a day off! Here’s a few scenarios:
• Horses on box rest to maintain good circulation.
• After exercise to help support recovery.
• Before exercise as part of warm up.
• At a show after travelling to relax.
• On your horses day off as general maintenance.
• Anytime as a reward.