Instructions for the Small, Standard and XL Massage Pad
While most horses accept the Massage Pad immediately, introducing it for the first time should be done carefully to ensure a positive experience.
Preparing & Introducing the Massage Pad
When you receive your Massage Pad, the battery will already hold some charge. You may want to top this up before it's first use. A full charge can take up to 12 hours.
It's a good idea to have someone hold and reassure your horse when introducing the Pad for the first time.
Put the straps over the Pad so they aren't in the way, and then slide it gently over the horses' back into the correct position (sit the front of the Massage Pad over the shoulders). The Pad should naturally sit into the curve of your horses back.
Adjust the straps to fit, but don't fasten them straight away.
If your horse seems happy, you can switch the Massage Pad on using the on/off button. It will automatically start on the low settings.
Doing up the Straps
If you are confident your horse is comfortable, you can then fasten the chest strap followed by the belly straps.
The belly straps should cross like a rug, and on the Standard and XL Massage Pad the centre strap goes straight across to the opposite centre strap.
Start with the straps tightened so they are sitting flush against your horse's sides and the Pad feels secure on your horses' back. As the horse relaxes throughout their massage, it is possible they will take deeper breaths and may need the straps readjusting to allow their rib cage to expand. The straps should never be overtightened.
If you find the Massage Pad isn't sitting flush with your horses sides, ensure the straps aren't too tight.
The Massage Session
Each massage session lasts for 30 minutes and then automatically turns off. If you don’t have 30 minutes, you can manually turn it off using the on/off button. Horses will still benefit from a shorter session.
Ensure your horse is tied up securely and do not leave them unattended while the Pad is in use.
There are 3 massage intensities to choose from:
The low setting can be used to cool down after work.
The medium setting is ideal to warm up muscles before exercise.
The high setting for when your horse requires a more intense massage.
Our testing showed that using the Massage Pad 6 times a week showed an increase in back flexibility, while promoting relaxation. Therefore the best chance of gaining the greatest benefit from your Massage Pad is to make it second nature to put it on before you ride.
FAQs
Yes, you can use the massage setting on the Massage Pad/Heatsense and/or Massage Mitt/Hotspot up to 3 times a day. Especially at a competition you may wish to use it before you ride as a warm up and in-between phases or rounds. However, we recommend not using the heat setting on the Heatsense for more than one cycle, or the Hotspot for more than two consecutive cycles.
Low – Most gentle massage ideal for: box rest and after exercise as a gentle warm down
Medium – General everyday setting for use: before exercise as a warm up, at a show to help relax after travelling and on the day off work for your horse as part of a maintenance programme
High – Use for a more intense massage.
All horses are different and you will get to know what your horse enjoys and finds relaxing. Some horses will prefer a gentle massage on the low setting and some may enjoy a more intense massage.
The battery will last at least twelve 30 minute massage sessions with the Massage Pad, however you may find it does more than this. Charge when the massage feels weaker.
Store the Massage Pad, Mitt Hotspot or Mitt somewhere dry and safe inside the bag it comes with. Avoid extreme temperatures to prevent damage to the battery and disconnect the battery. Please ensure the product is clean and dry before storage.
We do not advise travelling in the massage pad for 2 reasons. The first is that if a horse leans on the Massage Pad on the partition this could damage the Massage Pad. Secondly, to get the most benefit out of a massage the horse needs to be stood at rest.
In our clinical trial the Massage Pad was used 6 days a week. Using it this frequently showed significant improvements in back flexibility and overall relaxation. Therefore we recommend using it at least this often to see the maximum benefits.
It is best never to run a Li-Ion battery completely flat as it is likely shorten its shelf life. Any battery left for a long period without use/charge will discharge slowly (very slowly in our battery’s case), so even if stored full and left, it might be drained by the time you go to use it again, so make sure you charge it again before use. The Equilibrium Battery needs to be stored out of direct sunlight. The easiest way to do this would be to keep it in the Massage Pad or Mitt pocket, as long as the product is stored in a cool, dry environment. We recommend that you disconnect the battery for storage.
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