Tendon injuries or other leg injuries are every horse owner's worst nightmare. Leg injuries are very common and, unfortunately, very difficult to treat. Because there are few muscles in the lower legs, there is little blood flow. And that is precisely an important requirement for good and speedy recovery. Good blood circulation ensures the removal of waste products and the supply of oxygen-rich blood which aids in recovery and healing. To address this, Horseware introduced the innovative Ice-Vibe Boots. These massage boots stimulate blood circulation in the horse's legs through vibrations. You can use them for the daily care of your horse's tendons and joints or when treating a stubborn injury. Read all about it in our blog.
How does it work?
The Ice-Vibe boots contain vibrating panels and cold packs, allowing you to combine the positive effects of cooling with the massage effect. The vibrations stimulate blood circulation, bringing oxygen to the tired and damaged tissue, contributing to a better and faster recovery. This reduces the chance of inflammation and lessens the risk of injuries. Additionally, these boots keep the joints flexible and provide additional muscle care. In case of an injury, the lymphatic system is stimulated, which reduces pain and swelling.
Because the boots act like a form of work-out, it's important to let your horse gradually get used to them. There are three different settings:
SETTING 1:
This setting is suitable for getting the horse used to the Ice-Vibe boots, as well as during the rehabilitation of an injury. You can use this setting with or without the cold packs. Setting 1 automatically ends after 10 minutes.
SETTING 2:
This setting is slightly more intense in terms of vibrations, further promoting blood circulation and is the one you will use the most. Here, too, you can choose to use the cold packs or not. This setting is also very suitable for warming up, without the cold packs or with heated packs. During saddling, you can let the boots do their work so you are well warmed up for training. After the training, you can use them again, but this time with the cold packs for a good cooling down. This setting ends after 20 minutes.
SETTING 3:
This setting is even more intense and is therefore mainly suitable for horses with a lot of (old) scar tissue, wear, or wind puffs. Setting 3 can also be used for cooling down with cold packs. This setting also ends after 20 minutes.
Rehabilitation
Less is always more with an injury. The Ice-Vibe boots are extremely suitable to promote recovery, but always discuss this with the treating veterinarian! With an injury, you must always be patient and give your horse the chance to fully recover. Adequate rest and time remain important factors in the horse's healing process.
You should not use the Ice-Vibe boots in the case of a bone fracture (less than 4 weeks old) or infection. The injury can become irritated and the condition can worsen. We also do not recommend using the boots if the horse has screws or pins in the leg. If in doubt about whether you can use the Ice-Vibe boots on your horse, always consult your veterinarian beforehand.
You can also use the cold packs for heat therapy. Warm the packs by placing them in warm water. The packs will take on the temperature of the water after a few minutes. Do not place them in the microwave as they can become too hot. Is your horse very stiff at the beginning of training? Then you can choose to use the Ice-Vibe boots before training with the warmed packs.
The Boots are effective against:
- Swelling
- Strains and sprains
- Arthritis
- Tendon injuries
- Scar tissue
But we also definitely recommend including the boots in your daily management. A tendon injury often arises from an accumulation of small damages. This wear and tear is again due to intensive training and competitions. To prevent this and to optimally care for your horse's tendons and joints, you can use the Ice-Vibe boots daily or several times a week.
