Equine Hydrotherapy Treatment

Therapeutic Uses of Equine Hydrotherapy

Equine Hydrotherapy aids healing and rapid recovery in:-

• Tendon Injuries
• Sore Shins and Jarring up
• Strains
• Inflammation of knees, fetlocks and hocks
• Windgalls
• Ligament damage
• Laminitis and Foot related problems
• Promoting hoof regrowth
• Flesh wounds
• Cracked heels
• Mud Fever
• Soft Tissue Damage

Current ‘Best Practice’ for the treatment of tendon or ligament injuries, as recommended by VetCell Bioscience, a company specialising in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, is the use of hydrotherapy during the acute stages of the disease followed by implantation of the horses own stem cells. Following implantation the horses are placed on an ascending exercise regime with hydrotherapy advocated after 3 months and thereafter until the horse returns to full fitness. Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell reports “our results have shown horses that underwent rehabilitation following stem cell treatment at centers with experienced staff and facilities such as the Panama Spa have the highest return to performance ratio”.

How Does it work ?
Racing phenomenon 'Red Rum' was, in his early days, plagued by a potentially crippling  foot disease which could have ended his career.  Then Ginger McCain took him on and banished him to the sea, he trained all his horses on Southport beach and within weeks he was fit and ready to run. The rest is history (Granada reports), now Panama Spa can bring the healing of the sea to your yard....

Using Chilled, aerated, saline water maintained between 2- 4°C, the Panama Spa helps to reduce swelling and encourage healing of lower leg injuries and also hardens tendons and ligaments. The saline water ensures that the wound is kept thoroughly clean and together with the oxygenating jets increases blood circulation which speeds tissue re-growth and reduces overall healing time.

An Australian manufactured spa was donated to the University of Sydney to facilitate clinical trails and establish an independent verdict on the benefits of cold water hydrotherapy.  The trials were conducted by Professor E R Hunt, MVSc, PhD, G Dip Ed (Tert) who has 30 years equine veterinary experience and described himself as the archetypical skeptic prior to the commencement of the trials. The first trials were conducted during winter and the results were very encouraging.

However as winter turned to summer Professor Hunt found it difficult to replicate the early positive results. Only when they experimented with different water temperatures was it ascertained that the lower ambient winter temperatures had a major impact on the outcome.  Once the optimum temperature of the water was known, further trails established the optimum salination of the water, and it was historically well documented that the salt in sea water had a significant anti-inflammatory effect.  Having established the optimum conditions required to facilitate healing, clinical trials were conducted on 27 horses initially.  Many leg injuries were treated and all responded well showing an improvement after treatment.

Panama Equine Hydrotherapy How does it work?
Polo Times May 2004

Case Studies

Testimonials