EquiFlexx Therapy

25/02/2025

Injury prevention is a top priority for horse owners, riders, and trainers. While accidents can happen, a well-structured fitness and conditioning program significantly reduces the likelihood of injuries by enhancing strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination.

Variety in work keeps the horse & rider engaged and present new mental challenges as well as physical 🏇🏻

23/02/2025

⚖️ Balance Pad Training ⚖️

I have recently started playing around with balace pads with my own horse. It has become very popular on social media and I wanted to try it for myself. The principles of balance pad training in humans is simple, yet effective so its interesting to see if the same benefits apply in horses 🐴 I will be posting my journey over the coming weeks.

Balance pad training is an innovative and effective tool used in equine conditioning and rehabilitation. It involves placing the horses foot on foam or rubber pads that create an unstable surface, requiring the horse to engage stabilizing muscles to maintain balance. This type of training is widely used by equine physiotherapists, bodyworkers, trainers, and riders to improve strength, proprioception, and overall stability.

22/02/2025

✨✨ EASY ONLINE BOOKING ✨✨

Did you know you can use our new online booking feature?

💁🏼‍♀️ Choose a time that is convenient for you (and your horses!)
💁🏼‍♀️ Quick online payment
💁🏼‍♀️ Simply pick your location, date and time

📍If your location is not on the list, give us a quick DM or Whatsapp as we update the booking site weekly

Visit the website or click link in the bio

21/02/2025

It is that time of year again! Book early to avoid disappointment!

20/02/2025

🌿🌾🐴 🌽 Nutrition consultation….hughly recommend!!

Hi folks,

For a change I will be in the Dublin/WIcklow area this weekend! I have one space in the Wicklow area on Saturday morning and potentially space for one or two consultations on my route home, in the afternoon/evening. 😁 Drop me a message if you want to get booked in! 🎋💕🐴

20/02/2025

✴️B & B (Box rest & Bute)✴️

The old-fashioned approach of “box rest & bute” as a rehabilitation strategy for injured horses has long been the default prescription for various musculoskeletal injuries. However, modern research and lessons from elite human sports medicine, show that this passive approach is not only outdated but can significantly hinder recovery.

The Problem with the “B&B approach”

Box rest, or complete stall confinement, is often recommended by vets to prevent further strain on an injury while allowing the body to heal. Bute (phenylbutazone), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is commonly administered to control pain and inflammation. While these measures may seem logical, they come with major drawbacks:
⭕️Loss of Strength & Conditioning – Horses on extended stall rest quickly lose muscle mass, proprioception, and cardiovascular fitness, making reintegration into work more difficult and increasing the risk of re-injury.
⭕️Compromised Soft Tissue Healing – Studies in human and veterinary medicine suggest that movement stimulates better tendon and ligament healing. Controlled exercise helps align collagen fibers properly, reducing the likelihood of weak, disorganized scar tissue formation.
⭕️Negative Impact on Joint Health – Prolonged immobility leads to joint stiffness, decreased synovial fluid circulation, and potential cartilage deterioration
⭕️Mental & Behavioral Deterioration – Horses are designed to move. Prolonged confinement often results in stress-related behaviors such as weaving, cribbing, and aggression, gastric ulcers, further complicating recovery.

⚽️ Professional athletes - do you ever wonder how pro athletes bouce back from injuries so quickly? PRO ACTIVE TREATMENT & REHAB 💥💥
Injured human athletes often engage in alternative activities like swimming, cycling, or resistance training to maintain fitness without overloading the injured area. Horses can benefit from similar strategies, including water treadmills, massage therapy, and core stability exercises

If a horse is unable to weight bear or is acutely lame at walk and complete stall rest is the only solution…is it ethical to continue this quality of life???

18/02/2025

SHOCK! HORROR! LACK OF HONESTY & TRANSPARENCY IN THE EQUINE SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY!

Just reviewing a common type of supplement and amazed by how many companies fail to comply with UK law regarding labelling of their products, false claims and medicinal claims.

And so few companies actually tell you the amount of each active ingredient in their products, although this isnt required by UK law, there is nothing to stop them providing that information.

If you ask them why not, the whining reply is "that our competitors will copy us if we give the actual amounts".

Sadly, the real reason is that you may be buying a supplement which has mg (milligrams) rather than g (grams) of active ingredients, which means its VERY CHEAP to produce and gives them a HUGE PROFIT MARGIN!

The GOOD NEWS, is that there are a few honest and fully transparent ones out there selling products that have proper trials and a chance of working. But theres a lot of smoke and mirrors!

Which companies do you think are fully transparent in their marketing and labelling?

18/02/2025

✨✨ NEW STABLE INSIGHT ✨✨

“Gastruc ulcers are one of the most common health issues affecting performance horses today, studies suggesting up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of sport horses suffee from this painful condition”

In this STABLE INSIGHT we will look at
🌱Equine stomach anatomy
🌱The natural horse vs modern day horse
🌱Gladular vs Squamous
🌱 Hownto identify gastric upset
🌱Preventitive stratagies

As horse owners, we have a duty of care to understand common conditions such as Gastric Ulcers and how we can effectively manage the condition to protect the welfare of our horses ✨

🔹 NOT SIGNED UP YET? Go to our website or follow link in the bio for unlimited access to STABLE INSIGHTS. Just €3.99 p/m

Equiflexxtherapy.com/blog

17/02/2025

🫀🏇🏻🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️ FITNESS & FATIGUE

Fitness and conditioning are fundamental to reducing the risk of injury in horses, especially those in performance disciplines. A well-conditioned horse is more resilient to the stresses of training and competition, while an unfit horse is more susceptible to strains, sprains, and fatigue-related injuries.

Key Aspects of a Good Quality Conditioning Program
🏇🏻Gradual Progression – Sudden increases in workload can lead to overuse injuries.
🏇🏻Varied Work – Cross-training with hill work, poles, and groundwork enhances strength and flexibility.
🏇🏻Rest and Recovery – Essential for tissue repair and adaptation.
🏇🏻Warm-ups and Cool-downs – Prevent stiffness and muscle strains.
🏇🏻Regular Assessments – Identifying subtle signs of fatigue or asymmetry prevents chronic issues.

11/02/2025

✨BODYWORK, PEMF & SALT THERAPY CLINIC✨

📍 Irish Equine Rehabilitation & Fitness Centre
📅 Wed 19th Feb

Join us for a dedicated clinic day focused on equine performance, recovery, and well-being!

🔹 Equine Sports Massage – Enhance mobility, relieve tension, and support muscle recovery.
🔹 PEMF Therapy – Improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and optimize healing.
🔹 Salt Therapy - Drug free, non invasive treatment targets respiratory and skin health. Clears mucous, reduces respiratory inflammation, kills bacteria and fungal spores, wound healing. A natural alternative to overall health

🧂🧂🧂 OFFER🧂🧂🧂
When you book a Massage & PEMF session, you will get 50% off a salt therapy session!!

💡 Perfect for performance horses, rehab cases, or general maintenance!

📌 Limited spaces available – book now!
https://equiflexxtherapy.simplybook.it/v2/ /service/20/count/1/

10/02/2025

💪🏻 MUSCLE MONDAY 💪🏻

The quadriceps work closely with the hamstrings and gluteal muscles to control stifle movement and propulsion. A well-conditioned quadriceps group helps horses push off efficiently, particularly in disciplines requiring powerful hind-end engagement like dressage, jumping, and racing. Weakness or dysfunction in this muscle can lead to reduced impulsion and poor collection.

🔺 Common Dysfunctions🔺
🔻Stifle weakness or instability – Often seen in horses with poor hind-end engagement or those recovering from injuries such as upward fixation of the patella (UFP).
🔻Quadriceps atrophy – Can occur due to chronic lameness, neurological conditions, or lack of proper exercise.
🔻Compensatory tightness – When other muscle groups, such as the hamstrings, are weak, the quadriceps may become overactive and tight, leading to stiffness or restricted movement.

🟩 Rehabilitation & Strengthening🟩

Exercises such as hill work, backing up, cavalletti, and lateral work (like shoulder-in) help strengthen the quadriceps without overloading the stifle. Targeted massage, stretching, and physical therapy can also improve flexibility and function, particularly in horses recovering from stifle injuries or compensatory movement patterns

07/02/2025

🔥🧂🔥🧂🔥OFFER : SALT THERAPY SESSIONS HALF PRICE IF YOU ARE GOING TO EQUIFLEXX THERAPY!!!🔥🧂🔥🧂

🐎🌊🐎🌊 NEXT CLINIC @ The Irish Equine Rehabilitation and Fitness centre 🐎🌊🐎🌊

Join us for a day dedicated to equine wellness, recovery & rehab

DATE: Wed 19th Feb 2025

▫️Deep tissue massage
▫️Lymphatic drainage
▫️Tissue mobilisation
▫️Joint mobilisation
▫️Trigger point therapy
▫️ PEMF Therapy
▫️ FREE set up & access to Equicantis app for online stretching tutorials (homework!)

🧂Why not add a SALT THERAPY session while you are here?

📌 Limited spaces available – book online ➡️ https://equiflexxtherapy.simplybook.it/v2/ /service/20/count/1/

*salt therapy booked seperately via Irish Equine Rehabilitation & Fitness Centre
fans

05/02/2025

❄️ MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH IN COLD TEMPS❄️

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is the muscle pain and stiffness that occurs after intense or unfamiliar exercise. It typically develops 12 to 24 hours post-exercise, peaking around 24 to 72 hours, and gradually subsides. DOMS is caused by microscopic damage to muscle fibers, particularly from eccentric contractions.

Symptoms include muscle tenderness, stiffness, reduced strength, and temporary swelling. While DOMS is not entirely preventable, a proper warm-up, gradual progression in exercise intensity, and active recovery (like light movement, stretching, and massage) can help minimise discomfort.

04/02/2025

🔸 Equine Reflex Hypertonia (Stringhalt)🔸

Stringhalt is a neuromuscular condition that causes exaggerated, involuntary flexion of one or both hind limbs when the horse moves. The severity can range from mild, where the horse exhibits a slight jerk, to severe, where the leg is drawn up dramatically toward the belly with each step.

🔸Symptoms🔸
🔹Exaggerated flexion of the hind limbs, especially noticeable at the walk.
🔹Spasmodic or jerky movements.
🔹Symptoms may worsen in cold weather or after rest.
🔹In severe cases, the horse may have difficulty moving normally or even backing up.

Unfortunately, there is still alot we don’t understand about the condition, there is no one magical treatment right now (maybe in time!) One study reported symptoms of Stringhalt were reduced after Botox treatment (Wijnberg, 2009, Equine Vet Journal)

It must be said that the extra concussive forces on the hind limbs and compensatory patterns created on the rest of the body can cause secondary injuries however, the condition itself, does not cause pain.

For now, we know that careful management and persistant rehabilitation can help. Often, performance is not affected and horses can go on to live very healthy, happy lives

03/02/2025

🌊👇🏻🌊👇🏻

02/02/2025

Livery space available w/c 17 February for rehab, fitness or post op care

- spa or hand held