There are a lot of products out there for our horses that are supposed to increase comfort, help them perform better, and recover faster. There are options like nutritional supplements and herbal support, or more physical options like shim-able saddle pads, fluffy girth covers, and everything else in between. With all the options out there, there is one that is my personal favorite, the ceramic-infused Far- infrared therapeutic products!
With my background as a veterinary technician and my current role as a devoted horse mom, I have always looked for ways to help improve the quality of life for my horses. So, when I stumbled across a Back On Track Fleece Cooler at the Pennsylvania Horse Expo in 2019, I was intrigued. Being the skeptic that I am, I purchased the cooler with very low expectations for the therapeutic properties. I loved the thickness of the cooler and it would prove useful either way, so if it did work as promised, that was just an added bonus! (SmartPak carries the Back on Track Fleece Blanket)
That’s when I fell down the rabbit hole. After about 2 weeks of use, gradually increasing the amount of time I put the cooler on my horse, my perpetually cold backed mare suddenly stopped pinning her ears when I approached with the saddle. Next thing I know, I have an extensive collection of Far-infrared therapeutic paraphernalia for myself and my horses!
The Benefab poll pad was one of my very first therapeutic purchases, my mare has always been a bit tense at her poll so I was hoping I would see the same improvement with the poll pad as I did the fleece cooler. I was also pretty excited about the poll pad because of the magnets on each side of the poll. It is believed that magnets are also helpful in promoting blood flow and tissue healing.
I also have my “therapeutic travel kit” that comes with me to every horse show or event. The kit includes:
- A SmartTherapy pad for warmup rides
- A Back on Track Teddy Fleece pad for the show ring
- and (for after the ride) a set of 4 Back On Track quick wraps
- plus Limber Up liniment spray
This past summer after a show my mare had some minor swelling in her right hind leg. I fumbled around with pillows and standing bandages as my antsy 5-year-old mare danced around on the cross ties. It took me about 45 minutes to get those bandages on! After that I vowed to never subject myself (or my mare) to that again. The Back on Track quick wraps have not only eliminated the need to torture myself while trying to wrap a moving target, they have also given my mare something to look forward to after a hard day’s work. I like to put the limber up spray on her legs and then put her quick wraps on while I take out her braids waiting for the final class placings. It has become a bit of a bonding time for us to wind down and process the day.
So how do they all work? Well, these products consist of modern textile technology and Chinese medicine. Most of these products are manufactured with polyester that is infused with ceramic fibers. These fibers are designed to reflect the body’s energy back to itself using the body’s own warmth to help increase blood circulation. This reflection of heat is called long wave radiation or also known as far-infrared radiation. The increased circulation in the body’s tissues help with muscle performance and recovery. The ceramic fibers are melted into the fabric so they do not wash out, (however, they should not be dried in a dryer due to the risk of high heat melting the fibers).
Not only are these products for our horses (and dogs!) but they also have a human line! But that is a blog for another day!
What are your favorite therapeutic products for your horse? I’m always looking to add to my collection!
Shop Melissa’s Collection!
Back on Track Fleece Blanket
Benefab® Therapeutic Smart Poll Pad
SmartTherapy® Ceramic All Purpose Saddle Pad
Back on Track Teddy Fleece Pad
SmartTherapy® Ceramic Quick Wraps
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