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Training
The saline water creates an ideal medium to build stamina and improve general fitness. Wading in water is considered to be the most beneficial form of non-ridden preparation for the equine athlete. The water depth can be varied: shallow water adds minimal resistance, deep water adds maximal, or the level can be adjusted to target selected muscle groups. For example, in order to move forward, if the horse has to lift its limbs rather than utilising the natural swing, muscles in the loins and the base of the neck are recruited; these are essential stabilising muscle groups which are very difficult to build in the ridden animal.
A secondary effect, the result of abdominal splashing of cold water, is the instinctive contraction of the abdominal musculature. These muscles help to support the back and thus stabilise the main frame; a stable frame equals improved stride length.
The respiratory patterns is normal, unlike swimming, and therefore there is less risk when exercising known bleeders. Also, due to ground compaction forces, the skeleton is loaded normally which ensures skeletal maintenance.
Therapy and recuperation Equine hydrotherapy spas have proved in recent years to be an invaluable therapeutic aid to the recuperation of injured horses through the use of highly chilled and salinated water. The Seawalker draws on the same principles but introduces the significant additional benefit of movement to prevent muscle stifness through inactivity and to return the horse to fitness more quickly. Additionally, several horses can use the system at the same time with minimal staff involvement. This type of therapy may be used for numerous ailments including tendon & ligament injuries, sore chins, cuts/grazes and poor hoof growth. |
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Therapy and recuperation
Equine hydrotherapy spas have proved in recent years to be an invaluable therapeutic aid to the recuperation of injured horses through the use of highly chilled and salinated water. The Seawalker draws on the same principles but introduces the significant additional benefit of movement to prevent muscle stifness through inactivity and to return the horse to fitness more quickly. Additionally, several horses can use the system at the same time with minimal staff involvement. This type of therapy may be used for numerous ailments including tendon & ligament injuries, sore chins, cuts/grazes and poor hoof growth.
The Seawalker also acts in a preventative manner to reduce the incidence of many of these ailments.
Key benefits of the Seawalker include:
- Safe, loose exercise.
- Superb training method to improve stamina and general fitness.
- Exercises muscles of locomotion naturally agains resistance.
- Works the abdominal musculature to support the back and stabilise the main frame, leading to improved stride length.
- Improves muscle tone
- Exercises heart and lungs.
- Stimulates circulatory flow.
- Effective in enhancing recuperation following tendon and ligament injury.
- Beneficial for sore shins, joint problems, bruising and inflammation in the limbs.
- Promotes improved hoof condition and growth.
- Enhances healing of superficial cuts and grazes.
- Beneficial to brood mares who have developed slack abdominal musculature.
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When used correctly, horsewalkers can positively affect the health and wellbeing of horses to a very large extent. Just putting the horse out to pasture and hoping for recovery is not an option.
In the wild, a horse may be on the move for around 16 hours a day, covering a distance of as much as 20 miles. 98% of this distance would likely consist of walking, 1.5% trotting and 0.5% cantering or galloping. As a reulst of this, the physiology of the hooves has developed to function as a form of supplementary blood pump for the hearth by way of pressure applied to the frog through movement. This essential pumping action assist with good blood circulation and respiration. No walking means no pumping means inadequate circulation.
In the design of our horsewalkers, we have placed key emphasis on creating a calm, relaxed and safe environment for the horse in order that it moves naturally. As it would in the wikd, with its nose to the ground as if to graze. This ensures that all the important muscle groups are worked in a stress-free and correct manner.
We are able to achieve this by using a very lightweigh design, incorporating our unique and patented separator barriers and unobtrusive, safe fencing which prevents the horse from feeling hemmed in and permits clear visual points of reference all around to help the horses maintain good balance. The lightweight design also enables us to make much larger walkers up to 40 metres in diameter, in which up to 16 horses may be exercised at a fast canter.
Regular, riderless exercise in this dafe and controlled environment enables you to maintain and enhance your horses' fitness all year round, to ensure healthy blood circulation and ro keep their hooves in excellent condition.
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The benefits of our Horsewalkers are:
- Bones: stronger, better defence against pathogens and cancer cells.
- Back: better development of the back muscles.
- Muscles: improves blood supply to muscle cells keeping them healthier slowing aging.
- Lungs: better blood saturation and thus improved supply of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide.
- Heart: strengthening of the heart muscles enabling more efficient functioning resulting in lower pulse rate and blood pressure.
- Brain: better blood saturation resulting in improved alertness and brightness.
- Reflexes: faster, improved reactions in the case of a false step or imminent fall.
- Colic: highly effective for prevention and recovery.
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Furthermore, with a TRC computer equipped horsewalker the five factors can be trained that according to the Testing Station for Horse Husbandry in Lelystad, Netherlands are those that most determine the performance:
- Character: focused tempo training, whereby horses sometimes go to their utmost.
- Quality of the legs: short and intense stimulation (interval training) improves the bone tissue.
- Coordination: varying movements by applying different speeds.
- Suppleness: less stiffness.
- Reflexes: improvement to a great extent: considerably less risk of injury.
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Scientific and practical research over a period of several years shows what a good horsewalker can achieve with the right use (and adequate feeding):
- Fewer health problems.
- Significantly fewer leg and hoof problems.
- Better muscle development, especially the back muscles.
- Improved suppleness and reflexes.
- Significantly fewer injuries.
- Less risk of atactic defects (free walk).
- 60% less risk of osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD).
- Less risk of arthrosis
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