That said, each horse’s progress is specific to both his level of physical fitness and his diagnosis. Rullan confirms that after ten sessions of about 20 minutes of exercise, he notices considerable improvement in his equine clients. While it’s not an overnight cure, the benefits of treadmill exercise make themselves apparent within a matter of weeks. It allows for a smooth and cushioned training surface, with shock absorption.Treadmill exercise doesn’t rely on the weather’s cooperation and is available year-round.It promotes correct posture and a balanced gait when exercising.It offers the ability to monitor more closely and make gait adjustments faster because the horse is stationary.Treadmill exercise allows for the isolation and conditioning of specific muscle groups.“Cross-training”, or supplementing a training regimen with this type of exercise, increases a horse’s stamina and endurance.It gives the ability to control the incline, speed, and overall intensity of the workout.Some of the benefits of incorporating a treadmill into a horse’s exercise routine include the following: For those focused on rehabilitation, the most common injuries successfully treated at the Center are bowed tendons, degenerative joint disease, laminitis, and degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis. Rullan describes them as “an even mix of rehabilitation after an injury, and conditioning to prepare for competitions” - but all are high-level competitors from a wide variety of disciplines, including barrel racing, dressage, and endurance. Since its founding in 2017, the center has been offering a wide range of treatment options for horses, including their very popular Ferro Aquatics AquaPacer, or water treadmill.Įnclosed on all sides with transparent windows, the aqua treadmill offers a low-impact yet high-resistance workout suitable for a rehabilitation or conditioning program. Alberto Rullan from the Equine Performance Innovative Center in Ocala, Florida to learn more about the use of treadmill exercise in their program. Particularly when compared to riding work, treadmill exercise offers both a regulated environment and a significantly reduced load. The key to this balancing act is consistent and controlled exercise. In other words, the goal is to regain the horse’s strength and athleticism without overworking his body and causing more damage. When creating a horse’s conditioning or rehabilitation program, the real challenge is balancing improvement and injury. Learn how the rehabilitating or conditioning horse could succeed with treadmill exercise. Equine treadmills are increasingly found in therapy centers, research centers, and even some training facilities.
Photo courtesy of Hudson Aquatic Systems, LLC. Treadmills often found in rehab centers, hydro-treadmills (pictured here),Īnd smaller machines that are more affordable for equine caretakers. There are various types of horse treadmills including standard
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