Horses are prone to injuries to tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue, whether in competition or simply hanging out in the pasture. To help ease and prevent injury, many equestrians turn to cold therapy. Cold therapy is a method by which ice, water, or other cold/frozen packs (such as soaking boots) is used to cool down tissue, reduce inflammation and swelling, reduce pain, and slow down tissue damage in fetlocks, pasterns, hooves, hocks, and even in backs and hips. It is one of the most common ways to ease pain and prevent injury - even in humans!
The Top Cold-Therapy Items Every Horse Owner Should Own
Every barn should have a way to provide cooling relief to their horses. While the most common method of cold therapy is cold hosing and soaking, these methods also have drawbacks. Hosing may not provide the optimal temperature needed (between 50F and 59F), and if your horse finds putting their leg in a bucket worrisome, soaking could be cumbersome. It’s also hard to soak or hose down other areas of the body, like the back. That’s why innovative equestrian designers and vets came up with alternative methods that are just as easy and effective. Below are seven of the top cold-therapy items every horse owner should own.
- Dura-Tech® Cooling Gel Leg & Hoof Wrap
- Dura-Tech® Cooling Gel Wrap
- Dura-Tech® Neoprene Ice Boot (full leg)
- Dura-Tech® ThermaCool Hot/Cold Therapy Boots
- Dura-Tech® Horse Back and Hip Cooling Gel Pad
- Dura-Tech® EverCool Wrap 16"X16"
- Dura-Tech® ThermaCool Hot and Cold Horse Hock Wraps
These cooling gel legs and hoof wraps flare at the bottom to cover the leg, hoof, and coronet band for optimum comfort. With the polyacrylate gel-filled sections, these wraps can be kept in the freezer until needed. They are a perfect way to use cold therapy to heal soft tissue injuries or other traumas and prevent injury after exercise.
These flexible gel wraps cool for hours when applied directly from the freezer, providing easy and effective cooling for your horse's legs after exercise. The 420-denier outer includes quilted polyacrylate gel-filled sections that stay extremely cold for hours after freezing. With a wide variety of sizes, these gel wraps will ensure that your horses, from pony to draft, will find the size they need.
This full-leg ice boot is the ultimate solution for icing knees, suspensories, fetlocks, and tendons. This heavyweight neoprene rubber boot includes six inner ice pockets for cubed ice or reusable ice pack inserts, making it a versatile boot for you and your horse. It's the perfect alternative to cold hosing on the road!
These versatile hot and cold therapy boots are essential in your therapy toolbox! These wraps can be placed in the freezer for cold therapy or in the microwave to heat for hot therapy. Perfect to help heal soft tissue injury or trauma or as a preventative tool after exercise while your horse is in the stall. These boots stretch from just below the knee to cannon bone, fetlock, and pastern.
Keep your horse feeling their best with this back and hip cooling gel pad. This therapeutic solution makes it easy to treat, rehabilitate, and prevent injuries by using cold therapy to help reduce inflammation, increase circulation, encourage healing, and reduce pain in the horse's back and hip areas. Roll and place in the freezer for 24 hours before use and use for 20 to 30 minute sessions on your horse's back and hip areas, as needed!
These evercool wraps stay colder 50% longer than regular gel ice cooling wraps when applied directly from the freezer and provide instant cold therapy in the event of an injury or trauma. They're flexible and conform to any part of the leg to keep the area dry and free from irritation to the skin. The extra insulating layer flown and thermal liner keep the wrap colder longer, so you can get more uses out of one wrap at a time.
These hot and cold therapy hock wraps ease discomfort and prevent injury. The self-sticking neoprene outer with hook and loop closures is secure and easy to use, while the removable gel inserts conform to your horse's legs. The reflective lining helps maintain temperature, so whether your horse's hocks need cold or warm therapy, they will stay comfortable through every therapeutic session.
Cold therapy is a great way to heal injuries quickly, prevent new injuries from occurring, and maintain general good health in the legs and back. Having the best products and a great cold therapy routine will protect your horse’s soundness for years.
