Belly/Bum Bands

[RachelFerd]

I bought some of the bum bands for horses that attach behind the quarters and under the belly a few years ago when everyone seemed to be using them. And then promptly let them gather dust and didn't use them.

Was having a clear out the other day and wondered whether its worth testing them out or not? Has anyone here used them? Any success (or not) in getting the desired outcomes? And if people are using them, how often/for how long/for what exercises?

6yo is not very well developed behind the saddle. Looking better for having had a good amount of spring grass. Goes well on the flat but would default to not 'pushing' very much if I wasn't on his case. Doesn't push well over a fence (which is the bit I *really* want to work on). We're very limited for hillwork from the yard - only have one small hill in a housing estate that I can access, everything else is pancake flat.

Bin 'em, or dust them off and try them out?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I used them on advice of a vet as part of Lottie’s rehab when she was weak behind. After injuring her SI. She did strengthen up very well, but I did loads of other things too (poles and hills), so who knows what bit worked best.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

ETA - I started using them for 10 minutes in hand in walk. Built up to 20 mins on long reins in walk/trot over poles. And then added lungeing in them in canter over poles.

 

[humblepie]

Similar to AE I used them along with poles, hill work, water treadmill on horse that had lost muscle. Not sure how much of what added what. I can’t lunge where I keep him so was using the belly band when ridden

 

[rextherobber]

I am using them along Humblepie's and AE's lines, for KS rehab. Still in the midst of it, hope it's working, was recommended by both the Vet and Physio.

 

[Bernster]

I know two horse physios who recommend them and have seen some good improvements (obv done correctly as with all these things).

 

[TPO]

I'm sure I read about a paper that showed use of bands caused asymmetry.

Give me 5mins to search my screenshots...

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[criso]

I know people who really rate them.

3rd option, give them away to someone.

 

[ihatework]

I use them routinely on everything for lunging, I *think* I can tell the difference but wouldn’t rule out placebo effect!

I’ve never ridden in them though

 

[GreyDot]

My osteopath rates them, but only correctly fitted and best to start after an osteo session so that the horse has already been positively adjusted, rather than just slapping them on to an asymmetric horse.
As other have said, though, build it up slowly.

 

[saddlesore]

I think they’re great, I definitely notice a difference in my boy when I ride with them on

 

[Cherryblossom]

I used them rehabbing my mare. Like everyone else, I don’t know which parts of the rehab did what. I’m starting to use them again now as she’s tight behind her saddle and struggling to engage her core, so I’ll see if that helps.

 

[Tiddlypom]

They can be really helpful, something to keep hold of to use now and again as necessary.

Just be careful that it is a decent brand. The original Equibands are excellent but very spendy. A number of cheapo rip offs soon appeared which were not correctly designed, and were actually harmful in use according to my chiro vet who came across some of them . Think more bucking strap than therapeutic use...

 

[sbloom]

The horse has to be straight and be moving well imo, on the whole. Otherwise you're adding resistance (I don't see them as proprioceptive aids, see TTeam bodywrapping for that, somewhat different) to dysfunctional movement so will only strengthen the dysfunction.

 

[Birker2020]

I used the PAP therapy bands https://fmbs.co.uk/product/pap-trai...em,encouragement without force or restriction. on the recommendation of my physio to increase Lari's topline during the four months groundwork programme we set for him. Raised poles, Pessoa lunging, greenback through trampolines, labyrinth, etc

Difference by week 5.

 

[scats]

TP very kindly lent me her equiband system to try so I’ve been using that for a couple of months and I definitely saw a difference with Millie. Vet Chiro also saw Millie a couple of weeks back and SI issues look to have completely resolved (last year we were contemplating injecting her SI). Now I don’t know for certain what has helped but I think it’s been a combination of things, and the equiband has been part of that.
I’m going to invest in one.

 

[tristar]

i`d do more from the saddle, i have 3 trotting poles quite low actually, and keep coming back down them, as the horse warms up and can really feel it bump up through the saddle using its sacro

i combine this with lots of transitions on the outside track and some slow trotting then the horse will come down and round really stretching the back and the same area, then forwards and lots of trot to halt and back to trot riding the back end towards the front end

out of a good trot 5 meter circles x 2 down the long side

i like to do it ridden cause you can feel what is happening

 

[Laafet]

My physio raves about them but recommends using the belly one more than the one round the bum and intermittently not every time for best effect.