Equilibrium massage rug/massage rugs

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mariaandefe

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Hi all,

What does everyone think of massage rugs? Which brands are the best? and is anyone possibly selling any good massage rugs? What does everyone think of the Equilibrium massage rug?

Thanks!
 
I've had the equilibrium one for years. The horses like it but I don't think it does any more than warm up their backs and give them a gentle massage.
 
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SEL said:
I've had the equilibrium one for years. The horses like it but I don't think it does any more than warm up their backs and give them a gentle massage.
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such a bummer i was hoping it would be able to loosen up some back muscles! :/
 
Had one for 13 years as well, for my now retired wb dressage gelding. Its still going, though my dear boy at 29 is out to pasture. We call it 'Mr Buzzy' and my horse loved it.
And when I had tight back muscles I would wipe it down, pop it on the couch and lie on top of it. Bliss. Used to even sort of arrange it across the back of my drivers seat in the ute while towing to comps, to calm me down. So we got double value.

A horse physio i know said Equilibrium, though cheaper and less intense than Equissage, is better as it covers a larger section of the back, specially just behind the saddle area. Not sure, not seen any large scale research results! But the latter wouldn't work on my back being too lumpy!
 
i had a demo for the equissage at camp, according to them there’s no research to back up any of the others and the equissage gives a full massage to the whole body, whilst other pads only do the area they touch, and only penetrate into the top layer of skin so they’re not really benefitting muscles.

now of course this was said by someone working for equissage and trying to sell their products, and i can’t comment on the rugs!
 
I was given one that had been left unclaimed where my partner worked. It was a 6ft 6 and I used to use it regularly on Bailey. It was a tatty old thing but it seemed to work.
 
gallopingby said:
There has been some research carried out re equissage. Not a rug but could be worth considering.
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I got recommended a Bemer massage rug set, but i do not have 6000€ lying around in my bank account so I am trying to find cheaper options. How much is the equissage?
 
dottylottie said:
i had a demo for the equissage at camp, according to them there’s no research to back up any of the others and the equissage gives a full massage to the whole body, whilst other pads only do the area they touch, and only penetrate into the top layer of skin so they’re not really benefitting muscles.

now of course this was said by someone working for equissage and trying to sell their products, and i can’t comment on the rugs!
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Yeah i get what you mean! same thing with any other brand really. thank you!
 
ThreeFurs said:
Had one for 13 years as well, for my now retired wb dressage gelding. Its still going, though my dear boy at 29 is out to pasture. We call it 'Mr Buzzy' and my horse loved it.
And when I had tight back muscles I would wipe it down, pop it on the couch and lie on top of it. Bliss. Used to even sort of arrange it across the back of my drivers seat in the ute while towing to comps, to calm me down. So we got double value.

A horse physio i know said Equilibrium, though cheaper and less intense than Equissage, is better as it covers a larger section of the back, specially just behind the saddle area. Not sure, not seen any large scale research results! But the latter wouldn't work on my back being too lumpy!
Click to expand...
Such a great idea 😂 Will do some more research as it’s quite a big buy and is still quite expensive
 
Bought an equilibrium about 15 years ago for my horse and he didn’t like it. Current horse seems to enjoy it no idea whether it does anything or not. We were at an away show and I had to retire him from dressage class as I think he tweaked something in medium trot. Anyway lady from the Equissage stand gave him a treatment on the next day, which was a day off anyway, and then the following day he went second reserve champion in hand showing. No idea whether it was that or it would’ve been fine anyway, but I went off and bought a secondhand Equissage. My equilibrium pad has had one Refurb in the 15 years and now needs another if it’s not working.
 
mariaandefe said:
Such a great idea 😂 Will do some more research as it’s quite a big buy and is still quite expensive
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Yes, hearing you. 13 years ago in South Australia, I think the Equilibrium pad was 4 or 5 hundred dollars, AUD, and the Equissage was up in the thousands, so I got the former, despite heaps of sale pressure, [as i knew the Equissage agent here].

Look, I've not regretted it as a purchase, its a nice, sensual relaxing thing, specially if yr horse is in full work, in the cold, I found it did activate the back muscles. It has a 20 minute cycle, so you can put it on, groom, tack, get ready ... my horse was never bucky or cold backed, but he was spooky, so for us, it was a nice interlude when he was relaxed.
 
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I have one and have used it on three or four horses. One took a few goes to get used to it, another it's the only way she'll stand patiently for the farrier, and my current share (who has known, managed back and sacroiliac problems) does huge cat stretches after half an hours go.

They do get fairly warm underneath the pad, so I don't think I'd get a heated one if it needed replacing.
 
I traded my Equissage in against a FMBS combined pulsed magnetic and massage rug and used it a lot when we had competition horses and it did seem to help plus the horses seemed to enjoy it. One, who was particularly sharp would almost fall asleep with it on. We also had the boots which linked with it and used them especially after xc at 3 day events. They are very expensive pieces of kit sadly.
 
mariaandefe said:
I got recommended a Bemer massage rug set, but i do not have 6000€ lying around in my bank account so I am trying to find cheaper options. How much is the equissage?
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A therapist I know just popped the leg wrap flattened out on my horses SI - it was obviously doing something because she was resting a hind with her eyes rolling around falling asleep. I never get that response with my equilibrium on her!

Leg wrap still pricey but cheaper than a bemer rug
 
EventingMum said:
I traded my Equissage in against a FMBS combined pulsed magnetic and massage rug and used it a lot when we had competition horses and it did seem to help plus the horses seemed to enjoy it. One, who was particularly sharp would almost fall asleep with it on. We also had the boots which linked with it and used them especially after xc at 3 day events. They are very expensive pieces of kit sadly.
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I think the FMBS is around 5000? Right? Or am i mixing it up with something else?
 
SEL said:
A therapist I know just popped the leg wrap flattened out on my horses SI - it was obviously doing something because she was resting a hind with her eyes rolling around falling asleep. I never get that response with my equilibrium on her!

Leg wrap still pricey but cheaper than a bemer rug
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The bemer leg wrap?
 
mariaandefe said:
I think the FMBS is around 5000? Right? Or am i mixing it up with something else?
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Sadly, I think they are now. We paid less than half and got £1k trade in for my Equissage but it was a long time ago plus I had all my RS horses and some liveries who benefitted from it as well as the eventers. At today's price it's probably just aimed mainly at pro riders.
 
EventingMum said:
Sadly, I think they are now. We paid less than half and got £1k trade in for my Equissage but it was a long time ago plus I had all my RS horses and some liveries who benefitted from it as well as the eventers. At today's price it's probably just aimed mainly at pro riders.
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Yes it is, for example Henrik Von Eckermann uses and praises bemer a lot. I’m no where near Von Eckermann level the only reason I want a massage rug for my horse is because we don’t have a qualified massage/physio in my area they are all 10+hrs away
 
I recently bought a used Equilibrium - went for the XL version which has 3 vibe motors per side, rather than 2. Setting 1 is quite gentle, but 2 and 3 definitely have an effect beyond the area of the pad - I can feel thier hindquarters vibrating gently . They both enjoy it, and it seems to help them loosen up before hand/relax afterwards.

I've had a couple of demo's of the Equissage on one horse, and I can't say he relaxed any more with that than with the Equilibrium. I certainly can't justify the price of it.

ETA they get plenty warm enough under the Equilibrium, so I wouldn't rush to upgrade to the Heatsense.
 
I have an Equissage and and Equilibirium. On my tense horse I do notice a big positive difference when he has had the Equissage on before riding. I tend to use the Equilibrium in winter to warm their back muscles up but do be honest don't really notice much difference in them but they all seem more than happy with it on.
 
I have an Equissage and and Equilibirium. On my tense horse I do notice a big positive difference when he has had the Equissage on before riding. I tend to use the Equilibrium in winter to warm their back muscles up but do be honest don't really notice much difference in them but they all seem more than happy with it on.
 
I bought a used Equilibrium from ebay at least 10 -15 years ago, it's still going strong. Physio recommended it for a new horse with a lot of issues and it definitely helps relax her ( and stops her fidgeting when plaiting!) Physio said they basically increase blood flow to the area, and getting one that goes on for more than 15 minutes is a waste as that's when capacity is reached in the capillaries ( I think). I also use it on myself for back issues, definitely money well spent.
 
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