fullofjump
New User
anyone using one? Are they safe? Are there safety mechanisms as on running treadmills? Any other important facts. Was thinking of buying one to help in bringing experienced horse back from injury...
horse treadmills
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FrodoBeutlin
Well-Known Member
Yes used one every day at my old yard, instead of horse walker. I personally think it's much much better than a horse walker and just as safe if not safer (just anecdotal experience but I've heard of loads of horrid accidents in horse walkers while I never heard of anything bad which happened on treadmills.)
Just introduce it slowly, if he's never been on one before. Ideally after work but if your horse is back from injury maybe this is not possible. We used a bridle for the first few days ... first day we just went up the ramp, stood still and came down, second day we activated the treadmill for a couple of minutes, third day he was 100% fine as if he'd had done nothing else in his life! But he is a total stress head and is very claustrophobic, doesn't load easily, spooks at everything etc. I am sure the vast majority of horses don't even need that.
I think it's much more beneficial than horse walkers - both for sound horses (a horse on a treadmill is forced to maintain a very regular rhythm in walk, while in a walker horses can slow down, then accelerate or even do a few strides of trot to catch up, etc. -- not ideal at all) and also for recovery from injury, for the same reasons - you can control the speed, level of exertion etc
Just introduce it slowly, if he's never been on one before. Ideally after work but if your horse is back from injury maybe this is not possible. We used a bridle for the first few days ... first day we just went up the ramp, stood still and came down, second day we activated the treadmill for a couple of minutes, third day he was 100% fine as if he'd had done nothing else in his life! But he is a total stress head and is very claustrophobic, doesn't load easily, spooks at everything etc. I am sure the vast majority of horses don't even need that.
I think it's much more beneficial than horse walkers - both for sound horses (a horse on a treadmill is forced to maintain a very regular rhythm in walk, while in a walker horses can slow down, then accelerate or even do a few strides of trot to catch up, etc. -- not ideal at all) and also for recovery from injury, for the same reasons - you can control the speed, level of exertion etc
humblepie
Well-Known Member
There is one where I keep my horses and I gather that they have never had any issues and the horses go on it quite happily. They start off by just walking them through it and then build up to using it. Mine haven't been on it - I was thinking about it last year and asked on here and got all positive answers and then the back person who does my horse said he didn't like them (no idea why) and that put me off. Sorry not a lot of help.
Lanky Loll
Well-Known Member
We've got a sloped treadmill which we use in early season training to start off the driving horses then throughout the season - we actually find it works them harder than the walker.
They all get used to it really quickly, they have to walk up a short steep slope, then the treadmill itself is at about a 10-15degree angle (I think - geometry's not my strong point
) we can't walk them off forwards so it just faces the wall and they have to reverse off of it, there's a narrow walk way around the outside for the handler and so far we've had no problems.
Nearly had a heartattack one day when the mini who wanders loose around the yard joined one of the TB's on there walking up, under and round her but she sorted herself out and calmly walked backdown the handler ramp while we were having kittens trying to work out how to get her out of there!
They all get used to it really quickly, they have to walk up a short steep slope, then the treadmill itself is at about a 10-15degree angle (I think - geometry's not my strong point
) we can't walk them off forwards so it just faces the wall and they have to reverse off of it, there's a narrow walk way around the outside for the handler and so far we've had no problems. Nearly had a heartattack one day when the mini who wanders loose around the yard joined one of the TB's on there walking up, under and round her
but she sorted herself out and calmly walked backdown the handler ramp while we were having kittens trying to work out how to get her out of there!fullofjump
New User
thanks for the advice, think I will give it a try
lauraandharvey
Well-Known Member
we have water treadmill at yard
used for rehab programmes and general fitness
http://www.yorkshiredressage.co.uk/
http://aldhammillequestrian.co.uk/ts/
used for rehab programmes and general fitness
http://www.yorkshiredressage.co.uk/
http://aldhammillequestrian.co.uk/ts/
MiaBella
Well-Known Member
As FB says, would use in preference to a walker and are safer in my experience.
They do have a safety mechanism (and you have to love the odd joker that discovers if you jump up and down you can stop the machine!) As FB describes, introduce slowly, ideally with two people, one to stand by the head holding reins/rope, the other to operate, slowly start the machine and the person at the head end needs to start walking on the spot (and ask the horse to walk on) the person operating brings up the speed gradually till the horse gets a good rhythm going. Tends to take 1-3 sessions for the horse to get the hang of it.
The ones I have used are adjustable are really good for rehab work (and general fittening work).
They do have a safety mechanism (and you have to love the odd joker that discovers if you jump up and down you can stop the machine!) As FB describes, introduce slowly, ideally with two people, one to stand by the head holding reins/rope, the other to operate, slowly start the machine and the person at the head end needs to start walking on the spot (and ask the horse to walk on) the person operating brings up the speed gradually till the horse gets a good rhythm going. Tends to take 1-3 sessions for the horse to get the hang of it.
The ones I have used are adjustable are really good for rehab work (and general fittening work).