Horse walker?!

We have one at our yard and it has been very useful. Winter turnout is sometimes restricted due to weather so leg stretch on the walker has been useful whilst mucking out. Horse then ridden later in the day.
Horse coming back into work after some time off - walker really useful, used for couple of days before then lunging, then getting on.
Useful for horse coming back after injury when walking in hand would be dangerous.
Useful as bit of extra excercise for a good doer.
Floor is rubber, think it’s for five or six horses, no horse objects to going on, I doubt it’s the best fun they have ever had but very much doubt it’s cruel and never seen any evidence they cause lameness.
 
Oh and our pushers were only ever used once for a canny old cob, who realised she could stand and admire the view, quick zap got her walking again were no amount of shouting encouragement did, plus she was on the far side of the entrance. They have never been used before or since so I doubt the other horses are frightened.
It was also used for small pony who no longer had a rider, to keep him ticking over and weight down. He may well of found it boring, but better to be a little bored than risk laminitis!
 
sport horse said:
What a drama queen! We are not talking about 'electrocuting' our horses! The pushers can be turned on/off. They give a zap of the same level as electric fencing, which is so beloved of so many horse people. It only zaps if the horse rests his backside on the pushers. I have not needed to turn on my electric pushers in over one year as the horses actually seem to enjoy walking.

The speed of the walker can be turned up/down from very slow to quite fast. The direction of the walker can be altered too.

I really wonder if some of these critics have actually used a modern walker on a regular basis and been taught how to manage it by someone who actually knows? I am more than surprised at the lack of knowledge.
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I agree, our pushers have only been used a handful of times and are switched off as soon as the horse gets the message not to stop, they are not left on with the horses unattended. I'd like to think a horse with a pain / soundness issue would be noticed and not put on the walker in the first place. People lunging without the knowledge of how to do it correctly could equally cause problems.
 
sport horse said:
What a drama queen! We are not talking about 'electrocuting' our horses! The pushers can be turned on/off. They give a zap of the same level as electric fencing, which is so beloved of so many horse people. It only zaps if the horse rests his backside on the pushers. I have not needed to turn on my electric pushers in over one year as the horses actually seem to enjoy walking.

The speed of the walker can be turned up/down from very slow to quite fast. The direction of the walker can be altered too.

I really wonder if some of these critics have actually used a modern walker on a regular basis and been taught how to manage it by someone who actually knows? I am more than surprised at the lack of knowledge.
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^^^^This

My horse who sustained a severe tendon injury went through a very long careful rehab which eventually used a walker. It was done progressively and he is sound, back in the field and being ridden. The use of a modern well floored walker is invaluable for a lot of rehabilitation. Radway rehabilitation uses one and is owned and run by an experienced equine vet!!! My old now deceased horse was an absolute toad for stopping a walker which did not have an electric pusher he would always do it on the far side from the entry gate.
 
I used to use the one at my old yard. My mare was never left unattended, was never on for more than 20 mins and direction changed 1/2 way through. She's an opinionated madam and I have no doubt that if she disliked it or it caused her pain she wouldn't have gone on it.

I saw one horse slip badly on it, but only once and that was owner error. It was an icy morning & the horse should never have been on it let alone at the speed it was set at.

We didn't use the pushers. Any horse that didn't behave wasn't allowed on.

I'd have one again, but bigger, oval and covered. They had a lovely one for the Andalusian stallions in Jerez, but I can't post photos from my phone (& yes I was sad enough to take a pic!)
 
Velcrobum said:
^^^^This

My horse who sustained a severe tendon injury went through a very long careful rehab which eventually used a walker. It was done progressively and he is sound, back in the field and being ridden. The use of a modern well floored walker is invaluable for a lot of rehabilitation. Radway rehabilitation uses one and is owned and run by an experienced equine vet!!! My old now deceased horse was an absolute toad for stopping a walker which did not have an electric pusher he would always do it on the far side from the entry gate.
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For rehab Walkers do nothing that you can't do with time and effort without one
 
Goldenstar said:
For rehab Walkers do nothing that you can't do with time and effort without one
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I used a walker under veterinary advice for a horse recovering from a suspensory tweak. He is a 18hh heavyweight Irish Draught and very forward going. I would not have had a hope in hell of holding him during his in-hand walking exercise - it was all I could do to get him 100 yards in a straight line and onto the walker. It was much safer, and IME preferable to sedating him every day, twice a day, to start his walking.

I have only used a walker for one winter - never had access to one before or since - when we were renting a yard short term, which had very limited hacking and no winter turnout. I put 4 on at a time, while I mucked out. I was astonished at how quickly their fitness levels increased, in comparison to previous autumns, when they were only doing roadwork.

If I had had a choice, I would have chosen a walker with a greater diameter as our guys are all 17hh+ but none of them (including the older ones, with known wear and tear) showed any signs of discomfort or unsoundness after a winter of use.

If I had the spare cash, I would probably invest it in another pair of hands to hack out with me, but I would certainly use one again if I had access to it!
 
I think they have a place, particularly in a setup like the one on the yard where I keep my horse. We are on the outskirts of London where land is expensive and heavy clay. In winter the fields get atrocious, and there can be times when it's simply not safe to turn out. A nice big walker with a good surface is a boon at times like that, or if the horse has mud fever or can't go out for some other reason. Ideally we'd all have great big amazing well draining fields with plenty of grass, and then I would probably never use one, but we don't, so I am pleased to have access to a walker and an indoor school!
 
Velcrobum said:
^^^^This

My horse who sustained a severe tendon injury went through a very long careful rehab which eventually used a walker. It was done progressively and he is sound, back in the field and being ridden. The use of a modern well floored walker is invaluable for a lot of rehabilitation. Radway rehabilitation uses one and is owned and run by an experienced equine vet!!! My old now deceased horse was an absolute toad for stopping a walker which did not have an electric pusher he would always do it on the far side from the entry gate.
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Yes, and whilst Fiona's is a circular under cover she would be the first to advocate walking in-hand in a straight line over repetitive circular stress in the early stages. That's where ex-army husbands come in who can manipulate 700kg horses! :)
 
gunnergundog said:
Yes, and whilst Fiona's is a circular under cover she would be the first to advocate walking in-hand in a straight line over repetitive circular stress in the early stages. That's where ex-army husbands come in who can manipulate 700kg horses! :)
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Yes and we did for a very long time complete with ACP and a chiffney. The walker got introduced very late on in the process. Fiona's cold water spa was the primary therapy which worked well as euthanasia was on the books if he did not respond well.
 
gunnergundog said:
Totally agree. Unfortunately, at the moment, it is only the racing fraternity that have the money that seem to buy into this concept.
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And very rich Dressage and SJ yards. I have seen one at a private Dr yard but the owner is stinking rich trains to a high level for fun and does not compete.
 
Velcrobum said:
And very rich Dressage and SJ yards. I have seen one at a private Dr yard but the owner is stinking rich trains to a high level for fun and does not compete.
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That's totally pointless! But if that's what keep them happy!

The walkers at work are totally invaluable. They save so much time and are great for the injured ones. In 13 years we have only had 1 accident and that was caused by a stupid young girl trying to put a horse on the walker that was moving at the time. It is an old walker where the spacer panels are 2 big solid lumps of metal and rubber and the horse got it's head stuck between the paddle and the outer wall. We had to demolish the paddle to get the horse out. The horse was fine just had a lot of scrapes. The girl didn't last long.

I only know of one other incident that caused long term injury and it wasn't one our yard. A horse got his ear stuck and ripped it off. He never had it stitched back on so he looks a bit weird but he is cool with it!
 
EKW said:
That's totally pointless! But if that's what keep them happy!

The walkers at work are totally invaluable. They save so much time and are great for the injured ones. In 13 years we have only had 1 accident and that was caused by a stupid young girl trying to put a horse on the walker that was moving at the time. It is an old walker where the spacer panels are 2 big solid lumps of metal and rubber and the horse got it's head stuck between the paddle and the outer wall. We had to demolish the paddle to get the horse out. The horse was fine just had a lot of scrapes. The girl didn't last long.

I only know of one other incident that caused long term injury and it wasn't one our yard. A horse got his ear stuck and ripped it off. He never had it stitched back on so he looks a bit weird but he is cool with it!
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You've just reminded me! We had one with a tongue ripped off 🤢
He's actually ok though, he can eat in a messy fashion
 
dHs3KKC.jpg
 
Velcrobum said:
And very rich Dressage and SJ yards. I have seen one at a private Dr yard but the owner is stinking rich trains to a high level for fun and does not compete.
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The rider brings Conrad Schumaker over from Germany to train them as I said stinking rich. Has a huge indoor school large barn, lunging ring INSIDE the walker, 100x100m approx. outdoor arena a swimming lane for the horses. Never seen the house but is probably very swanky the estate is large enough that the house cannot be seen from the yard.
 
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