Massage pad or heat pad?

[B.F.G]

Looking for people's opinions on both the equilibrium massage pads and the heat pads you can get? I've used the massage pad before and couldn't really notice a big difference but a physio said recently to just use some heat on his tight muscles as and when. I can just use a hot water bottle (held by myself) if the head pad is nothing special!
What do people use?

 

[eggs]

My vet recommended using hot water bottles

 

[scats]

I use an epiony. Love it.

 

[doodle]

3 hot water bottles and some restitching of a pillow case to make pockets works well!

 

[B.F.G]

Yes that's the brand I was thinking of, epiony. Does it only work over the back (saddle area) or could it work over the hind quarters too?
Using pillow cases for hot water bottles is a great idea. Lucky for me we have a kettle at the yard but also a very hot tap so can use water bottles.

 

[rextherobber]

I have the equilibrium massage pad, it makes a big difference to my horse, the massage increases the blood flow to the area so would have the same affect ( or do I mean effect?!) as heat, in that the blood capillaries enlarge. I think that's how the physio explained it to me....the pad is convenient , not sure how you could fix hotwater bottles safely/ in a non scary way, for my over imaginative idiot, and I would worry about getting the water temperature hot enough to do the job without scalding the horse, but I'm not a very practical person!

 

[scats]

Yes that's the brand I was thinking of, epiony. Does it only work over the back (saddle area) or could it work over the hind quarters too?
Using pillow cases for hot water bottles is a great idea. Lucky for me we have a kettle at the yard but also a very hot tap so can use water bottles.

You can put it anywhere basically, but you’d have to secure it (it comes with a surcingle to go round belly but also a neoprene wrap for using it around neck of even on yourself.
I pop it where the saddle will go while I groom, then when I tack up, I undo it and slide it back onto her quarters while I potter about getting my hat and booting up etc. Stays in place but Millie doesn’t really move as she loves it.

I used to use hot water bottles but it was a lot of faffing about and I worried about the heat. The Epiony has various settings which I use depending on weather conditions etc.

 

[Bubblewrap]

I have the Epiony, bought one as I got fed up fiddling around filling hot water bottles. What I love about it is you can pretty much strap it anywhere, I it use on neck, shoulder and back area. Also used on humans! Horse physio recommended it and I've been very pleased with it.

 

[Louby]

Ive had both and sold both. Used the Epiony once, horse hated the surcingle around her loin area so went back to good old hot water bottles, tie 2 together with bailing twine, much cheaper and IMO and physio's as effective. I think the massage pad is a lovely luxury but tbh cant see how much it can achieve as in comparison to a human, it must be barely a tickle, having tried it myself