Water treadmill experiences?

[EngageDressage]

Hi have my new 5-year old ex-racer booked in to the water treadmill next weekend.
Any experiences to share, things to think about in advance?
She’s very, very chilled so expect she’ll be fine about the process…

 

[Yeomans]

I regularly take my boy to a water treadmill. They have to have their feet picked out before they go in and also the tail is tied up so it doesnt splash once the water is in. The water goes up gradually as they get going. My boy loves it. The front of it also goes up as if they are going up a slight incline. You can see all the muscles working from above and behind. Sure you will have a good time.

 

[milliepops]

Centaur biomechanics recently shared some research about the effect of different depths of water. This seems to be pretty important... I'd just check that wherever you are intending to go has an understanding of what you want to achieve and the knowledge to tailor the programme for your individual horse.

 

[TPO]

I'd ask what your "why" is for wanting to use it.

Check out the qualifications and experience of the folks running it.

If there are straightness and/or compensation issues in most cases I'd want them addressed and resolved prior to going to a water treadmill. Asking Asking a horse to work hard when it's already compromised just further develops and strengthens the compensation.

I think Ambers Echo had a not so great experience sending her horse to one so might be worth PMing her or searching old posts.

Personally I wouldn't use one because I think there is too much potential to do harm in the wrong hands. I don't fully understand what they achieve that can't be achieved in other ways and I wouldn't want to do or use something that I wasn't 100% informed about. So that's on me but othing that I've read or seen has made me want to deep dive further into them.

 

[sbloom]

I'd ask what your "why" is for wanting to use it.

Check out the qualifications and experience of the folks running it.

If there are straightness and/or compensation issues in most cases I'd want them addressed and resolved prior to going to a water treadmill. Asking Asking a horse to work hard when it's already compromised just further develops and strengthens the compensation.

I think Ambers Echo had a not so great experience sending her horse to one so might be worth PMing her or searching old posts.

Personally I wouldn't use one because I think there is too much potential to do harm in the wrong hands. I don't fully understand what they achieve that's can be achieved in other ways and I wouldn't want to do or use something that I wasn't 100% informed about. So that's on me but othing that I've read or seen has made me want to deep dive further into them.

100%. It's very easy to strengthen the imbalances and compensatory movement patterns. There's a particular place that specialises in weight loss it seems, they post before and after photos and in every single one, after a week's boot camp, including extensive water treadmill work, not one has remotely improved in posture and I'd say the majority have worsened. Terrible advert.

 

[milliepops]

100%. It's very easy to strengthen the imbalances and compensatory movement patterns. There's a particular place that specialises in weight loss it seems, they post before and after photos and in every single one, after a week's boot camp, including extensive water treadmill work, not one has remotely improved in posture and I'd say the majority have worsened. Terrible advert.

is that the one David Marlin got into hot water (lol) with recently? i thought they swam the horses. Sorry if i've got the wrong end of the stick.

 

[sbloom]

is that the one David Marlin got into hot water (lol) with recently? i thought they swam the horses. Sorry if i've got the wrong end of the stick.

No idea, sorry, didn't see his post.

The other worrying thing is that no-one seems to notice, we don't SEE posture and compensatory movement patterns at all, the comments are always resoundingly positive.

 

[milliepops]

ah ok. there was a recent ding dong about rapid weight loss at an equine spa thingy and i had the same thoughts about the posture in the "after" photos but I'm pretty sure they had a pool. not surprising that has a bit of a dodgy effect on posture what with the need to breathe while you're swimming

 

[sbloom]

Actually you may be right, looking more closely it is a pool and not a treadmill. I still say the same about treadmills though, or any form of fittening/strengthening work, even without any intrinsic risks which there do seem to be with water treadmill work, that unless you fix the compensatory movement patterns first you're just making them stronger IN that poor movement pattern which isn't going to help the horse long term one bit.

 

[MissTyc]

I have a very positive experience with an established older horse who, via metabolic issues combined with an injury, had really lost his topline and core.
He is the most chilled horse in the world who will step on anything, load into anything. He HATED the treadmill on first presentation. I spent one hour gently working with him, confidence building. We didn't do a session that day, for obvious reasons! I then did two more groundwork sessions with him and then he realised it was safe and even fun and now he totally loves it. The treadmill I used had advice/training from a specialist rehab vet; they also wanted to speak with the other people who had been working with my horse before accepting him for treatment. Within 5 sessions (approx one every 10 days), he was so much stronger again and then I sent him for a week while I was away during which he had 4 sessions and stretching on the other days + normal turnout, and when I got him back it was like he'd lost 5 years and time had been spun backwards. That was 3 months ago and I haven't been back as he is now keeping right with riding again.

Note, he had fully recovered from injury and had been back in work a full year before we started the treadmill, but I just couldn't get his core engaged like it was before. He'd changed posture and, apparently, motivation. After the treadmill work, he felt so much stronger and lighter and squarer.

So would I send my young horse? Absolutely no need! I think the water treadmill has its place within fittening and rehab programs, but I put it in the "physio" category - to carefully use as needed, not as a routine. Firstly, I don't want my youngster to ever get that strong until he's totally bombproof lol.

 

[MuddyMonster]

It was recommended for mine as a way to help lose weight but I never did it as I had too much going on to organise regularly at the time.

We do regularly go paddling in a stream/ford and a pond we have, which I think has helped. It's FOC too

 

[throwaway2022]

Interesting read, such a wealth of info on here! I was considering it for my daughter’s pony, just to build up some muscle as she’s still quite novicey and isn’t able to work him correctly. Think I’ll stick to the old fashioned ways and not rush into a quicker fix and an easier life for me ?

 

[throwaway2022]

I saw a post about a Highland who’d lost a good amount of weight using one, I guess they can be very useful if you’re facing lami. I would worry about such a quick weight loss though and how effectively it’s going to be maintained afterwards

 

[throwaway2022]

ah ok. there was a recent ding dong about rapid weight loss at an equine spa thingy and i had the same thoughts about the posture in the "after" photos but I'm pretty sure they had a pool. not surprising that has a bit of a dodgy effect on posture what with the need to breathe while you're swimming

This is what I was thinking of, forgot it was a pool ??‍? oops!!

 

[humblepie]

I took mine a few times last year - discussed with vet and physio. First place was a rehabilitation yard and we walked him through it with no water, then started very low and slow, increasing in further sessions although water always fairly low. The thing he found disconcerting was the water going out. We went there a few times then to a racehorse prep yard where they had one which was nearer. Again all fine. I am not sure if we went enough to make any difference or not.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

We have one at work. I don't see the point in it. I don't like treadmills - water or dry - they aren't good for their joints. I would far rather the horses just stood still in it like an equine spa than actually moved it in. The horses never move properly in it, they can never stretch properly to use their muscles correctly.

But sshhhh! Don't tell the boss! ??? the thing cost a fortune! And to be fair it does do more of a job than the vibration plate ???

https://fb.watch/dIcNRtHbzc/

 

[Gloi]

ah ok. there was a recent ding dong about rapid weight loss at an equine spa thingy and i had the same thoughts about the posture in the "after" photos but I'm pretty sure they had a pool. not surprising that has a bit of a dodgy effect on posture what with the need to breathe while you're swimming

I saw one on Facebook recently and although the ponies had lost weight they all looked dipped backed afterwards.
Glad it's not just me thought it.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have used them .
We had great success with one horse who was not straight he was transformed by it .
You need to know what you want to achieve because it’s not quite as simple as bung them on it and watch the fun .