StableManagement.com wants to help farm and stable owners and managers realize more ways to help their equine businesses become more profitable. We will look at three separate therapies that might be considerations for adding to your facilities–vibration plates, cold compression, and treadmills. All of these therapies won’t be suitable for every farm or stable, and some owners or managers might need to bring in an expert or get training to handle the equipment, but consider these as options when you are looking to expand your services.
Historically many therapies have been used only for treating injuries or for use in post-surgical rehabilitation. Today therapies have expanded in definition and scope, and they now play a significant role in injury prevention. With an increased interest by horse owners in therapy systems both for injury prevention and rehabilitation, stable owners and barn managers have an opportunity to provide additional services to boarders, training clients or outsiders while generating additional revenue for your facility.
Plate Vibration
For decades we have used various therapies to keep horses performing at the top of their games. Many of these therapies originated in human medicine. “The original value of plate vibration was in building bone density for osteoporosis patients,” said, Brenda McDuffee, general manager of The Sanctuary Rehabilitation Center in Florida.
Studies have proven that concussion keeps bones and the skeletal structure strong. A vibration platform simulates concussion without the jarring of bones that occurs during exercise.
The stimulation in bone growth without concussion is ideal for horses in rehabilitation. Those horses often areunable to exercise in a normal fashion. “It (plate vibration) increases circulation and helps with the flow of oxygen throughout the body,” McDuffee said.
Horses in regular training and/or in peak condition also benefit from vibration therapy. Proponents of vibration say it increases blood and lymph flow and removes toxins and metabolic waste while stimulating and toning muscles, relaxing and building muscle tone. They purport that it also reduces muscle soreness/inflammation.
Vibration therapy has demonstrated success for horses with weak hooves, according to some users. “It increases circulation and helps the hoof wall grow,” said McDuffee. “It’s really good for shelly feet, quarter cracks and soft walls as these are difficult areas to treat. We have an EquiVibe in our Wellington, Florida, facility, and it works well.”
The Sanctuary incorporated plate vibration three years ago. “The plates are not terribly expensive, and I have seen more and more farms buying one for their facility,” she said.
When considering an expansion of the facility’s services, consider a plate vibration system. Systems average about $5,000. Charging boarders, clients with horses in training or haul-in users a per-session fee will allow the barn to cover the investment and generate a new source of revenue.
Learn more about plate vibration and how it may be a good fit for your barn. Visit the websites below to get started.
BodyFlo www.equibodyflo.com
EquiVibe www.equivibe.com
TheraPlate www.theraplate.com/equine
