Equestrian Guide - Horse riding equipment for riders and everything for your horse
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Alternative means of exercise  

Treadmills
The treadmill gives you the ability to exercise the horse on a non-slip surface with minimum concussion at speed varying from walk to full gallop.
Some treadmills allow adjustment of angle of the track (flat to inclined).
The mill allows the horse to work unhindered by either saddle or rider's weight.

The main use of the treadmill in rehabilitation is to re-educate the gait, as the belt demands even stride length from each of the four limbs.
The horse is forced to learn balance, therefore utilizing stabilization muscle groups, and not the muscle groups that power the horse forward.

Water Treadmill
A piece of equipment demanding a resistance to forward movement using water and treadmill.
The Water treadmill needs to be used sparingly and with great care as it demands abnormal working patterns and imbalance of muscle activity.
Varying the depth of water allows an animal with joint or tendon injuries to exercise safely.

Horse Walkers
Mechanical walkers help to maintain fitness in a injured animal.
“hot” walkers have arms which are attached to the hub containing an electrical motor pivoting at different speeds, the horses are attached to each arm by a lead chain.
Some models have arms above the head, others have a large rubber wheel where the animal is attached to the framework at shoulder level, this helps avoid head and neck stress.


Treadmill from The Equestrian Centre
 
Swimming Pool
Swimming is not a natural occupation for horses, as they get exhausted quickly as a horse is reluctant to breathe whilst swimming. He would be more likely to take a deep breath before entering the pool.
The pool encourages an uneven swimming pattern which in turn, causes uneven muscle action. This can produce uneven muscular balance, as such this exercise should be carried out with the aid of professionals.
The horse should only be allowed to work in the pool for short periods to start off with and heart rate should be checked as swimming causes the heart rate to soar.
Underwater jets can activate a current for the horse to work against to make them work harder.
Equestrian guide advises that none of these pieces of specialist equipment be used without first consulting relevant professional advice.