What can it be used for?

• Tendon injuries
• Laminitis
• Sore shins
• Wounds
• Mud fever
• Abscesses
• Bruises
• Swollen joints (Wingalls)
• Jar up (concussion)
• Arthritis
• Ligament injuries
• Fractures
• Splints

Benefits of using the Spa:

• Encourages better granulation
• Improves circulation
• Improves gait and general demeanor
• Improves horn growth
• Reduces swelling/inflamation
• Analgesic effect

Contributary factors towards the Spa's beneficial effects-

• Temperature (2-4*c) Cold has good antibacterial and antiflammatory effects.
• Aeration The water temperature (along with the others factors) significantly influences the level of dissolved Oxygen in the water. The agitation (bubbles) also has a massaging effect on the tissues.
• Pressure The pressure due to 1 metre of water is equivilant to 1/10 atmospheric pressure, so gives support whilst in the spa.
• Salt Concentration The water contains salt 20g/L Soduim Chloride (table salt) and 30g/L Magnesium Sulphate (epsom salts) This is roughly double that of the sea
• Chlorine Added for bacteriological control. It has about twice the amount of a human swimming pool.

Why not just Cold hose?

For years, cold hosing has been advocated for leg injuries. Horses have been stood in streams and walked in the sea. All having a cooling effect; the two latter also having a compression effect due to the pressure of the water. although many people have neither of these near them or it is not practical. Cold water hosing, the most common method of treating inflammation, cools the skins surface, but the temperature is uncontrolled and might not be cold enough to affect the structures involved in the injury. Also there is no drawing effect as the solution is not saline, and the dissolvedOxygen content will be lower, than in the Spa.

A typical spa session:

On your horses very first session we introduce them slowly and see how they react. Some horses take to it very well and have a full treatment on their first go, but others need more time taking. We prefer to take our time and make sure the horse does not have a negative session. So for long term treatments it is easier for horses to be left with us so we can spend the time necesary to make sure the horse is happy in the spa. We do on the other hand have horses that travel back and forth with no problems at all, certainly when they are used to it, it is ideal for horses/owners to drop in on the way back from a competition or the next day, as part of thier maintenance. (as it can help reduce any minor bruising/ swelling that can not be seen by the naked eye)