Show or stadium jumping requires a horse to jump over a challenging course usually in the shortest time possible with the fewest faults. A single rail or a few tenths of a second often determine the final standings within this discipline. Horses that compete successfully in the event require agility, balance, control and an incredible mount of power from the musculoskeletal system.

The application of infrared therapeutic heat is beneficial as a part of the pre-event warm-up, maintenance of peak performance and as a treatment upon a clinical disorder. Each unique situation has to be evaluated upon its own merits and addressed on an individual basis.

There are several areas of stress within these athletes that would benefit from infrared therapeutic heat. The take-off or initiation of the jump places a great deal of strain upon the flexor muscles, tendons and ligaments of the forelimb, the shoulder, chest and back. The impact even causes a tension within the neck.

Pre-event warm-up of the Jumper:

• Application of the therapy blanket for at least 30 to 45 minutes before exercise or other pre-event procedures.
• Application of the neck appliance for 30 minutes before the event.
• Application of a set of leggings to both the front and hind legs for 30 minutes before exercise.
• Following the application of infrared heat, massage or any other modality can be utilized to further prepare this horse for competition.

General maintenance of the Jumper:

• Application of the therapy blanket for at least 30 to 60 minutes on a daily basis before exercise.
• Application of the therapy blanket for a second treatment in the late afternoon or evening after a particularly hard training session.
• Application of the leggings for at least 30 minutes to both the front and hind limbs on a daily basis.

• Before any treatment regime is initiated, an accurate diagnosis of the problem is essential.
• Generalized muscle soreness responds well to several lengthy treatments in a 24 hour period. These therapy sessions should last a minimum of 30 minutes each and can continue for as long as an hour in duration.
• Most tendon and ligament injuries respond well to a therapy program consisting of alternating heat and cold treatments. This speeds the healing processes tremendously. After cold therapy is applied, wait a period of time before initiating heat treatments. Infrared heat treatments can last up to an hour in duration, several times within a 24 hour period.
• The versatility of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances allows the use of even a single pad upon a specific anatomical area for treatment. A single pad can be placed upon an area such as the chest and held in place by using Velcro or bandages using the infrared therapy blanket as the supporting structure.

To successfully compete in this event, these equine athletes need to be agile, sound, have good manners around hounds and other horses and exhibit a great deal of strength and stamina. Those horses used in field hunting and fox hunting are usually Thoroughbreds, Irish drafts or Warmbloods.

In the show ring, the hunter classes are not as strenuous but still require strength and agility under control. Horses chosen for this discipline are usually Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods or crosses of these three.

Field hunters compete upon an uneven and mostly rough terrain. This puts a stress upon the legs of the animal. When these animals are asked to jump obstacles along the course, they place the same type of stresses upon their anatomy that a show jumper would except they often land on a variety of uneven surfaces. In the show ring, the type of class the animal competes in will determine the types of stress placed on the animal.

The programs outlined for the Jumpers are easily applied to the Hunter. The pre-event warm-up cannot be too long in nature and should last at least one hour. This event is different from the show or stadium jumping since the animals land on an uneven surface. The more flexible and agile the animal is, the less likely an injury will occur. Maintenance therapy is focused upon relief of any areas of primary soreness or secondary soreness from stresses caused by problems within the limbs. Treatments should follow an accurate diagnosis and be aimed at not only the primary source of lameness but also any secondary sources arising from a primary source. An example of this is a stone bruise causing a stress upon the musculature of the shoulder. The stone bruise is addressed in its own capacity and the shoulder soreness would benefit from application of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System blanket for several treatments.

When one watches dressage, it is like watching poetry in motion. The horses are elegant, flexible, agile and have a certain flair and finesse in the execution of their discipline. The animals must have excellent conformation to compete at a high level and have a muscle development and carriage quite different from the high-level jumpers, hunters and eventers.

Powerful horses such as the Dutch, Danish, German and Swedish Warmbloods comprise the majority of the breeds within this discipline. However, American Warmbloods, Andalusians, Friesians, Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses perform extremely well at dressage.

Athletic training of these animals places a high level of stress upon their entire anatomy. The back, hips, stifles and hocks have to be free moving and flexible to provide the drive needed for these events. Lateral work such as side passes and bending places a stress upon the chest. Shoulders have to be flexible and move freely. Any soreness or injury to legs that restricts extension is completely unacceptable within this discipline. Collection of the head for a proper set places stress on the muscles within the jaw area and neck until they are capable of handling the training.

Pre-event warm-up of the Dressage horse:

• Application of the therapy blanket, neck appliance and hood approximately three to four hours before the event for a period of at least 60 minutes. Each therapy program is unique to each horse as its warm-up and ability are an individual characteristic.
• The Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System Leggings should be applied to both the hind limbs and forelimbs for a period of not less than 30 minutes each.
• Application of a set of leggings to both the front and hind legs for 30 minutes before exercise.
• After the animal is warm and supple, stretching and massage work are a great complimentary therapy for these animals.

Maintenance Protocols for the Dressage horse:

These animals need to be maintained at the highest level of fitness and be as comfortable as possible to compete in these events. The following daily guidelines will achieve this goal:

• The animal should receive infrared heat therapy over its entire anatomy for at least 45 minutes before any exercise is initiated. After this therapy is completed, it is essential that the animal be stretched through all the normal range of motion stretches. Massage techniques are applied to any specific areas of stress or soreness.

• After the animal is exercised, cooled out and allowed to relax, a second therapy is initiated with just the blanket to relieve any body soreness that may have occurred from the exercise session. (infrared has an analgesic effect on the patient)

Treatment of any specific disorder should not be initiated until an accurate diagnosis is made. Treatment of muscle soreness is easily accomplished by increasing the treatment time and the number of treatment sessions within a 24 hour period. Specific treatment of a lameness disorder should only be accomplished with the guidance of the attending veterinarian or an accomplished equine physical therapist.

Three different disciplines, each with different athletic requirements, are performed over a three day period of time. These three days consist of: dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping. Therefore, these horses undergo grueling training in all three disciplines at the same time. They are required to exhibit power, endurance, courage, intelligence, agility and strength. Both the horse and rider must have a high level of fitness and competence to compete successfully within this discipline. The breeds one is likely to find in this sport are mostly Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, such as Hanoverians and Trakehners, and crosses.

During the strenuous training of these equine athletes, there isn't a single anatomical area that would not benefit from the use of infrared therapeutic heat. All of the muscle groups, tendons, ligaments and joints experience a great deal of stress that results in inflammation and soreness.

Pre-Event Warm-Up of the Eventer:

Each animal competing at this level will have its own unique preparation schedule. Several modalities and techniques will be used to ensure that these athletes perform at the highest level they are capable of. The general guidelines are as follows:

• The animal should receive a therapy session several hours before competition that should include at least 45 to 60 minutes in the therapy blanket, 30 to 45 minutes in the hood and neck appliance and 45 to 60 minutes using the leggings on both the hind and forelimbs. After this therapy session, other modalities such as massage and complete range of motion stretching should be used to prepare these athletes.
• After the first day of competition, the animal is cooled out and allowed to relax. In the evening, before the next day's event, another therapy session is beneficial to relieve any soreness and inflammation incurred on the first day.

• Several hours before the commencement of the second days event, another therapy session is conducted in the same fashion as the first. This is tailored to fit any unique requirements that the individual athlete may have.
• After the second day of competition, the animal is rested and made comfortable. Six to eight hours later, another therapy session is initiated to prepare for the third day's event. This would generally last an hour but can be increased as needed.
• Before the third day of competition, another therapy session, with all of the appliances, will allow these animals to perform at the peak of their ability.
• After the last day, it is important to treat the animal again to allow a faster recovery from the stress incurred from the last few days of competition.

Maintenance of the Eventer:

Each one of these animals is so unique that it is difficult to generalize a routine maintenance program. Daily applications of all of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances would be ideal before and after a training session. Often these animals are shipped great distances and compete again after only a brief rest. These situations require a more aggressive maintenance treatment protocol than those with long periods of rest between competitions. Remember, there is a large safety margin with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances so overheating and dehydration are not a concern. Therefore, the more applications of the equipment, the better the therapy especially when it is combined with other modalities such as massage.

These animals are subjected to so much stress and training that treatment of an injury with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances should only be conducted under the supervision of a veterinarian or equine physical therapist who has a unique relationship with this particular animal. In all cases an accurate diagnosis should be obtained before any treatment program is started.

Competitive trail riding and long distance endurance racing both fall into this category. These equine athletes are asked to cover distances of 25 to 100 miles over terrain that often includes steep hills and trails with numerous obstacles. This requires a great deal of strength and stamina from both the horse and the rider.

Although all breeds of horses compete in endurance races, the Arabian Horse and its crosses possess the natural ability to be the most competitive.

Often these events are conducted far from electricity that makes using the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances very difficult before these competitions. However Thermotex products can be used with a power inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter of a vehicle if one is available. The blanket draws 298 watts of power and there are inverters that are powerful enough to accommodate. Some rules apply within different associations that prohibit the use of any outside aid to the animals before a race and during the competition. The main use of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances within this discipline is in the recovery stage after the race and maintenance of the horses during the training period.

Recovery Protocols after an Endurance Competition

The goals of recovery therapy performed on an endurance horse are:

• An increase in the circulation within the musculature to aid in the removal of lactic acid and the byproducts of severe work upon the musculature.
• To provide comfort and pain relief.
• A relief of inflammation within the tissues and joints.

The Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances provide an easy complete modality for accomplishing these goals.

After the animal is rested, hydrated and relaxed, the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System therapy blanket should be applied on the low setting for 30 to 60 minutes. In addition, the leggings, neck and hood appliances can be applied as needed. These therapy sessions can be applied as often as deemed necessary for the animal to recover.

Several hours before a training session begins, a therapy session should be initiated using the therapy blanket, leggings and neck appliances. The duration of the therapy should be at least 30 minutes to allow the athlete to be well warmed-up, flexible and agile before the training even begins. This will also offer a relief of soreness from prior training sessions.

After the animal has trained, cooled out and relaxes, a second session in the evening is beneficial in the aid in recovery from the training. This is especially true where the course includes many steep hills or sand footing.

You can't overuse these therapy devices within this discipline. The more therapy sessions that are conducted, the more comfortable and happy your horse will be.

Racing on a flat surface requires exceptional speed and stamina. Although the distances vary and the footing is of different types, the Thoroughbred breed dominates this discipline.

As speed is paramount, these animals are large with very long legs and long bodies. The race starts with a quick dash to establish position and then becomes an intense battle to cross the finish line. These factors predispose these animals to a great deal of stress upon the long muscles of the back, the musculature of the hindquarters, the neck, chest and all of the tendons and ligaments within the limbs. In additions, this intense workout leads to a lactic acid buildup within the musculature that leads to other problems within these heavily used muscles.

The goals of therapy with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances differ very little from other disciplines. They are:

• Increase the circulation to provide more nutrients to the muscle tissues and remove wastes such as lactic acid.
• Provide an increased flexibility so that these muscles can work with more efficiency and stamina.
• Alleviate soreness within the muscle tissue and stiffness within the joints to allow the animal to perform at its peak.

As close to post time as possible, provide a therapy session with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System therapy blanket, neck appliance and leggings. This should last at least 30 minutes but can last up to one hour in duration. This allows the animal to already be warmed up before it even hits the track. Some animals exhibit nervousness the day of the race and a therapy session often has a relaxing effect upon the animal so that it can run a smart race.

Maintenance Protocols for the Thoroughbred Racehorse:

The Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances can be used in two ways to maintain a sound comfortable animal in training. Each day, the appliances can be used to warm up the athlete before any exercise begins. This allows a more flexible agile athlete that will get the most out of a training session. After a particularly hard workout or a day of long slow distance, the therapy appliances can be used to help the animal recover. This quicker recovery time maximizes the training time and allows a more efficient training program. Therapy sessions should never be less than 30 minutes and can be longer as the situation dictates.

The Standardbred breed is the foundation of harness racing. These animals are bred for speed, endurance and stamina. These animals are either trotters or pacers. The trot is exemplified by the opposite front and rear feet propelling and landing at the same time whereas, in the pace, the front and hind feet on the same side propel and land simultaneously.

Characteristically, these animals develop soreness in the hindquarters, along the musculature of the back, throughout the shoulders, neck and at the base of the skull. These animals place stress throughout their bodies due to the harness that they wear and the repetitive gait they are required to perform each day. These animals train hard, over many miles, and often race on a weekly basis. Foundation miles, before time is a factor, often number in the 1000's. It is also not unusual to train an animal two trips at speed on a Tuesday, jog Webnesday, Thursday and Friday and then race on Saturday. They will have Sunday off and jog again on Monday before the entire process is repeated.

Using the hypothetical training program outlined above, the following therapy sessions would allow a more efficient training time, a sounder and more comfortable athlete and ultimately an animal that would have an edge over others in the same race.

Monday

A therapy session of at least 30 minutes in duration before the animal is taken out to jog. This can be with any of the applicable Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances but at least with the therapy blanket.

Tuesday

A therapy session of at least 30 to 60 minutes with and of the applicable Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances before the animal is taken out to train. After training, when the animal is cooled down (evening), another therapy session is initiated for at least 30 to 45 minutes to aid in the recovery.

Wednesday

Training would call for a light jog at slow speed. The athlete is given a therapy session that lasts approximately 30 minutes before exercise.

Thursday

A pre-exercise session is given to the animal right before jogging. A second session may be beneficial in the evening if the animal is exhibiting soreness throughout the musculature.

Friday

Light training with some speed work. Again a pre-exercise therapy session is utilized before exercise with a second session later in the day if needed.

Saturday

Race Day. Before taking the animal out on the track to warm up, a therapy session is given for at least 30 minutes. The animal is then taken out to warm up for the race a little while before the actual start. Upon return to the paddock, the animal is placed in the therapy blanket and kept warm at the low setting before final preparations are made for its race.

Sunday

A therapy session may be offered to allow the animal a faster recovery from the previous day's racing.

Throughout the training program, these general principles can be applied even before the animal is training anywhere close to racing speed. Therapy sessions given on a daily basis allow a faster recovery from the rigors of training and ultimately lead to a more efficient athlete.

Because of the "over check" portion of the harness, stress is placed on the head and neck musculature. The harness can be adjusted if a problem exists, but this is typically an area of constant concern yet often overlooked by the trainer. Therapy sessions using the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System neck and hood appliances provide a relief of stress to these areas. Therapy sessions should last at least 30 minutes with the first 10 minutes on the high temperature setting and the remainder of the time on the low setting.

Polo ponies must be able to start fast, make abrupt turns on a dime, flying lead changes, slide to a stop and neck rein. Often times the rider is in an out-of-balance position and the animal must also compensate for this. These animals are usually less than or about 15 hands high, extremely well balanced, agile, fast, have great stamina and are very obedient.

These athletes come complete with their own unique set of stresses upon their musculoskeletal systems. They are predisposed to:

• Constant tendon strains
• Strain upon the musculature and joints of the hindquarters
• Strains upon the lumbosacral joint and the surrounding musculature.
• Stress upon the musculature of the neck due to the constant quick changes in direction.
• Strains upon the chest and shoulders from the abrupt stops.
• Tying up due to the lactic acid buildup within the musculature during this strenuous activity.

Pre-event Warm-up of Polo Ponies:

Use of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System leggings (on both fore- and hindlimbs), therapy blanket sessions and treatment with the neck appliance allow for a more agile, comfortable athlete less predisposed to injury. The Polo athlete should be warmed up with at least a 30 to 60 minute therapy session before the match. This therapy session can easily come an adjunct to other modalities such as massage.

Event Recovery and Maintenance:

Therapy sessions should be performed after the animal competes and is allowed to cool down. This will aid in the recovery and allow the athlete to be more comfortable. Often it would be of benefit to use cool water on the limbs first while the therapy blanket is on the horse.

Daily maintenance will help ensure that you have a sound willing pony during training. Sessions can be both before and after exercise for at least 30 minutes in duration.

Treatment of the limbs of a Polo pony should never be initiated before an accurate diagnosis is made. The strain and stress to the ligaments and tendons is harsh and a treatment program should be followed in accordance with a veterinarian or equine therapist's advice. Often it is beneficial to combine a sequence of hot and cold therapies to the limbs to allow a quicker recovery.

These athletes can be shown under saddle or in harness. Even at the rack, these animals are smooth riding and quite animated. Breeds in theis category include: Tennessee Walkers, the American Saddlebred, the Missouri Fox Trotters, Paso Finos and Peruvian Pasos.

Due to their animated gait, stress is applied to the musculature of the neck, shoulder and forelimb. The higher the rise of the forelimb, the better and this places its own unique stress upon the tendons and ligaments within the limb.

When these athletes are shown under saddle, the stess of the weight of the rider and the consequent change in the center of gravity and balance of the horse places stress upon the back and loin of the horse.

These athletes benefit from daily therapy sessions with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances. Therapy sessions with the hood, neck appliance, blanket and leggings provide an athlete that is much more agile and flexible in performance. Before each exercise session or class at a show, the animal should receive 30 to 60 minutes of therapy.

Western Performance events include a wide range of athletic endeavors. These events include:

• The speed and agility of the barrel racer.
• The acceleration and quick stops of the calf roper.
• The flying lead changes and slides of the reiner.
• The constant starts and stops of the cutting.
• The elegance and gait of the western pleasure classes.

Each discipline within this category has its own unique set of stresses upon the athlete and the rider. These animals all must exhibit agility, stamina,sudden bursts of speed and great reflexes. The breeds that excel at these events include Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas.

All of these events put a great deal of stress upon the entire western performance athlete. The Reiner puts a tremendous amount of stress upon the neck, shoulders, hocks, the back and the hindquarters. Cutting horses actually pivot upon their back legs that also places a great deal of stress upon the back, hocks and the entire hindquarters. Barrel racers turn on a dime and have to possess the ability to exhibit sudden bursts of speed that predisposes them to their own unique set of stresses.

In all of these events, the use of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances will allow the rider, owner or trainer to have a sounder, more relaxed and comfortable animal to perform. General guidelines to follow are:

• When posssible, always allow 30 to 60 minutes to warm-up with the therapy devices before an event.
• Often these animals are ridden for a period of time and then prepared for their event or class. Warm the animal up before riding with a therapy session, return to the barn (stall) and then provide another therapy session before competing in the event.
• If an animal has experienced a particularly difficult day training or showing, accelerate the recovery period by providing a second therapy session later in the day.
• When these animals are stressed, provide multiple therapy sessions as needed throughout the day, each being at least 30 minutes in duration.

For the barrel racing event, the arena is cleared and three barrels are set up at different marked locations. The riders then enter the arena at full speed, quickly rounding each barrel in a cloverleaf pattern and then exiting where they entered. A stopwatch or timer is used registering down to a hundredth of a second. Speed is what it is all about in this event. The riders steer their horses as close as they can to the barrels trying to shave precious seconds off the clock. For each barrel they knock over a 5 second penalty is assessed to their total time. Leaving the barrels standing and ripping through the course is every barrel racers goal.

Ground conditions have much to do with one very common injury in barrel horses, strained suspensory ligaments.

Very deep ground, whether it is deep sand or wet, muddy soil, can contribute to a strain of the suspensory ligament of the front legs. If the horse is shod with a long toe and low heel, the risk of acquiring suspensory desmitis heightens. These ligaments are under great pressure as the horse is turning the barrel. Because the animal must turn in both directions, either leg may be affected.

Because of the nature of the turning and pushing motions of the rear legs when a horse goes around the barrels, the hocks are very frequently affected. Bone spavin in the distal intertarsal joints and tarsometatarsal area is quite common.

The twisting and turning motion of the barrel horse in competition at high speeds may cause many muscle groups to become strained and sore. A history of a recent slip, fall, or any other trauma causing a twisting motion can cause lameness.

Shoulder injuries, because of the nature of the action, occur with more frequency than other sports. The horse’s shoulder joint and musculature is approximately the same height as the barrel when it drops to turn. Should a given horse turn too quickly, he may well run directly into a barrel edge and traumatize the area. These injuries can be quite painful for several days. The injuries, seldom lacerations, are usually managed with anti-inflammatory treatment.

As with any equine sport or breed type, bruising occurs, chip fractures involving carpal joints occur. Therapy and management of these problems are identical to those used in other sports.

Because of the number of rodeos and the distance between them, these horses spend more time in a trailer than in a stall. They cannot hold up to the constant pounding, poor warm-up areas, and hauling that they undergo. The futurity horses seldom last 1–2 years. Very rarely do you see a horse who has done well in futurities show up in the professional circuits. The pressure to do well at such a young age results in significant performance-limiting injuries that can force early retirement.

The goals of therapy with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances differ very little from other disciplines. They are:

• Increase the circulation to provide more nutrients to the muscle tissues and remove wastes such as lactic acid.
• Provide an increased flexibility so that these muscles can work with more efficiency and stamina.
• Alleviate soreness within the muscle tissue and stiffness within the joints to allow the animal to perform at its peak.

In this event, the use of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances will allow the rider, owner or trainer to have a sounder, more relaxed and comfortable animal to perform. General guidelines to follow are:

• When posssible, always allow 30 to 60 minutes to warm-up with the therapy devices before an event.
• Often these animals are ridden for a period of time and then prepared for their event. Warm the animal up before riding with a therapy session, return to the barn (stall) or warm up area and then provide another therapy session before competing in the event.
• If an animal has experienced a particularly difficult day training or competing, accelerate the recovery period by providing a second therapy session later in the day.
• When these animals are stressed, provide multiple therapy sessions as needed throughout the day, each being at least 30 minutes in duration.

This event involves four teams of horses pulling an iron wagon and four outriders per wagon racing each other around a track. Barrelled obstacles must be avoided and a stove and tent inside the wagon must not be lost.

In chuckwagon racing, horses often suffer injuries simular to Thoroughbred Racing and Barrel Racing as they are placed under great stress, and teams sometimes collide causing severe injury.

The goals of therapy with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances differ very little from other disciplines. They are:

• Increase the circulation to provide more nutrients to the muscle tissues and remove wastes such as lactic acid.
• Provide an increased flexibility so that these muscles can work with more efficiency and stamina.
• Alleviate soreness within the muscle tissue and stiffness within the joints to allow the animal to perform at its peak.

In this event, the use of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances will allow the rider, owner or trainer to have a sounder, more relaxed and comfortable animal to perform. General guidelines to follow are:

• When posssible, always allow 30 to 60 minutes to warm-up with the therapy devices before an event.
• If an animal has experienced a particularly difficult day training or competing, accelerate the recovery period by providing a second therapy session later in the day.
• When these animals are stressed, provide multiple therapy sessions as needed throughout the day, each being at least 30 minutes in duration.

There isn't a single discipline that would not benefit from therapy sessions with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances. Each discipline has its own unique characteristics and stresses but all can benefit from infrared heat therapy. The important fact to remember is:

These appliances provide a safe efficacious infrared heat therapy to the equine athlete. They should be used as often as practical and in as many situations as possible. They only work when they are on the horse and the only time they doen't work is when they are hanging in the tack room.