{"id":14561,"date":"2023-02-08T16:03:27","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T20:03:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=14561"},"modified":"2023-11-18T13:24:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T17:24:28","slug":"horse-magnetic-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/horse-magnetic-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s Horse Magnetic Therapy? (& Does It Really Work?)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I first heard about magnetic therapy for horses, I had a serious flash of Marvel’s X-Men<\/em> and Magneto zapping a horse with a wave of magnetism. Thankfully, equine magnetic therapy isn’t nearly that drastic, but it may actually be all that potent at helping your horse’s muscles recover from injuries (and prevent injuries too!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An opportunity presented itself at the yard I manage to see a professional in action while treating a horse with a PEMF machine\u2014the gold standard in magnetic field therapy. Using magnetic pulses, this machine at first seemed to do little to the horse being treated, but the results were surprising over the next few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered about getting magnetic therapy for your horse? Here are all the facts so you can decide whether to bite the bullet and splurge on an expensive product or rather look elsewhere for your horse’s unique needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, the information in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice for your horse. You should always consult with your vet when treating your horse.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Horse Magnetic Therapy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Throughout history, anecdotal evidence has suggested that magnets have the power to heal animals and people. In the last few decades, magnetic therapy has seen a massive bloom in popularity, and many horse owners claim that their horses are all the better for the assortment of bands, blankets, and machines they invest in. I wondered if there was scientific evidence to support any of their claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnetic therapy, in a layman’s nutshell, is when a magnet is applied to the horse’s body, creating magnetic fields that affect the horse’s own magnetic field and positive or negative charge. These magnetic fields and magnetic waves are said to heal the horse’s body, tissues, tendons, and ligaments.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts will go one step further and explain that magnetic therapy is not a cure in itself, but that it rather helps the body’s natural healing process to restore circulation and promote an increased blood flow, which helps heal injuries and flush out toxins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My main concern was whether magnetic therapy was quackery or actual healing. In a double-blind study by Dr. Carlos Vallbona<\/u><\/a>, it was proven that magnetic therapy did reduce pain by almost 50% in humans. So, while some “neigh-sayers” insist there’s very little scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of magnetic therapy, I am cautiously leaning toward investing in a magnetic blanket to help my aging mare with her aches and pains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Magnetic Therapy Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, now we know what magnetic therapy does, how does it actually do any of it? I was given the following basic explanation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you hold two magnets together, their magnetic fields will either attract each other or repel each other. Each magnet carries a charge, which is specific to each part of the body (and determined by the level of exercise, blood flow, and inflammation). A trained therapist moves magnets or a magnetic device with a different magnetic field strength that can either draw the body’s field toward it, or repel that field to push it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnets can cause this action deep inside the body, using these fields to ease muscles, release cramps, and reduce inflammation by increasing circulation. Using magnets, you can affect the inside of the horse’s body with non-invasive techniques. Magnetic products can help with healing soft tissue, deep muscle cells, and general stiffness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Closer Look at a Magnetic Therapy Session<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What does a session with a magnetic therapist look like for your horse? A therapist may specialize in magnetic therapy only or use it as a complementary therapy to massage, chiropractic work, and equine body work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The therapist will start by collecting a case history of your horse, age, health, type of work, average carry capacity (rider’s weight), saddle fit, and injuries. They will then do a static assessment by viewing the horse’s muscle conformation and the way they carry themselves at the halt. Next, a dynamic assessment may follow (unless your horse is too severely injured to move much) in the walk, trot, and canter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the therapist knows what parts of the body they need to work on, they will begin applying their different therapy modalities to your horse’s body. There are many different types of magnetic therapy devices, from sum chi and magnetic blankets to bands and static machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improvement may show in a small amount at first, but over the course of the next few days, your horse’s overall way of moving and level of pain and inflammation should continue to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros of Magnetic Therapy for Your Horse<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several potential benefits to magnetic therapy for horses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n