Cold Stream Hydrotherapy

COLD THERAPY

Inflammation, in the form of heat, swelling and pain, occurs when a horse is injured. Depending on the severity of the injury and resulting inflammation, secondary tissue damage can occur if not treated properly.

There is solid agreement that cold therapy is the most important step for treating inflammation following an injury. Cold water therapy is a natural and efficient way to disperse excess fluid buildup and thus heal the injured horse.

Additionally, routinely applying cold therapy before and after exercise, schooling or showing slows down or arrests the inflammation process and controls damaging heat in tendons.

Typical conditions which respond well to equine spa hydrotherapy include:

• Tendonitis
• Suspensory ligament desmitis
• Soreness and stiffness
• Arthritis
• Hoof problems
• Joint conditions
• Soft tissue damage
• Sore shins
• Cuts and bruises

Cold water hydrotherapy has also been used successfully as a preventative measure before and after strenuous activity.

What happens with an injury . . .

When soft tissue is injured through a cut, tear or concussive trauma, the body releases enzymes and proteins causing the blood vessel walls in that vicinity to dilate and become more porous.

Lymphocytes are directed to the site of the trauma, entering the injured tissues to begin fighting the infection. The extra fluids, carrying the oxygen and proteins for tissue repair, pool around the injured area causing edema or swelling.

Tissue damage also triggers the secretion of hormones, which causes much of the pain the horse feels in order to prevent overuse of the affected limbs. Additionally, the increased blood flow to the site of the injury results in a rise in temperature in the tissues in that specific area.

The three main symptoms of inflammation: pain, heat and swelling, occur in varying degrees depending on the site, nature and severity of the injury. The downside of inflammation is that it may rage out of control and hinder the healing process resulting in secondary tissue damage or hypoxic injury.

The optimum and most effective way to break the destructive cycle of secondary cell injury and swelling is to use the horse’s circulatory system to sweep away the excess fluids that have collected in the tissues. The natural and speedy way of stopping the trauma and encouraging the dispersal of excess fluids is through the use of cold water hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy Pricing at Gambler’s Ridge

Introductory Pricing – Good through 2007

• 20-minute treatment = $50
• 3 day package = $275
  
  Includes:
  • 3 days stall board (owner provides feed)
  • Two 20-minute treatments per day (six treatments total)

• 7day package = $600
  
  Includes:
  • 7 days stall board (owner provides feed)
  • Two 20-minute treatments per day (on eon Sunday)
  • 13 treatments total
    
    
• 30 day package = $2000
  
  Includes:
  • 30 days stall board (owner provides feed)
  • 20-minute treatments per day (one on Sunday)
  • 54 treatments total

2008

• 20-minute treatment = $75
• 3 day package = $350
  
  Includes:
  • 3 days stall board (owner provides feed)
  • Two 20-minute treatments per day (six treatments total)

• 7day package = $700
  
  Includes:
  • 7 days stall board (owner provides feed)
  • Two 20-minute treatments per day (one on Sunday)
  • 13 treatments total
    
    
• 30 day package = $2500
  
  Includes:
  • 30 days stall board (owner provides feed)
  • 20-minute treatments per day (one on Sunday)
  • 54 treatments total