Do Massage Pads Benefit Horses? New Research on Stride Length, Movement & Benefits
A new peer-reviewed study from Hartpury University has given us some of the clearest evidence yet on how a heated vibration massage pad can affect the way horses move.
Have you ever wondered whether massage pads for horses really make a difference, or if it’s just something riders feel? This study looks at whether a horse massage pad can genuinely and objectively improve stride length and movement.
What did the study look at?
Researchers carried out a randomised, blinded, controlled study, which is considered the gold standard in scientific research.
In simple terms, this means the study was designed to be as fair and unbiased as possible, so the results weren’t influenced by expectation or guesswork.
Horses were split into two groups:
- A treatment group using the Massage Pad Heatsense
- A control group wearing the pad switched off
Both groups followed the same routine, in the same environment.
And importantly, the researchers assessing the horses didn’t know which group each horse was in - helping ensure the results were based on what actually happened, not what anyone expected to see.
The study looked at two timeframes:
- Part A: Immediate effects after a single 30-minute session
- Part B: Effects after 4 weeks of consistent use (30 minutes, 6 times per week)
How were the results measured?
There are already plenty of product reviews from horse owners who say they can see and feel the benefits of massage pads.
But this study set out to measure those effects objectively.
- Movement was analysed using motion tracking and video analysis.
- Pain sensitivity was measured using pressure testing.
- Behaviour was assessed using a recognised scientific system.
In other words, this wasn’t based on opinion. It was based on data. This is important when assessing whether a horse massage pad genuinely works, rather than relying on opinion alone.
Check out the more information below
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