The treadmill provides an ideal tool for training, in that both distance and speed can be accurately controlled and the impact of the weight of the rider is removed. These qualities enable you to control the intensity, volume and duration of the work interval which enables more work to be done with a reduced level of stress. This is a major advantage when doing high quality galloping work, pre-training and in rehabilitation.
Treadmill work can be introduced early in the training program as part of the slow work; however its major benefit comes with high speed interval work-outs. The intensity and duration of each gallop will vary depending on the level of fitness of the horse and its ability. The level of stress applied, speed and duration of gallops, which occurs with each work out can be monitored more accurately than on the track by the use of a heart rate monitor and/or by measurements of blood lactate concentrations.
A further benefit of the treadmill application is rehabilitation. The great benefit of using a treadmill in any rehabilitation work is the capacity to control the intensity and duration of work the horse is doing. This is a major factor in the early phases of rehabilitation when both re-injury and further damage to the tendon is highly likely if too much work is attempted. In addition the treadmill offers a major benefit for tendon rehabilitation in that it offers the use of an eccentric contraction. For the horse an eccentric contraction occurs during the action of walking up an incline on the treadmill, therefore providing the ideal environment to apply the eccentric muscle action. This action has been shown to be superior to other forms of muscle contraction in rehabilitating and strengthening of tendons.
A condition that is experienced if the volume and intensity of the training program is not monitored closely is the overtraining syndrome. The best management of this condition is prevention. This is achieved by well-balanced gradual increases in training volume and intensity, through a well planned training program that ensures that any increases in training loads are controlled and in accordance with the fitness and capacity of the horse. This can be monitored best in the treadmill training program by measuring the physical responses to each work session with the intensity and volume of work then finely adjusted for the next training session.
We offer a service & maintenance contract for equine treadmills used by equestrian centres throughout the uk.
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