Description
The Massage Mitt Hotspot heat pad for horses allows a tailored therapy session to meet your needs!
Not just a heat pad for horses, you can:
Use cyclical massage for your horse if you are holding the Hotspot heat pad still. This is useful when targeting a specific area or trigger point.
Use continuous massage for your horse if you are moving the Hotspot heat pad over larger areas. This allows each sweep to deliver the same massage.
Use the heat for your horse on its own for a gentle session to increase circulation. This is ideal for sensitive horses or in the later stages of healing post injury. Heat is also perfect to help warm up muscles prior to stretching your horse.
For the ultimate therapy session, use heat and massage together! This is best suited when holding the Hotspot heat pad in one area or sweeping it over a smaller area.
Using the Hotspot heat pad on yourself .
The Massage Mitt Hotspot is not only for horses! It’s easy clean material means you can use it on yourself too! Hannah Donnelly, Chartered Physiotherapist BSc (Hons), talks us where and how to use it on 4 ‘pain’ areas common to horse riders. Read the blog here.
Don’t need heat therapy for your horse?
Our popular Massage Mitt offers massage solution for your horse, without the heat. Take a look here.
Caution! Do not use on the following (for humans and horses):
- Open wounds, new injuries, or new swelling (for the first 48 hours).
- Where there is suspected infection or malignant tumours.
- Burn injuries or deep vein thrombosis.
- Over the abdomen if pregnant.
- Circulatory problems, causing hypo or hyper sensitivity to heat.
- Active bleeding, bruising or haematoma.
- Bony areas such as the wither, point of shoulder or hip.
Do not apply more than 2 consecutive cycles of heat therapy in one spot.
Using the Hotspot heat pad for horses
Getting Started
A full charge of the battery can take up to 12 hours. The charger indicator light with be red when charging. It will turn to green once the battery is fully charged.
Open the base of the Hotspot heat pad by using the red tabs. Plug the connector into the battery and then you’re ready to go!
The Hotspot will run approx. 10 x 10 minute heat and massage sessions from a fully charged battery (based on the high massage setting). To prolong the life of your battery, please disconnect when not in use.
Choosing your setting
To select the desired massage setting, press the relevant button once for low, twice for medium and three times for high. Pressing it for a fourth time will turn the Hotspot heat pad off.
Your can turn heat on/off by simply pushing the button once.
LOW – this is best suited for a relaxing massage:
- After exercise
- On a day of rest
- For a sensitive horse
- When introducing the Hotspot for the first time.
MEDIUM – this is best suited for general maintenance and everyday use:
- For a pre-exercise warm up
- General maintenance massage
HIGH – this is best suited:
- For horses who prefer a more intense massage
- Those with thicker coats
- Horses who are a bit overweight
Using the Heat function
Using heat will draw more energy from the battery than massage. When your battery no longer has enough power to run heat, all icons on the control panel will flash and turn off. You will still be able to use massage for a while after this happens. To use heat again, please fully recharge your battery.
Benefits of Heat and Massage Therapy
Our horses work hard for us with a lot of pressure being put onto their muscles through exercise, which can potentially lead to tension and muscle soreness.
Massage and heat therapy are two simple ways in which we can help support our horse’s muscles.
Massage Therapy
Performance depends on freedom of movement, full flexibility and an absence of musculoskeletal pain, all of which can be improved using massage (Gellman, 1998).
These factors also contribute towards keeping your horse comfortable and happy in general too!
Benefits of Massage Therapy include:
• Increases circulation and oxygen to muscles
• Aids removal of toxins
• Helps recovery after exercise
• Promotes the release of endorphins (natural ‘feel good’ hormones)
Heat Therapy
Using heat is a great way to help sensitive horses who may find massage too much – for example if they are in discomfort. Heat is non-invasive, gentle and well accepted with many associated benefits.
Research suggests for a therapeutic effect, tissue temperature needs to increase by at least 3 to 5°C from the resting temperature (Bockstahler et al, 2004). However using something that is too hot could cause discomfort and even damage to the tissue.
Did you know?
The NEW Massage Mitt Hotspot has been tested to increase skin temperature by 8.7°C on average?
Before Hotspot use
After 10 minutes with the Hotspot
Benefits of Heat Therapy include:
• Increases circulation and oxygen to muscles
• Encourages muscle relaxation
• Increases flexibility of fibrous tissue, such as tendons, ligaments and scar tissue
• Pain relief, based on the pain gate theory (Goldberg et al, 2017)
Using the Hotspot on yourself
As rider ourselves, we know all about the aches and pains that come from time in the saddle. Using the Massage Mitt Hotspot on yourself can help ease them.
Heat Setting
Use heat on its own for a non invasive session to promote circulation. This is best suited for muscle spasms, muscle fatigue or delayed muscle soreness post exercise. Heat is also perfect to use prior to any stretches, such as yoga or pilates. We advise the heat element is used over clothing or with a towel wrapped around it to avoid direct contact with skin.
Cyclical Massage
Use this option if you are holding the Hotspot still. Usually best for targeting a specific area or trigger point. Places to use this could include the lower back, neck or shoulders.
Continuous Massage
Use this option when moving the Hotspot over larger areas. This ensures each sweep delivers the same massage. Areas to use this includes the quads, hip flexors or adductors.
Want to find out more about the areas to use the Massage Mitt Hotspot on yourself? Read more here.
Guarantee
All Equilibrium Products are covered under a one year satisfaction guarantee, except for Equilibrium Therapy products which are guaranteed for 2 years. The guarantee is valid with proof of purchase, either email, card receipt or shop receipt, from the date of purchase, providing the product is used and cared for in accordance with instructions. The guarantee is not transferable to another person.
If you are not completely satisfied or find the product faulty during the guarantee period, please contact the company you purchased it from, and they will be more than happy to arrange a refund or replacement.
The following are specifically excluded from the terms and condition of the guarantee:
- Damage caused by misuse, accident, negligence or improper handling of the product or not used in accordance with instructions
- Normal wear and tear.
- Any modification made by the purchaser to the product or any repairs other than by an authorised agent.
- Damage resulting from incorrect maintenance according to the instructions of use (e.g. stored in damp/wet conditions, washed on too hot a wash).
- The guarantee is only valid if the correct Equilibrium Therapy Multi Plug Charger and correct Equilibrium Therapy Battery are used, the mains charger attachment appropriate to the country of use must be used. The guarantee is invalid if used with an adapter.
- Damage caused due to the use of the product on voltage other than that stamped on the product.
Returns & Delivery
Delivery
Next Working Day Shipping for orders over £100 (Order before 2pm -Excluding Highlands, N. Ireland & Islands) = Free
Standard 4-6 day UK delivery (Excluding Highlands, N. Ireland & Islands) = FREE
Next working day UK delivery (order before 2pm – excluding Highlands, N. Ireland & Islands) Note: does not include Saturday delivery = £5.95
Over £75 discounted Highlands & Islands delivery (2-3 working days) = £7.95
Over £75 discounted Republic of Ireland (2-3 working days) = £7.95
Highlands & Islands delivery (5-10 working days) = £9.95
Northern Ireland (5-10 working days) = £9.95
Republic of Ireland (5-10 working days) = £9.95
Returns Policy
We hope that you are happy with your products, but if you aren’t, we do understand that sometimes when buying online that items may not be as expected, you may need a different size or you might have just changed your mind!
Our policy lasts 30 days. If you are unhappy with your purchase, you may return or change your product without reason within 30 days of the delivery of the goods. This policy does not affect your statutory rights.
Read more here
Size Guide
If you need any more help or advice on sizing please get in touch – tel: +44 (0)1442 879115 or email: [email protected]
Laura Wright – Animal physiotherapist –
My first impressions of the Hotspot are that it is a very handy size with easy-to-use buttons – a great addition to my tool box. I like the elastic strap as it still fits if you are wearing gloves. My young mare is not keen on her girth being done up in this colder weather but if I place the hotspot on her girth area she is then happier with her girth. I am really liking the heat option to encourage the body to relax in this colder weather and I’m sure when it warms up it will also be great to help with issues down the shoulders and on the neck where the massage pad cannot not reach. I have also used it for myself to warm up in the van in between clients!
I would recommend the hotspot to my clients as it would be a great option for in-between treatments and to catch those little niggles before they become a bigger issue.
Claudia Howard – Equine and Animal Physiotherapist –
I love the Hotspot. I have had some super, super results with it. It’s really straightforward to use and the heat element is just right, also only had to charge the battery once so far – it’s lasting well.
I’ve used it on several horses, as well as myself and my husband. I would certainly recommend it.
Emma Beckham – Equine Sports and Rehabilitation Massage Therapist –
I am loving the Hotspot massage mitt. I’ve been using it on myself and my son and we love it. My own horse suffers with very tight hamstrings, so I have been using this to help warm her up before exercise. I find she is a lot more supple if I have used the hotspot.