I’m sure you have heard or at least seen a post on Facebook about PEMF for horses. I’ve been told it’s been around for a long time but just recently gaining more popularity. This type of therapy has definitely been very popular in my area, so I decided to give it a try with Gracie.
Before I tell you my thoughts on it, let me first share with you what PEMF is and what it is suppose to help with.
What Is PEMF
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field. This is a type of drug-free therapy that is claimed to help:
Boost cellular metabolism
Detect & relieve areas of soreness
Heal faster & reduce recovery time
Improve overall comfort & wellbeing
To learn more about it’s origin and present day use, go here.
I’m going to be honest with you, when I’ve spent time Googling about this type of therapy, I’ve come across many statements for and against it. In my searches, I’ve seen plenty of therapists and vets offering it as a service in their practice which leads you to think it’s got to work and be worth trying. Why wouldn’t you believe a Vet who is telling you it works?
I’ve also come across some other blogs that have tried the treatments on their horses and seen good results. Here’s one of those stories –> http://www.peacehorse.net/peace-horse-blog/pemf-therapy-review
However, for every person that seemed to be for it, I’d find one calling it into question and being against it. So I’m going to let you do your own research and make your own decision whether to try it or not.
My Reason For Trying PEMF
For those that have been long time readers of the blog, you know that Gracie has had a long history of issues with her locking stifle and weak hind end. I’ve tried a lot of different therapies and have some that have worked and others that haven’t. I wanted to try this for a couple reasons though. (1) If it works for her, Kim is close enough she can come on days Gracie is locking up or acting more sore then normal. Whereas, Donna, my chiro, lives an hour away and typically can’t come quickly and (2) It’s not that expensive compared to other therapies.
Our Results
First I tried it out on Gracie and then a few days later I tried it out on myself.
Here’s a short video of Gracie getting the treatment in her hind end.
- Her skin was tighter
- She walked without being weak in the hind end
- She didn’t seem as stiff
- Her coat was shinier
- She would pick up her leads on the first try (this is something she’s always struggled with)
During the treatments, she acted like she was so relaxed and happy. She would stand super still, hang her head low and at times lick her lips. I assumed since I was seeing her have the same type of releases with this therapy as she does with massage therapy and the chiro, that she must be getting something from it. Like I said, I felt it worked well enough the first time to give it a try again. Both times I saw the same results. So I am convinced it does do something good for her and will likely continue to use it when I since she is sore and could use it.
As I mentioned, I tried it for myself as well and I actually got NOTHING from it. My neck and back were really sore that day from working on my horse trailer project, so I thought for sure it would help get the tension out and take some of the pain away. If not that day, then definitely by the next day but it didn’t. I actually woke up more sore the next day, then I was the day I did the treatment. I really don’t feel like I got anything from it. Interestingly though, my husband did it as well and he said he did feel better the next day. He thought it did take away some of the stiffness and tension he had been feeling. So all I can say is, for some it seems to work and for others it doesn’t. I appear to one of the unlucky ones lol. Time to schedule a regular massage for me. 🙂
It’s all good though. I’m glad I’ve found something else that seems to help Gracie and can help me keep her from having hip and stifle problems. With that said, if you have a horse that is experiencing some type of issue, I would recommend you giving it and try and seeing if it helps.
My GoTo Person for PEMF Therapy
If you decide to give this a try, you’ve got to call Kim Brittenham. Kim’s very knowledgeable about this therapy and has even gone through training so she can provide the best and right therapy for horses and humans. Not only does she know a lot about this therapy, she’s also seen first hand how healing it was for her own horse that was close to the point of needing to be put down! If you want to hear that story, you’ll have to contact her. I’m telling you, after you hear it, you will be a believer.
Kim is located in Ramseur but offers treatments in many different locations and sometimes does discount clinics (yay for saving money!). She also does a ton of showing on the AQHA circuit and takes her machines with her to offer treatments at shows.
If you’d like to get in touch with her and try it out for your horse, you can contact her a few different ways:
- Facebook –> https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.brittenham
- Email –> brittenhamfarms@yahoo.com
- Phone –> 336-430-2191
If you do reach out to her, please tell her Ashley recommended her. 😉
So Tell Me..
Have you tried PEMF on your horse(s)? What was your experience with it?
1 Comment
Cheryl johnson
November 1, 2021 at 4:17 pmMy horse also has a weak stifle, slight roach and some arthritis in his fetlocks. PEMF has helped him. When he had an injury it took down 50 percent of the swelling in one session. As for myself, well the first time it was offered to me as a free treatment with my horses treatment, it did not make me feel better and a few days later worse. Fast forward a six months later and I developed frozen shoulder. All the therapy did nothing. I asked again if I could have some PEMF after my hoses twice a month treatments and in 3 sessions my frozen shoulder was gone. So I think it depends on the injury and in some cases as with myself, it took several sessions to see a difference. But what a difference. I would like to see more clinical studies on PEMF as I think different wave lengths and strength make a difference in how a pain or injury is healed. I actually was looking at a boarding barn last year and they forbid me to use the machine there. Another trainer I know won’t allow it in the barn. So, there is a lot of different opinion on the treatment.