Aquatrainer
An aquatrainer is a treadmill for horses or dogs that is installed in a container that can be flooded with water. In the aquatrainer the horse moves in its typical and natural gaits step and trot . The speed of the treadmill, the water level, the training duration and the training intensity are individually regulated. Heart, circulation and breathing can be checked continuously.
Aquatraining
Modern methods of keeping horses , especially sport horses , require additional training or rehabilitation measures. Movement in water has been known for a long time from the human area as muscle and conditioning training, since gravity is partially ineffective in water and the full weight is not placed on muscles and joints.
Unlike in the human area, with the Aquatrainer the horse to be treated is first led into the container at ground level or via an access ramp. The container should have an entrance and an exit to ensure the safety of staff working with the horse. The tub is then sealed watertight and flooded with water. The water offers a slight resistance, which leads to increased strength development in the horse's hindquarters and thus contributes to the movement and development of the long back muscles. Excessive momentum is gently braked by the water. At the same time, the water cools stressed muscles and joints. Muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints are gently strengthened.
The aim of training or rehabilitation of sport horses is to regenerate, maintain or improve the body in its typical functions and performance. As soon as the container of an aquatrainer is flooded, the horses are trained in aqua jogging. They are worked in step and trot at different water depths and adjustable speed and training duration under constant observation. During the training, the horses' pulse values, their speed and the distance covered can be monitored via a computer monitor system. Overloading the horses can thus be avoided. Interval training sequences are also possible.
The rehabilitation time can be significantly reduced for certain types of injuries.
literature
- Michael Dahlkamp: Comparison of two training methods for 6 year old eventing horses with special consideration of mountain training . Dissertation, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover 2003 online
- Caroline Huppertz: The horse in cure . In: ReiterRevue 7/2007
- Barbara Voß: Aquatraining - Effects on selected blood parameters and heart rate variability in horses , dissertation FU Berlin 2001 online
- by Sarah Kalinowski: The influence of infrared-C radiation on back problems in riding horses after treatment in a thermium , dissertation at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover 2007, p. 34 online (PDF; 4.6 MB)