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| Only the best for my little guy |
This week, I want to know about liniment. I see lots of bloggers talk about it. I know it has widespread use throughout disciplines in the horse industry. I know lots of people like it. I assume that horses don't mind it, but I have nothing to base that on other than an assumption that if horses didn't like it, than well-meaning owners wouldn't use it.
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| Does this face need liniment? Does liniment go on faces? |
I literally do not know what it is for or why people use it or what it is.
Do you use liniment? Why? Would it be beneficial to Courage if I were to actually buy myself some and start using it? What does it do?
I'm with you... I was never really 'taught' to use liniment, and it seems like kind of a waste to me. I do use it occasionally on hot days when my pony has had a hard, sweaty workout, because doesn't a cool, minty bath sound like it would feel great?! But otherwise... I'm not of the opinion that it really does a lot for the horse.
ReplyDeleteThey are meant to ease stiffness and soreness after hard work. They can be diluted in water as a rinse or applied directly to legs, back, etc. Each one has a different combination of ingredients that works differently.
ReplyDeleteLike with just about anything that interacts with a body, I tend to think that it's highly individual. I have personally used arnica-based gels to good effect on my own stiff muscles, so I like to use Sore No More for Tristan, typically on his front legs after hard work. He has a tendency to fill there from time to time, and I like to do whatever I can to ease that.
Liniment has but one purpose: to make a leg rubdown feel nicer (a proper leg rubdown means vigorously massaging each leg from top to bottom for 5-10 minutes PER LEG which is why most of us who don't have grooms don't do it). splashing it on doesn't help a bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm a recent Sore No More convert. If O is feeling a little ouchie or we do a lot of jumping, I whip out the Sore No More and rub it thoroughly. She will close her eyes, chew and lick and generally loves it. Anything that makes her feel better I'm willing to give a try.
ReplyDeleteI use Vetrolin liniment (watered down of course) after every workout when he gets hot enough to hose him off. In the summer, it helps him dry faster, helps his coat shine and also provides that bit of muscle relaxation tingling. Some horses hate it. I also use Sore No More on his back and legs after tough workouts.
ReplyDeleteLiniment can be rubbed into legs or any sore muscles. I've used it on backs, necks, hind quarters, etc. As a rinse it is refreshing, but rubbed in full strength is can help pull out heat and soreness.
ReplyDeleteWe use Vetrolin on legs after a hard ride, especially if they've been in neoprene boots which hold heat like no other (hate, but necessary for reiners/cowhorses). Think of it as almost an Icy Hot for horses. I've also been known to use it on myself if I have super sore muscles...
ReplyDeleteI personally won't apply a harsh liniment to my horse (vetrolin, non botanical absorbine, bigeoil gel, etc) as I think if it burns my skin it probably burns Hue too.
ReplyDeleteI like the vetrolin brace because when diluted it offers a nice minty muscle wash, the absorbine botanicals muscle wash is also nice. My personal favs are all things Sore No More. Their massage shampoo is the bomb and their liniments are also great. I love them for a nice stifle, back, or leg rub after a hard work.
Additionally I love that I can safely put SNM products under wraps when needed. Even BoT wraps. If you don't intend to rub down your horses muscles, legs, or affected area a liniment probably won't have the full effect but even if I don't have an hour to run down his whole body a quick application still seems to reduce stiffness. It does seem to be personal preference but I don't see the argument for "it does nothing".
I use Sore-No-More (have Zephyr's garden liniment right now but will switch back to SNM) to rub down Dassah's hamstrings, part of her back, and withers before and after I ride. She LOVES massage-the-hammies time. Doing so was recommended to me by her chiro. I don't think I ever have linimented her legs but the gelding I've been riding for a friend gets a Vetrolin bath after a hard ride (like the hunter paces) - to help the muscles relax.
ReplyDeleteLiniment is to ease soreness, pain, etc. It is like Icy Hot for humans in a way. Often composed of natural ingredients alongside several elements, it can be used on equines and humans alike(Highly suggest SoreNoMore for sprained backs in humans-unfortunately have experience in this). Most liniments are best used diluted(I use SNM; 1 part SNM to 3 parts water) I wet a sponge or rag and rub it in, then use my hands to massage the muscle into relaxing. Gloves are recommended, otherwise you might get tingly-this is how you tell if you need to dilute more. Disclaimer:I'm not an expert, just a Pony Clubber who loves quiz.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to admit, I'm with you on lacking some knowledge on linament. But I will say that I love this 'Teach Me Tuesday' blog topic! I may or may not be thinking about stealing it ;)
ReplyDeleteI use absorbine and vetrolin, usually diluted with a little water but after a hard school I just apply it liberally on the legs. The legs feel so tight the next day - you know its working! I add a cap full into a bucket for baths also.
ReplyDeleteGood question, and lots of good answers!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting topic. I don't use liniments on my horses nor on my own body. I am not sure if they work or not, but I have my concerns. When I have used these products on myself, I get a very temporary sense of relief, but not enough to warrant their use.
ReplyDeleteAnd interestingly, liniments are not widely used in endurance races here on the west coast. And if any horse has a tough work out, it would definitely be 100 mile horses. No matter how many conditioning miles I rode, I never used liniments. That doesn't mean my horse might not have appreciated it, but I kept my horses VERY sound for many years without it. Just my experience.
I am also with you and have never really used liniment. Once, I tried it on Fawkes because someone suggested it and I can't say he enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMy horse does not enjoy liniment, even pretty well diluted (antsy, moving around). I usually only use it after a horse show before putting on standing wraps. He does however seem to very much enjoy a sponge down after a hose-down with that new Absorbine Botanicals™ Natural Herbal Liniment that every blogger was reviewing. A little bit different effect as it doesn't have heating properties, but for about a $1 a use, I'm happy to make my hard working horse a little more comfy.
ReplyDeleteI use it to treat stiffness, muscle bruising or other injuries. The horses don't mind it at all (although they don't like the smell), and I'd say it works, because it sure helps me when I have whiplash or muscle stiffness after a sore. The cooling gels work best to relieve pain, but I don't think they do anything much else, and don't use them every day or preventatively - just as pain relief.
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking this, it is a topic I have been curious about for ages.
ReplyDeleteShall have to nosy in tack shops here to see of its sold in Europe. It's not something that has jumped out at me in the past
I agree with people who say liniment doesn't do much if you aren't already putting in the work of rubbing out the tight muscles you're using it on. I tend to only use arnica-based Sore-No-More, and I'll use it as a rub in an area that is sore (typically end up using it more on kick/bite marks that are sore than on muscles tight from work), or I'll use it on Pig's arthritic ankles under stable bandages. Arnica does reduce inflammation when used topically, and I do notice a difference when using it on my own bruises and aches. The fact that it doesn't have alcohol to burn the skin means I can use it on my delicate princess without getting kicked in the face. ;)
ReplyDeleteI use a splash of Absorbine liquid liniment in the giant spray bottle (scientific name, pretty sure) in water after shows or a hard workout to do a full body sponge. I use their gel liniment on legs under wraps after shows. I love how it feels on my sore muscles, so I can't imagine it would hurt a horse any.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm super surprised you haven't explored this area of tack ho-dom yet. So many options for you!!
I make my own liniment (ironic timing on this, I was just talking to H about how I drafted a post about it a long time ago but never actually posted it). Love it as a bath brace in the summer after lessons or hard works, or on the legs.
ReplyDeleteWould love to know your recipe!
DeleteAfter Miles's NQR episode my vet suggested using liniment under standing wraps after jumping. Haven't tried it yet, so I'll have to keep you posted on what I think.
ReplyDeleteOH MAN I am a liniment FIEND. Literally. every ride. twice after jumping. I use Green Jelly (TSC stores) and Thermaflex.
ReplyDeleteI shall explain.
On normal rides (flat, hack, trail) I liniment their backs (from wither to tail), and from hock/knee down.
On hard rides (XC schools, jumping) I do the same (wrap if hauling-leave on till turnout) and then right before bed/turnout, I do it again.
I even liniment myself sometimes. I truly feel the effects, and believe it helps in the long run and feel like if it helps me, it can't hurt the horses to do it too.
There are some that you absolutely CANNOT wrap with though (says on bottle-NO WRAPPING) as it will sear the skin right off. I learned that the hard way. Poor Yankee.
Pros: joint relief, cooling effect, reduces swelling and pain
Cons: $$$, tingly fingers, sticky hands, can burn
Monica's my name, prevention is my game.
ALSO I LOVE Abraxas as a bath brace (mix with water, sponge on)
DeleteTry using liniment on your own legs after a hard workout - I like Sore No More and Absorbine gels, and you can buy little things of Absorbine gel at Flynn's. It'll help show how relaxing and soothing they can be!
ReplyDeleteI have actually used liniment a few times over the years. I don't think it hurts anything, and it smells alive and refreshing. We used to use it a decent amount at my hunter barn when I was growing up diluted in water as a rinse after a hard jumping lesson. I feel like it functions kind of like a weaker Icy Hot? Maybe it's best when rubbed into the legs like some people are saying; I've never used it that way but I really haven't used it much at all. Honestly, I think I mostly used it on my pony because all the cool older "professional" people did...
ReplyDeleteLike other people have mentioned, I do use Sore-No-More. It was recommended to me by Charlie's chiro to help his back soreness and, though I was skeptical that a misty spray on product would actually be able to soak in and do anything, it really works. (Heck, I swear by arnica for myself and that's one of the main ingredients). I just bought the more gel-like kind to give that a shot. Personally, I still have a bottle of Vetrolin in case I feel like doing a whole body treatment, but I think Sore-No-More is the newer and better version of those traditional liniments which have kind of fallen by the wayside.
Another great question. I've also never used liniment so I'm enjoying the answers. I hope you'll keep doing Teach me Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteMy coach had us use horse lininment on ourselves in the thick of our cross-country (human racing) competition season in high school. It tingled and did seem to do something for soreness. The fact that the Absorbine Botanicals doesn't tingle makes me wonder if it's really doing anything. I don't regularly use liniment, though.
ReplyDelete