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What does it do?
It helps with three main functions: Pain, Heat and Swelling

How does the spa help pain heat and swelling?
With the four basic factors which are: Temperature, Salt, Depth and Aeration

Temperature:
1. The colder the water the more pain relief and anti-inflammatory influence is provided.
2. The blood vessel walls are decreased reducing the amount of fluid that accumulates in the
injury site thereby reducing hypoxic injury. (Hypoxic is when there is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissue).
3. When the leg starts to return to a normal temperature after a spa session there is a rush  of
blood into the site of injury.  This blood will be full of fresh nutrients and oxygen which will help  speed up the healing.
4. The lower the temperature the more dense the water; the more dense the water the more
dissolved oxygen content.

Salt:
1. Has a drawing action which allows excess fluids to be taken away from the damaged area which in turn causes a reduction in swelling.
2. The spa has a higher salt concentration then seawater.
3. Salt accelerates the healing of open wounds.

Depth:
1. The greater the depth the greater the physical pressure exerted on the tissue which aids the disperal of fluids.  The depth of the water is always taken above the injury. 

Aeration of water:
1. Water turbulence creates a massage effect.
2. It significantly enhances the levels of dissolved oxygen in the water.
3. The increased availability of oxygen to the damaged tissue is thought to have a major effect on the rate of recovery.
4. There is an increase in circulation.  This ensures that lymphocyte cells are supplied to the   
effected area, which accelerates the healing process.  (Lymphocytes defend the body against
organisms and foreign agents, their function is for the immune system).

Can you spa the whole horse?
No, because of the low water temperature the horse would get hypothermia. We cannot take the water over the stomach.

Can you treat a stifle or shoulder injury?
Yes, we can, as we have an attachment that allows us manually to use the water from the spa, which we direct to the site of injury.

What is the spa made of and how strong is it?
It is made of durable fibreglass that the sun seeker yachts are made of so it can easily withstand the weight of the horse.

What temperature is the water in the spa?
The water temperature is kept between 2-4c

What injuries can the spa treat?
It can treat the majority of lower leg injuries.  These can be internal or external plus skin conditions, infections and open wounds.  The spa has been used in all equestrian spheres: racing, show jumping, eventing and dressage right down to laminitic ponies.  

Does a horse have to have a problem for them to use it?
No, it can be used as routine maintenance - prevention is better than cure!

Do horses mind going into the spa?  Do they get frightened?
At first they are apprehensive so we take as much time is needed to reassure them its OK.

Will my horse be able to have a full spa the first time in?
It depends on the horse.  We will not rush the horse and risk an incident where the horse has a bad experience just for the sake of one spa. We prefer to take time and settle the horse if he is highly strung.

What if a horse goes in with an open wound is it hygienic for others to use after?
We biologically control the water hygiene levels continually with a maintained combination of fine filtration, chlorination, cold water and salt.  These same factors not only prevent infections they can treat pre-existing conditions.