FAQs - EQUINE

About ProSix

Our ProSix Equine is an effective and supportive therapeutic modality for your horse; for strengthening and conditioning, and when healing from injury or illness. ProSix was created to provide calming, comfort, and support. The wide elastic bands act as an external stimulus, surrounding the whole horse for enhanced proprioceptive awareness, pain relief, stress relief, and strengthening. Strengthening in proper posture discourages the horse’s development of, and reliance on, compensatory patterns. Balance, straightening, and improved self-carriage develop with use.

We are often asked about how frequently to use a ProSix Equine and for how many minutes, how many weeks to continue, and how long to use for maintenance, strengthening and conditioning.

Every horse is unique in their physical challenges. No protocol would be appropriate for every horse.

Follow your professional healthcare provider’s recommendations for activity restrictions and precautions.

  1. Assess frequently for the presence of pain signs/symptoms (including behavior and attitude), fatigue, exercise tolerance and mood.
  2. Any protocol recommendations during rehabilitation should read more as a flow chart, beginning very conservatively and progressing as is safe for the horse to prevent risk of strain or injury. Even when starting with a sound and balanced horse, we advise beginning with the important introduction period, and time to process the new “information”.  Adding more time, speed, or intensity of work (footing, poles, etc) should be done slowly and  monitored carefully. The goal is to strengthen and heal, without risking a setback due to strain or injury. ProSix is a full-body workout, can build muscle and posture and balance very effectively at a WALK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start by putting your ProSix on the horse, in its stall. If your horse stays outside, move to a small paddock or pen. Allow the horse time to process all of the new “information”, without cues or distraction. Allow time for the horse to release tension. Begin the first day with 10-15 minutes. If the horse is quiet in the stall or pen, with no visible signs of increased discomfort, allow to wear for a couple of hours. If the horse has been unstable, ataxic, or has difficulty with balance, you may leave ProSix on longer as needed for stability and safety.

On day 3, progress from stall to a small turnout; at liberty, in hand, on a long lunge line (no smaller than a 65 ft. circle is recommended). Begin by allowing the horse to move, or stand as it chooses. Proprioceptive awareness, and information from the stimulation of receptors is being “reset”, or recoordinated by the brain. Compensations are hard to maintain. The horse may look more uncoordinated at this time. Monitor closely for pain and/or fatigue, reluctance to move, new changes in movement. We encourage taking video, and having someone guide the horse for you, so you are free to observe. ProSix encourages self-carriage and balance, and discourages offloading and compensation. This makes lameness easier to observe. If all is well, begin to increase time in small increments. Progress is  individual, and we can’t responsibly give you advice in general terms. Move from groundwork to under saddle only when the horse is cleared for riding and can maintain relaxation and balance while carrying a rider. Begin the process again, starting at a walk. Increase time, speed, and other factors slowly. ProSix is a resistance band exercise that adds to the intensity of the workout; always reduce workout times and observe closely for fatigue or changes in movement and behavior that may indicate pain/discomfort. Go slowly, and reach your goals faster, without set backs of strain or injury.

We recommend using ProSix 1-2 times a week as needed; especially after periods of layup or pasture rest, days off, and as a “reset” to assist a horse with finding /maintaining posture, straightness, balance and for conditioning. ProSix can be used in turnout, as a warm up before a ride or workout, or during your ride, driving, or training session. To maintain relaxation during work, good posture, balance, and agility, use your ProSix often! How long do you continue? For a stronger, healthy lifetime.

Size tags are sewn onto each ProSix as shown in the photos. Tags are sewn on the left (near) side, to the right of the abdominal band. We mark Small (S) and Large (L) on the canvas bags. Standards not marked.