Light therapy for horses
How can light therapy help my horse?
Humans have understood the benefits of red light therapy for over 100 years, and more recently, research has been undertaken on the impact of red, infrared and blue light on a range of species - particularly horses. Light therapy is now used as a therapeutic treatment by veterinary physiotherapists as part of regular treatments and Optimus Lumina, is tried, tested and recommended by The College of Animal Physiotherapy, who have been providing vocational training for animal physiotherapists for over 25 years.
Optimus Lumina allows owners to continue to support their horse, in between treatments to aid a range of conditions:
Relieves pain and relaxes muscle tension from overuse injuries
Red and infrared light supports horses living with joint pain from chronic conditions such as arthritis
Aids recovery from connective tissue injuries such as sprains or strains to ligaments or tendons
Blue and red light can assist wound healing after injury or surgery.
Is light therapy only suitable for when my horse is injured?
Absolutely not! Optimus Therapy Tech are dedicated to developing everyday therapeutic treatments that support your pet safely at home. That means you can you can use light therapy to make a daily difference to your horses.
Use Lumina for:
Warming up muscles before training and soothing muscles post exercise
To relax your horse after transport to/from an event or competition
To reduce poll tension
Alongside equine massage for total relaxation
To reduce stress, anxiety and tension, wherever you are.
Treating Kissing Spines with light therapy
The Optimus team have experienced good results with horses living with Kissing Spines, or recovering from operative treatment for Kissing Spines.
Veteran RoR dressage horse, Leaveittorog (aka ‘Arthur’), is one such example.
Arthur may not have won in his racing career, but has excelled in dressage, scooping Advanced Medium Reserve Champion at the British Dressage RoR Associated Championships back in 2019.
Arthur’s success is even more of an achievement as he suffers from severe Kissing Spines. Owner Lisa manages it in a variety of ways and two years ago added the (then prototype) Optimus Lumina into his regular routine. Lisa noticed that after using the device he is softer, more relaxed through his back and neck and it really helps set him up for training and pre and post-competition.
“It’s a really straightforward device that I can use in between physio sessions, and Arthur, who is a bit of a sensitive soul, loves it”, says Lisa. Whether your veteran horse (or pony) is a retired racehorse or not, Lumina will aid neck, back and any muscle pain or tightness as part of their maintenance routine.
Meet our sponsored rider: Tommy Beever!
As a business at the start of our own journey, we thought it would be wonderful to support a young rider at the start of theirs. So we’re delighted to welcome Tommy Beever to the Optimus family!
Based in Buckinghamshire, 14-year old Tommy was sitting on horses as soon as he could sit up and started learning to ride (officially) at the age of 4. Right now he’s exploring a wide range of equine activities, including being a member of OBH Hughenden Pony Club, Showing, Eventing, Showjumping and Dressage.
This year Tommy is planning to have heaps of fun with the Beever family’s three ponies, Dazzle, El and Custard.
Portuguese pony El, is going to try his hoof at unaffiliated dressage, while supercob Dazzle tackles county showing and Royal Windsor, aiming for the SSADL Championships. Veteran sport horse Custard, picks up the challenge of ODEs!
We asked Tommy to name his “horse heroes” - that he’d most like to ride, and his top picks are:
Charlotte Dujardin’s MSJ Freestyle “because she’s a lovely mare with loads of movement”, and Catherine Dufour’s Bohemian, “because of the elasticity of his paces, suppleness through the collection and his tempi changes!”
Mum Claire, loves the Lumina because it’s really accessible for owners to use between professional physio treatments:
“We can help every member of our animal family feel comfortable every day of the week!”
Meet our sponsored trainers: Mills Stables Racehorse Retraining
Amanda and Matthew Mills have spent more than 20 years working in racing and with racehorse rehabilitation through Mills Stables Retraining Racehorses.
Their focus on finding the right home for every horse that ‘holidays’ with them is really rewarding to see. And 2023 marks the start of a new journey - the opening of Midlands Racehorse Rehabilitation - a dedicated facility for racehorses recovering from injury, resting from racing or retiring completely.
We’re thrilled to be able to support the team by providing Lumina devices to both yards - helping to make a daily difference to their horses’ care.