SonoVet Equine Therapy

SonoVet Equine Therapy We run this page with the aim of helping you enjoy your relationship with your horse to the fullest and learn more about equine health, training and nutrition.

Our products are of highest quality,used and recommended by top level professionals worldwide Visit our website: www.sonovettherapy.com.au
SonoVet Sports Therapy

Start your week strong with this great training suggestion! 💪🙂Let us know how it goes!www.sonovettherapy.com.au
14/07/2025

Start your week strong with this great training suggestion! 💪🙂
Let us know how it goes!

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

Horses Lacking Sleep – The Hidden DangerRecent studies show that many horses suffer from sleepless nights. This puts eno...
12/07/2025

Horses Lacking Sleep – The Hidden Danger

Recent studies show that many horses suffer from sleepless nights. This puts enormous stress on the animals and creates serious risks — not only for the horses themselves but also for the people handling or riding them. These horses need help!

But how can you tell if your horse is sleep-deprived — and what can you do about it?

💤 Recognising the Signs
Symptoms of sleep disorders in horses can be varied and subtle. A horse may appear unable to concentrate, easily irritated, disconnected, apathetic, or overly nervous and unable to relax. All of these behaviors could point to disrupted sleep.

Recent research by veterinarians C. Fuchs and L. Charlotte Kiefner (University of Munich) suggests that sleep disorders are much more common — and more dangerous — than previously believed.

The study originally focused on narcolepsy in horses; a disorder linked to a lack of hypocretin (a brain neurotransmitter). Affected horses lose muscle control and collapse — typically, the front legs suddenly give way. The study aimed to see whether seizures were more likely during rest or stress, and whether adult horses were as affected as foals (true narcolepsy appears more likely in foals).

Yet, countless reports exist of adult horses collapsing suddenly when attempting to nap. This led the researchers to a new question: Are these horses truly narcoleptic — or simply exhausted beyond control?

📽️ What the Study Found
37 horses were monitored in a mobile sleep lab using video, EEG, eye movement, and muscle tension measurements. The result: none of the horses entered REM sleep (the deep, dreaming sleep phase with Rapid Eye Movement).

Horses can nap while standing, but to enter REM sleep, they must lie down. During REM, muscle tension drops to almost zero—so lying down is essential. Healthy horses typically sleep 3–5 hours per night, with 1–3 hours spent lying down.

In this study, 35 of 37 horses didn’t lie down at all, and the remaining two only for 24 minutes total. A few sleepless nights may go unnoticed — but weeks or months without REM sleep lead to severe consequences.

⚠️ What Happens Without REM?
Sleep-deprived horses show concentration problems and behavioral changes — but the most dangerous symptom is sudden muscle collapse when REM hits.

Some horses would stand resting, heads slowly dropping, bodies swaying — then suddenly, their legs give out and they collapse. Many showed old injuries on their faces and front legs — clear signs of repeated falls.

One horse fractured its cheekbone; another injured its tail so badly it had to be amputated. During 24-hour monitoring, 2,328 collapses were recorded — an average of 63 per horse in a single day. One horse collapsed 199 times — roughly every 7 minutes! Most incidents happened at night between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. — the normal REM sleep window.

So why aren’t the horses lying down?

😔 What Prevents Horses from Lying Down?
Stress is a major factor — relocations, changes in herd dynamics, small stalls, health issues like arthritis (which makes getting up difficult), and noisy environments can all prevent horses from feeling safe enough to lie down.

Even horses living in paddocks can be affected. In fact, many owners in the study noticed multiple horses in the same herd showing symptoms — suggesting shared stress factors.

🧠 How to Know If Your Horse Is Getting Sleep
Here are a few questions that might help you evaluate your horse's sleep health:

Can you observe your horse lying down regularly?

Are there signs like dirty patches or bedding stuck in the coat, mane, or tail?

Does your horse roll often?

Any unexplained cuts or injuries on the legs, face, or tail area?

Is your horse low in the herd hierarchy?

Has it recently changed environments or had health issues?

Do you ever see it nap while tied, or collapse mid-nap?

📹 Video monitoring over several nights can give valuable insight into your horse's sleeping habits.

✅ What You Can Do to Help
If left unaddressed, sleep disorders can become behavioural — even after the original cause is gone. That’s why early intervention is critical.

Ask yourself:

Could your horse be feeling unsafe or uncomfortable in its current environment?

Was the bedding changed? (Horses generally prefer straw over shavings or hard ground.)

Is the resting area large enough for your horse to lie down and get up safely? (It should be at least 2–3 times the square of the horse’s height.)

Could a different setup — more turnout time, new stablemates, or a quieter space — help?

In the study, 3 horses returned to healthy sleep patterns simply by being moved to a new environment.

Sleep is not a luxury for horses — it’s essential. Understanding the signs of sleep deprivation and taking action can dramatically improve your horse’s well-being and safety. 💙

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

DIY Tip of the Day: Square Bale Hay FeederHere's a simple feeder setup using a square bale holder. Just a heads-up - thi...
10/07/2025

DIY Tip of the Day: Square Bale Hay Feeder
Here's a simple feeder setup using a square bale holder. Just a heads-up - this one is mounted a bit too high. It’s best to lower it as much as possible while still keeping some clearance from the ground to avoid rusting during wet weather. Keep your hay clean and your animals happy!

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

DIY Tip of the Day: Square Bale Hay FeederHere's a simple feeder setup using a square bale holder. Just a heads-up—this ...
10/07/2025

DIY Tip of the Day: Square Bale Hay Feeder
Here's a simple feeder setup using a square bale holder. Just a heads-up—this one is mounted a bit too high. It’s best to lower it as much as possible while still keeping some clearance from the ground to avoid rusting during wet weather. Keep your hay clean and your animals happy!

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

Just 3 days on NervoMag — and the difference has been remarkable.One of our customers shared this powerful update:"My ho...
08/07/2025

Just 3 days on NervoMag — and the difference has been remarkable.
One of our customers shared this powerful update:

"My horse is so nervous he gives himself ulcers. He can be unpredictable and very spooky. Just three days ago, one of his outbursts while I was mounting almost broke my collarbone. Luckily, I was thrown clear.

Now, only three days into using NervoMag, he's been calm, cooperative, and working kindly — even when asked to walk over things he’d usually avoid or approach things he’s hesitant about. No spooking or nervous behavior at all."

This is one of many testimonials we’ve received about NervoMag, a product we proudly recommend at SonoVet. You can find more feedback from happy customers on our page, in reviews, or directly on our website.

If your horse struggles with unexplained nervousness, anxiety, tension, spookiness, or moodiness — or just doesn’t feel like their usual calm self — NervoMag might be worth considering. It supports:

✅ Mental focus and calmness
✅ Muscle health and flexibility
✅ Physical and mental relaxation

NervoMag is trusted by professional riders across Europe and has been used successfully by equine therapists for over 20 years — from Olympic athletes to everyday riders. Over 80% of new customers reorder because they’re happy with the results.

💲 A$139 (incl. GST) — delivered Australia-wide
🚚 Fast, reliable shipping to NZ, the US & Canada (overseas orders are GST-free)
🧴 Free from cheap fillers
📦 Orders ship promptly after payment

🖱️ Learn more or order online at: www.sonovettherapy.com.au/product/biocina-nervomag

Have questions? Feel free to message us or chat with other customers who’ve shared their stories.

✅ Online Shop Update ✅Great news! Our online store is back up and running smoothly again. 🎉🛒We’ve resolved the issue and...
07/07/2025

✅ Online Shop Update ✅
Great news! Our online store is back up and running smoothly again. 🎉🛒
We’ve resolved the issue and everything is functioning as it should — ready for you to browse and order with ease.

Thank you so much for your patience and support while we got things sorted. 💙

👉 Visit us anytime at www.sonovettherapy.com.au/shop

Happy shopping!
– The SonoVet Team

🚨 Notice: Online Shop Issue 🚨We’re currently experiencing some issues with our online store but we’re already working on...
06/07/2025

🚨 Notice: Online Shop Issue 🚨
We’re currently experiencing some issues with our online store but we’re already working on getting it fixed as soon as possible.
In the meantime, if you'd like to place an order, please send us a message here on Facebook or email us at [email protected]
Thanks for your patience and understanding! 💙

Happy Friday, everyone! 🎉How’s your body control in the saddle? Can you guide your horse using just your leg and weight ...
04/07/2025

Happy Friday, everyone! 🎉

How’s your body control in the saddle? Can you guide your horse using just your leg and weight aids?

This is a beautiful training setup — all the bending and changes in direction are fantastic for your horse’s lower back and it’s a great way for riders to improve their seat, posture and overall body awareness 🐎💪✨

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

Do you massage your horse yet?Those of us who, at some point in our lives, have enjoyed a relaxing, revitalizing massage...
01/07/2025

Do you massage your horse yet?

Those of us who, at some point in our lives, have enjoyed a relaxing, revitalizing massage know what a difference it can make to our quality of life and wellbeing.

Massages are great for horses too – whether it’s a stressed-out competition horse, a trail-riding partner, or a beautiful paddock ornament. It takes just a little of your time, but you’ll be surprised how much you learn about your horse and how much it can improve their wellbeing, performance, and - last but not least - the bond between horse and rider.

Massage allows you to communicate with your horse through your fingertips. It helps you identify tight or tense muscles - often long before issues like lameness, cold backs, or behavioral problems arise.

Tension can be caused by excessive or incorrect training, poor saddle fit, ill-fitting bridles or bits, lack of exercise, nutritional deficiencies (such as missing vitamins, minerals, or trace elements), psychological stress, or muscular compensation for injuries - and much more.

In general, well-muscled areas like the shoulders, neck and croup tolerate more pressure than more sensitive regions like the back, legs, and abdomen. Most of the time, your horse will clearly show you where massage is most helpful - through yawning, chewing, lowering the head, and other signs - and how much pressure is appreciated.

⚠️ Be cautious: if your horse cannot tolerate even light pressure in a certain area, seek advice from a vet or qualified therapist.

To begin, take a look at your horse. Are any muscles unusually hard - clearly visible and easily distinguished from surrounding areas? Do they feel like tight metal strings? Think back to your last ride - did your horse struggle to bend or stay soft when asked to perform certain tasks?

Always start your massage at the wither/shoulder area, especially if your horse is new to massage. Let them get used to what you're doing - and discover that it feels good!

Massage is easier and more beneficial when using a high-quality liniment. While oils can help, they don’t pe*****te deeply into the muscle tissue and can actually cause problems (like burns) due to Australia’s strong UV exposure. If you don't plan to wash your horse thoroughly after every massage, oil may not be the best choice.

Some muscle-relaxing ointments and liniments create a cooling effect by evaporating alcohol. These products are usually inexpensive, but frequent use can irritate the skin - and they typically don’t reach deep into the muscle tissue. Heat-generating creams aren’t ideal for regular use either, as they can blister and scab the skin.

At SonoVet, both in Australia and Germany, we use BioCina Herbal Liniment for massages as well as for treating bruises, strains, sprains, swellings, and more. We love its purity and the deep-tissue effect of this all-natural product. Although it feels cool to the touch, it creates deep, penetrating heat - reaching up to 5 cm into the muscle tissue.

Some of our clients even use it daily under the saddle pad to help warm up the long back muscles before exercise. Because BioCina Herbal Liniment is pH-neutral, we’ve never received reports of skin irritation or blistering. Like all BioCina products, it complies with doping regulations and is free of camphor - a common ingredient in many liniments that is also a banned substance in competition.

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

Such a simple and clever way to build cavaletti! 🙂Love this idea - lightweight, easy to move, and the off-center holes i...
28/06/2025

Such a simple and clever way to build cavaletti! 🙂
Love this idea - lightweight, easy to move, and the off-center holes in the side brackets make adjusting the pole height super easy. 👌

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

A fun training idea for you and your horse! 🐴✨This exercise combines poles, transitions and gymnastic work all in one. P...
26/06/2025

A fun training idea for you and your horse! 🐴✨
This exercise combines poles, transitions and gymnastic work all in one. Perfect to keep things interesting and to challenge both horse and rider!
Have fun trying it out - let us know how it goes! 😊

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

📍 We’d Love Your Feedback!🌿 Tried NervoMag? Tell Us What You Think! 🌿Has NervoMag made a difference for your horse - whe...
24/06/2025

📍 We’d Love Your Feedback!
🌿 Tried NervoMag? Tell Us What You Think! 🌿

Has NervoMag made a difference for your horse - whether it’s helping them feel calmer, more focused, or just more comfortable in their body? We’d love to hear your story.

💬 You could tell us about things like:

What your horse was dealing with before NervoMag

How quickly you started seeing changes

The biggest improvements you noticed - physically or behaviourally

Any unexpected benefits or surprises

Whether you’d recommend it to a fellow horse owner

📸 Got photos or videos of your horse looking and feeling their best? We’d love to see them!

Your feedback means the world to us. Not only does it help others who are exploring options for their horses - it also helps us keep making NervoMag the best it can be.

Thank you for being part of the journey. 💚🐴
– Your SonoVet Team

www.sonovettherapy.com.au

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About us and our page..

We hope you enjoy the information and exercises you find on our page. We run this page with the aim of helping you enjoy your relationship with your horse to the fullest, and learn more about equine health and nutrition. However, please note that the information provided on this page is of a general nature, and does not replace veterinary care and advice. Please note also that exercises and other activities shown should be practiced in a safe environment, with consideration for the rider/handler’s competence, and the horse’s level of education and other individual needs.

Check out our website to learn more about SonoVet, our history, the Team, and unique supplements that are exclusive to SonoVet and are used and recommended by the world’s leading riders and trainers. If you are looking for doping free, highly efficient, pure and clean supplements to support your horse check out our online store www.sonovetequinetherapy.com.au

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