Sport Horse Protocols

Sport Horse User Protocols

• Getting the VibraVM ready:
• When you receive your VibraVM or VibraVM Pro charge the unit which will take about two hours. Assemble the unit according to the directions in the manual, being sure to use the bio-bag to protect the body of the unit. Become comfortable with the feel of the unit and changing modes.

• Control:

• Cross tie
• Chute
• Free reign

The veterinarian or horse owner has several options for restraining the horse for treatment. The methods referenced above have all been used successfully to control the horse for treatment. The primary difference between methods is personal preference and availability of equipment. They will all work.

• Acclimate:
• Most horses will take only a short while to adapt to the VibraVM. Use the same techniques you would when using clippers for the first time. A few horses have taken several days to accept the device. A gentle approach is always the best.
• A few suggested steps:

• Turn the VibraVM on in the barn and just let it sit on a shelf.
• Let the horse smell the device and show it is harmless.
• With the VibraVM on gently touch or rub along the horse’s back, neck and face.
• Repeatably place the nose piece or mask in/on the horse's nostril with the VibraVM off.
• Turn the VibraVM on when in/on the horses nostril.

After several treatments, you may find your horse will come when hearing the sound of the VibraVM.

• Nose piece -- Proper insertion:

• Avoid the false nostril
• Feel the vibrations on the throat

When you insert the VibraVM into the nose you have to make sure it is not in the false nostril. The device should be positioned in the center of the nostril, rather than toward the outside edge of the nose. You will know it is the correct place if you can feel vibrations on the horse’s throat. You will soon learn where to position the VibraVM.

• Nose Mask:

This attachment may be easier to use, especially for the head shy or hotter horse. Simply place the nose mask over the nostril, gently trying to seal it. Feel the vibrations on the horse's throat and position the nose mask where they feel the strongest.

• Volume control:
• There are two possible volumes, half and full. The device ships set to full volume. There is a toggle action to switch between full and half volume. With the device turned off, press and hold the Mode button. Turn on the power button while continuing to hold the Mode button. All five of the Progress indicators lights will light, then LED 1 will light for half volume or LED 5 will light for full volume. Release the Mode button returning the device to its previous mode.
• Generally use full volume for horses, including miniatures and foals.
• General Guidelines:

Do not treat more than twice per day. We have found horses need more time for expelling all the loosened congestion than originally thought, so we have adjusted our recommendations accordingly.

For a typical treatment, we recommend the full seven minute Low, Medium, or High mode treatment, which will loosen and liquefy the mucus. For the VibraVM Pro we recommend at least 3 and ½ to 4 minutes of either Manual or Auto modes. Follow any of these modes with Massage mode, which will automatically stop after 2 minutes.

The Massage mode will relax the airway's long smooth muscles and act as a bronchial dilator opening up the airways. Using these two modes together is especially effective for for clearing and opening the airways which will maximize oxygenation.

When treating horses that appear to be healthy, it is always a good idea to start with Low mode plus Massage to be sure the upper airways are clear, before clearing the lower airways using the Medium or High mode, or the corresponding VibraVM Pro settings.

• The VibraVM Pro Manual settings:

The VibraVM Pro has five LED lights which can roughly be mapped to the VibraVM's Low, Medium and High settings. These are given as guidelines to set the VibraVM Pro:

VibraVM Low – VibraVM Pro LED 1 and 2

VibraVM Medium – VibraVM Pro LED 2 and 3

VibraVM High – VibraVM Pro LED 3 and 4

• General Information for All Sport Horses:

Do not give more that two treatments per day. In this case more is not better, and overuse can cause irritation to the airways. The horse needs time to clear out any loosened mucus from the lungs and airways.

Many trainers and track vets are reporting improved times. Blood oxygenation is an critical factor in a horse’s speed performance. The VibraVM will give your horse the maximum oxygen available by clearing the lungs and opening the airways. This in turn gives the horse's muscles the maximum oxygenation, so the horse will be running at his maximum capacity with respect to oxygen efficiency.

• Thoroughbred Racing or Eventers:

This is for horses which have around a month before a race or event, such as thoroughbred racing, dressage, hunter/jumpers, barrel racers, ropers, reiners, or cutting horses.

Start about three to four weeks before the race or event. For the first 4 or 5 days, give a VibraVM Low mode plus Massage treatment once per day, to clear any congestion and open the airways. Then treat for 1 or 2 days, with VibraVM Medium mode plus Massage once per day. Now continue alternating Low and Medium mode. You can occasionally use High mode to clear the smallest structures of the lungs. Always follow with the Massage mode. Spread the treatments out to every two to three days, until the day or evening before the race.

The morning of the race or event, treat with the two minutes auto timed Massage mode only. Do not give a Low, Medium, or High mode treatment that morning, as this will make the horse too relaxed to run well and it will give a slow time.

• Weekly Performance Horses:

Generally, these guidelines are for horses who are racing or eventing every week, such as standardbred racing, barrel racers, ropers, reiners or other events during their season. Around a month before the season begins, use the information in the above section to get your horse started. If you purchase a VibraVM during the season, then start here.

For the first 3 - 4 days, give a VibraVM Low mode plus Massage treatment once per day, to clear any congestion and open the airways. Then treat for 2 or 3 days, with VibraVM Medium or High mode plus Massage treatment once per day. Treat at least once with High mode plus Massage. Treat until the day or evening before the race.

The morning of the race or event, treat with Massage mode for two minutes only. Do not give a Low, Medium, or High mode treatment that morning, as this will make the horse too relaxed to run well and it will give a slow time.

The second week, repeat the same protocol as above. The third week, alternate between Low and Medium, and occasionally High mode, always followed by Massage, spreading out the treatments to every other day. Continue this pattern, going to every 2 or 3 days between treatments.

• Observe the animal:

Observe the horse carefully. If there are signs of congestion at any time treat more often, but generally only once a day and never more that twice a day. If the congestion is in the upper airways, use Low plus Massage mode, and if the congestion is in the lower airways, use Medium (or High occasionally) plus Massage mode. If you unsure where the congestion is located, alternate between Low, Medium and High, again followed by Massage mode.

Remember your horse is a unique athlete and every one will be different. Familiarize yourself completely with the treatments and their effects on your horse by testing during breezing or practice runs.

• Post Bleed Therapy:

For helping bleeders, wait three to five days after the race, then give a VibraVM Medium mode plus Massage treatment once a day. After a day or two, you will probably see dark colored discharge. This is the clearing out the small scabs and clots formed in the lungs from the bleeding. This will help the lungs to heal. After several days, you can alternate with High or use High occasionally until the mucus is clear. Now you can return to treating as you normally would.

• Conclusion:
• The VibraVM is a safe and effective way to treat mucus producing equine respiratory problems and increase oxygen efficiency for healthy horses. The VibraVM helps clear mucus and opens the airways and helps these athletes to have better blood oxygen exchange. The VibraVM treatments helps provide maximum oxygen to their muscles, and allows them to give their best performance. The VibraVM treatments may also have a calming effect on the horse.
• We are doing further research and encourage you to experiment with what works best for your horse and your situation. For example, one race track veterinarian is experimenting with giving Low or Medium mode plus Massage treatments closer to the time the horse is breezed. We will update this document as more information is available.
• Please visit our website at www.vibravm.com, or call us with any questions at: 303-805-4597.