Algotherapy
Thalassotherapy is the therapeutic use of seawater in the form of marine products like algae, seaweed, and marine mud to promote health & wellbeing.
The aim with Thalassotherapy is that repeated immersion in warm seawater, marine mud, and protein-rich algae helps restore the body’s natural chemical balance.
When immersed in warm seawater, the body absorbs the minerals it needs — trace elements of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and iodide — through the skin.
Modern thalassotherapy was pioneered in France, which still has more thalassotherapy spas than any other country. It is literally a medical cure, not just a rest.
EQUITHALASSO® products were created and developed in 2009 by Equine Osteopath and Masseur Bénédicte Lucazeau. The products are approved and recommended by vets in France.
Exercises and work can put a strain on the muskulo skeletal system at fine line between pain and performance.
The goal of a fitness cure is to give horses the opportunity to recharge his batteries, regain good morale and eliminate accumulated muscle tension as quickly as possible and relieve the tendons. In short, to find a vitality & overall harmony of all the locomotor functions essential to perform.
Many renowned riders use or used the EQUITHALASSO® concept:
William Fox Pitt, Chester Weber, Roger Yves Bost for the physical recovery of some of his clients’ horses …
EQUINE ALGOTHERAPY or seaweed wraps with EquiThalasso products is an equine product collection made exclusively from natural raw materials extracted from the sea. These natural, drug-free, high quality, lab-certified products provide a variety of topical cares tailored to your horse’s specific needs for performance, power, renewal, or recovery.
- Soothes and prepares joints and tendons to help prevent sprains and strains from heavy work or competition
- The known properties of algae help to detoxify, reduce tension and soothe muscles and tissues
- Derived naturally from the sea
- A topical, 100% non-drug health-oriented product
- Certified by high-quality European laboratories
The products have a high concentration of mineral salts, which gives them excellent antiseptic and anti-viral properties. Very rich in trace elements such as:
- Magnesium
- Copper – it conditions the development and resistance of bone stimulating the formation of collagen fibres and bone metabolism
- Manganese – essential for bone development
- Calcium – a well-developed, strong skeleton is the prerequisite for any physical performance, and for the duration of a sports career
- Iron
- Iodine – to fix the iron and vitamins.
The algae are then micronized to release their nutritive and revitalizing principle.
Benefits:
Before competition or heavy work:
Helps to physically prepare the muscles and joints for the increased level and duration of activity
Helps removes muscle tension to facilitate movement and impulsion
Better prepares joints and tendons to help prevent sprains and strains
After competition:
Found to aid and accelerate recovery
Eliminates the toxins that build up post-effort
Reduce muscle tension and muscle soreness
Soothes limbs and tissues: heat, swelling, strains
Algotherapy is suitable for any kind of horses:
- Elderly horse: natural remedy, gentle and effective in relieving retired horses from age-related ailments (such as osteoarthritis).
- Leisure or Sport horses, the seaweed treatment helps the body by providing minerals & muscle flexibility and by eliminating toxins, essential for the proper function of the Musculo skeletal system.
- Horses in recovery to speed up the healing process.
To multiply the effects, this treatment can be added to a stretching massage session or an osteopathic treatment.
As always, there is a full assessment of the horse immobile, in movement and a chat with the owner prior to the treatment. Over ten years of experience and a solid background in Equine therapies I am able to choose the most suitable treatment.
Horses are wrapped by the certified therapist with seaweed poultice, cover with a starch sheet and a fleece (when it is cold).
Horses are cleaned with warm water after the treatment and they need to be covered with a fleece to dry them up in winter (takes about 1 hour).
Treatment Packages Available
Specially designed for a complete assessment and care promoting active recovery. Also recommended for a physical effort to be produced in the near future.
FULL ASSESSMENT
1. General horse massage
2. General stretching of the horse
3. Specific tendon massage
4. Wrap with hot algae mud over the entire horse
5. Application of marine mud on limbs and area to be treated or Draining Clay
Ideal for athletic horses in good physical condition but in need of a deep and effective conditioning before a competition.
In total recovery after a period of physical effort and before resting (setting in the meadow, seaside).
2-day program – 10 treatments.
A written follow-up established during the treatment will be given to the owner.
1st day: 5 treatments
General horse report
1. General manual horse massage
2. General stretching of the horse
3. Specific tendon massage
4. Wrap with warm algae mud all over the horse.
5. Application of marine mud or Draining Clay on limbs and area to be treated
2nd day: 5 treatments
General examination of the horse
1. General manual horse massage
2. General stretching of the horse
3. Specific tendon massage
4. Application of marine mud or Draining Clay on limbs and area to be treated.
5. Wrap with hot algae mud poultice over the entire horse
Suitable for athletic horses who want to breathe after exertion and change the environment for 7 days to maintain and improve their physical condition. Perfect for any horse wanting to find dry tendons and fetlocks and quite simply enjoy the benefits of the care of the centre.
15 thalasso treatments alternating with or without balneotherapy equipment
Accommodation – ration / hay
1st day
Horse welcome by EQUITHALASSO®
Musculoskeletal assessment and osteopathic treatment
Paddock or water treadmill (if no contraindication).
2nd day: 5 treatments
1. General manual horse massage
2. General stretching of the horse
3. Specific tendon massage
4. Application of marine mud or Draining Clay on limbs and area to be treated.
5. Wrap with hot algae mud poultice over the entire horse
Water treadmill.
3rd day
Water treadmill
4th day: 5 treatments
1. General manual horse massage
2. General stretching of the horse
3. Specific tendon massage
4. Application of marine mud or Draining Clay on limbs and area to be treated
5. Wrap with hot algae mud poultice over the entire horse
Water treadmill.
5th day:
Water treadmill
6th day: 5 treatments
1. General manual horse massage
2. General stretching of the horse
3. Specific tendon massage
4. Application of marine mud or Draining Clay on limbs and area to be treated
5. Wrap with hot algae mud poultice over the entire horse
Balance sheet
Water treadmill
7th day:
Water treadmill
In case of post-traumatic cure, our care is adapted to the horse with possible veterinary follow-up.
Musculoskeletal & osteopathic assessment – 15 Physio and thalasso treatments – Aquatic walker with massaging jets – accommodation – ration/hay.
EquiThalasso products are distributed exclusively by Jennifer Postollec, official distributor in the UK.
Please note it is a legal requirement to obtain consent from your veterinary surgeon before treating your horse for the first time. If you agree I am happy to speak to your vet on your behalf to gain consent.