About a month ago a friend of mine, Pat Fay, let me know that she would be getting a BEMER set soon and asked if I wanted to start treatments on my horse, Zydin. Well… maybe I am a little uninformed, but I basically looked like this:
So, Pat was very patient with me and explained what BEMER is and how it could help Zydin. Being that it was quite affordable (and the first one was free – that’s how they hook you!), I figured why not? Zydin definitely seemed to enjoy it!
Shortly after we started the treatments, Zydin got injured (that’s a story for another day!) and since then he has been getting weekly treatments to aid in his recovery.
I asked Pat to (virtually) sit down with me and explain all of the things about BEMER that I wanted to know. If you have any more questions, let us know.
Tell me a little about yourself and, of course, your horses.
I’ve been in love with horses since I was a little kid. I bought my first horse at 22 and worked as a vet tech during that time. I went on to work in the horse world in many capacities such as barn manager, exercise driver, handicap riding instructor, broodmare manager, etc. I’ve worked in private barns, harness racing, university riding programs, a top miniature horse show barn, and the Quarter Horse halter show world. I left horses for many years until about 5 years ago when I made the mistake of taking my husband to a local polo match. Now we have an Icelandic horse and a polo horse. My Icelandic is prone to laminitis and I originally purchased BEMER sessions for her as a way to increase blood flow in her feet. After seeing how much she enjoyed the treatments I knew I had to buy one.
To start off, please talk to me like I am a five-year-old… what is BEMER?
BEMER stands for Bio-Electrical Magnetic Energy Regulation. The device uses pulsing electrical signals to increase blood flow especially in the smallest capillaries. Cells are supplied with more nutrients and waste products are more efficiently removed. This helps horses by promoting relaxation and regeneration after exercise, increases physical performance and suppleness, speeds recovery after injury, and can be helpful during surgical post-recovery too. It’s useful for switching off the fight-or-flight sympathetic nervous system and sending them into the rest and digest, parasympathetic system.
What does a typical session involve and how long is it?
Treatment consists of the BEMER blanket which looks like a normal horse blanket as well as 2 cuffs that can be used on the legs or neck of the horse. A session might last between 5-15 minutes, depending on the strength of the signal being used.
What are the applications?
Many people use the BEMER to heal injuries, promote relaxation and suppleness as well as an adjunct to other healing modalities like chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. Any health concern that could be improved by better blood flow could see positive results. I think the most popular use is as a warm up prior to work but a 5 minute session can help the horse relax after its work is done as well.
How do you know it’s working?
The horse is a very sensitive animal and those of us who’ve studied the actions of our equine friends will know the signs of relaxation: sleepy eyes, head dropping, licking, chewing, exhaling and even twitching as the horse lets go of tension. I travel locally to many large stables that are often bustling with activity so it can be hard for the horse to turn its attention inward to enjoy the session but I remind the owners that even in this distracted state the horse still receives the benefit.
What are some of the results you have seen?
I’ve seen everything from horses just looking more relaxed to increased healing in just a few sessions. Overall my clients report that their horses seem more content, have more balance and move better. Just today, a client told me that at her latest vet appointment the plan was to inject the horse’s SI joint. The vet trotted the horse out and was surprised that he didn’t have to do the injection because the horse was moving so much better. I had only done two treatments at that point.
What got you interested in BEMER in the first place?
I was using a different brand of PEMF treatments (Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field Therapy) on another one of my horses to help with suppleness and a friend asked if I wanted to try BEMER. Of course I said yes and saw such improvements that I knew I needed to have this for my horse every day. The lower cost and quicker treatment time was also appealing to me.
How does it differ from PEMF?
It’s basically PEMF but their waveform is different. It has a wider range per second than other devices. Heck, they signed a contract with NASA to work on putting it in the astronauts space suits!
How often should my horse get BEMER done?
I know this is a frustrating answer but, it depends. It depends on what you are using it for (injury or overall wellness), your schedule, your horse’s work schedule, your budget, etc. I use it daily on my horse and it can be used up to twice daily for more intensive treatments.
Can I use BEMER in concert with other treatments like massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture?
Absolutely. I highly recommend that. I was reading an anecdotal story from a chiropractor who said that when he works on horses who have just had a BEMER session, the muscles are mushier and seem to hold the adjustment longer.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Yes. One my favorite BEMER policies is the complementary first session. As a horse owner myself I often feel inundated with bills from vets, farriers, supply companies and more! I love feeling that I can try something for free without getting another invoice. From the perspective of the person doing the treatments, it’s a joy to see the horses change from stressed to relaxed and happy. Last week, I had given two treatments to a normally aloof and energetic horse who doesn’t care for strangers. During each treatment, toward the end, he turned his head toward me and pressed his face to my chest and held it there. We were all very touched by that.
Where are you and how can people find you?
I travel to Southern Chittenden county and Northern Addison county, Vermont and my website is https://www.patriciafayequinebemer.com
Thanks, Pat! Zydin and I will see you soon.
Happy Trails!
Kerrie
