Bursal Strains & Injuries
A bursal is an isolated fluid-filled sac. Some occur naturally at potential pressure points (e.g. point of hock) whereas others are acquired due to repetitive low grade trauma.
Bursal strains in horses occurs when damage to the bursae (sacs) around bony areas causes an over-production of the lubricating synovial fluid contained within the joints, and this shows as soft swelling or a bursal enlargement.
Bursal strains can cause;
- Bog spavins
- Wingalls
- Thoroughpins
They are not very serious but may, at the onset, be painful and cause lameness.
Treatment includes rest, cold hosing and massage. Capped hocks, elbows and knees are injuries caused by bursal strains and are often painless, although treatment is often advisable.
Can Niagara Equissage help with bursal strains?
Niagara Equissage can help considerably with all bursal strains and injuries.
Application
For Bog Spavins, please refer to the Bog Spavins page.
For Windgalls treatment, targeted daily use of the Hand Unit or use of the Tendon Boot, ideally in conjunction with the Back Pad, will keep the fluid up under control. The setting for the Hand Unit should be higher rather than lower so as to really move the fluid out of the joint capsule or tendon sheath as the case may be; a 5-10 minute treatment will be sufficient. If using the Hand Unit, try and keep it still rather than moving it around.
For thoroughpins, the Hand Unit should be used daily as part of the management routine on and around the site of the swelling for 5-10 minutes on a medium to high speed. As with other bursal swellings, try to avoid constantly moving the Hand Unit around.

Testimonials
See All- Show Jumping Trainer & Competitor
"The Niagara Equissage helps my horses perform to the best of their ability and be more consistent. It also helps them to recover quickly from competetion."
- "We use the Niagara Equissage pad on the horses every day, they are all much more supple, it is a very important part of their daily healthcare routine."
- “I use the Niagara Equissage on my horses everyday. It cuts my warm up time in half and my horses recover much faster after they have had a hard day at the show.”