Leading riders keep their best horses in shape using all manner of contraptions. Among the most impressive is the equine water treadmill.
Keeping fit on the hoof —
Leading riders keep their best horses in shape using all manner of contraptions. Among the most impressive is the equine water treadmill.
Warwickshire College
Zara Phillips, a member of British royalty preparing to compete at this year's World Equestrian Games, inspects an equine treadmill at Warwickshire College in the UK.
Royal approval —
Zara Phillips, a member of British royalty preparing to compete at this year's World Equestrian Games, inspects an equine treadmill at Warwickshire College in the UK.
Warwickshire College
These facilities are part of Warwickshire College's equine therapy center. If your horse doesn't take to the treadmill, there is also an "equine hydrotherapy spa" available.
Ready to go —
These facilities are part of Warwickshire College's equine therapy center. If your horse doesn't take to the treadmill, there is also an "equine hydrotherapy spa" available.
Warwickshire College
Nearby Hartpury College, a center of equestrian education, says its treadmill helps to "repair and strengthen muscles" in horses.
Scrubbing up —
Nearby Hartpury College, a center of equestrian education, says its treadmill helps to "repair and strengthen muscles" in horses.
Hartpury College
More than 600 students study at Hartpury. Here, they can learn how water resistance helps horses to recover and maintain their fitness.
Look and learn —
More than 600 students study at Hartpury. Here, they can learn how water resistance helps horses to recover and maintain their fitness.
Hartpury College
This is an example of a solarium, used across the globe to keep horses comfortable in cold conditions. This one is located near the Russian Baltic outpost of Kaliningrad, where winter temperatures can drop below -20C (-4F).
Red hot —
This is an example of a solarium, used across the globe to keep horses comfortable in cold conditions. This one is located near the Russian Baltic outpost of Kaliningrad, where winter temperatures can drop below -20C (-4F).
STR/AFP/Getty Images
This solarium is at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria. Many more complex variants are available, incorporating air-drying facilities and even soothing light shows for the horse.
Home and dry —
This solarium is at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria. Many more complex variants are available, incorporating air-drying facilities and even soothing light shows for the horse.
ALEXANDER KLEIN/AFP/Getty Images
Here, a horse receives tissue therapy with the help of a handheld laser. Lasers come in different strengths and work to stimulate the recovery of muscle tissue, affecting individual cells.
Laser therapy —
Here, a horse receives tissue therapy with the help of a handheld laser. Lasers come in different strengths and work to stimulate the recovery of muscle tissue, affecting individual cells.
Dr Phil Harrington/K-LASER USA
Some lasers are visible to the naked eye; others are not. Ultrasound is another common technique to treat damage to muscle tissue.
Light session —
Some lasers are visible to the naked eye; others are not. Ultrasound is another common technique to treat damage to muscle tissue.
Dr Phil Harrington/K-LASER USA
This is one example of a magnetic rug used in equine therapy. The latest blankets extend all the way up the horse's neck and even come with a set of four boots.
Magnetic attraction —
This is one example of a magnetic rug used in equine therapy. The latest blankets extend all the way up the horse's neck and even come with a set of four boots.
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
At major events like the Olympic Games, staff work behind the scenes to prepare and treat top horses on behalf of U.S. riders.
Home from home —
At major events like the Olympic Games, staff work behind the scenes to prepare and treat top horses on behalf of U.S. riders.
Janus Marquis
Janus Marquis has worked with the U.S. showjumping team as an equine physiotherapist at three Olympic Games -- Athens, Beijing and most recently London.
Olympic expectation —
Janus Marquis has worked with the U.S. showjumping team as an equine physiotherapist at three Olympic Games -- Athens, Beijing and most recently London.
Janus Marquis
Racehorses use other methods to keep fit and recover, including the equine pool, which is much larger than a treadmill and demands that the horse swims, with no legs touching the floor.
Swim fit —
Racehorses use other methods to keep fit and recover, including the equine pool, which is much larger than a treadmill and demands that the horse swims, with no legs touching the floor.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
This racehorse, at Jonjo O'Neill's Jackdaws Castle stables in Cheltenham, has just finished a session in the equine pool.
Session over —
This racehorse, at Jonjo O'Neill's Jackdaws Castle stables in Cheltenham, has just finished a session in the equine pool.
Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images