Hydrotherapy including water treadmills, spa pools, and cold hosing is increasingly used in equine rehabilitation, with growing evidence supporting welfare benefits alongside physical recovery.
Hydrotherapy for horses addresses welfare through multiple mechanisms simultaneously. The buoyancy of water reduces mechanical loading on injured structures while enabling cardiovascular exercise and muscle maintenance during recovery. Cold water therapy provides analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, reducing pain during the rehabilitation period. Importantly, horses undergoing rehabilitation without adequate exercise often develop secondary welfare problems from inactivity — hydrotherapy enables a level of exercise not otherwise achievable during recovery. The welfare case for evidence-based hydrotherapy is therefore strong both for primary treatment effects and for maintaining fitness and mental wellbeing during convalescence. Horses that can exercise meaningfully during rehabilitation often show better behavioral welfare than those restricted to stall rest.