Hydrotherapy for horses — including underwater treadmills, pool swimming, and cold hosing — provides welfare-positive rehabilitation and exercise that reduces joint loading while maintaining fitness.
Equine hydrotherapy represents one of the most welfare-positive rehabilitation tools available for injured horses. The ability to maintain cardiovascular fitness and muscle condition while dramatically reducing joint and tendon loading allows rehabilitation that protects healing tissue while preventing the deconditioning and psychological welfare costs of complete box rest. Horses who are restricted to box rest for tendon injuries are significantly better off in welfare terms if hydrotherapy allows continued gentle exercise — movement is a psychological welfare need as well as a physical one. The initial investment in facility access or on-farm installation is substantial but is justified by welfare and performance outcomes.