BY ELIZABETH UPCHURCH
Horse owners are always looking for the next big thing that will help our beloved partners feel their best. Magnetic blankets, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), and other magnet-based therapies have become increasingly common in the last decade. You’ll see horses relaxing at shows in their magnetic blankets and wraps or used as part of a rehabilitation program. But despite their popularity, scientific research on magnetotherapy in horses has been limited.
A recent pilot study set out to evaluate whether pulsed electromagnetic field therapy could reduce back pain and muscle tension in riding horses. The results suggest the therapy may support relaxation and reduce signs of discomfort, although the authors emphasize that larger studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Back Pain Is a Common Challenge for Riding Horses
Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues affecting ridden horses. Even subtle soreness can influence a horse’s performance, comfort, and willingness to work. Several factors contribute to back discomfort, including training intensity, repetitive work, and saddle fit. An improperly fitted saddle can create uneven pressure across the horse’s back, potentially leading to muscle soreness or overload of musculoskeletal structures over time.
These challenges are especially common in horses that work in lesson programs or carry multiple riders with varying levels of balance and experience. In such environments, back soreness may develop gradually and sometimes go unnoticed until it begins affecting performance or behavior. Traditional approaches to treating equine back pain typically include rest, physiotherapy, medication, and adjustments to training. While these methods can be effective, they often require extended recovery periods and careful management.
What Is Magnetotherapy?
Magnetotherapy involves exposing tissues to static or pulsed electromagnetic fields. In veterinary and human medicine, PEMF has been explored as a potential tool for supporting tissue healing and reducing inflammation.
Researchers propose that magnetic fields may influence biological processes. Proposed mechanisms include improving microcirculation, increasing oxygen delivery to tissues, stimulating collagen production, and reducing inflammatory activity. In horses, magnetotherapy has been used in a wide range of situations from managing soft tissue injuries to supporting recovery from bone fractures and joint problems.
Inside the Study
To explore the potential effects of magnetotherapy, researchers conducted a small pilot study involving four recreational riding horses that showed sensitivity to palpation along the longissimus dorsi muscle, a major muscle group running along the horse’s back.
The horses were aged between 13 and 18 years and worked in a riding program that included multiple riders and regular weekly exercise. Each horse typically worked about six hours per week, including walking, trotting, and cantering sessions in an outdoor arena.
Before beginning treatment, the horses underwent a short observation period in which they continued their regular work schedule without any additional therapy. Researchers evaluated their back sensitivity and movement during this phase to establish a baseline.
Following this control period, the horses participated in a 10-session magnetotherapy program using flat magnetic applicators placed along the back. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes.
Researchers evaluated the horses before and after treatments using several methods, including:
- palpation tests to assess back pain sensitivity
- flexibility assessments of the neck
- heart rate monitoring
- thermal imaging of the back to detect temperature changes
These measurements were designed to provide insight into whether magnetotherapy influenced pain, muscle tension, or physiological responses.
What the Researchers Found
After completing the treatment program, the horses showed several notable changes.
The most significant finding was a reduction in pain sensitivity and muscle tension in certain areas of the back, particularly the withers, thoracic region, and lumbar region.
These improvements were most pronounced in areas that had initially shown the greatest tenderness during palpation tests.
Researchers also observed a decrease in heart rate during magnetotherapy sessions. This drop in heart rate may indicate a relaxation effect, suggesting the horses were calmer during treatment.
Interestingly, thermal imaging revealed that magnetotherapy did not increase the temperature of the horses’ backs. This supports previous research indicating that the therapy works through non-thermal mechanisms rather than by generating heat in the tissues. In other words, the therapy appears to influence the body in ways that do not rely on warming the muscles, unlike some other physiotherapy techniques.
What the Study Didn’t Show
Despite the encouraging findings, the study also revealed areas where magnetotherapy did not appear to have a measurable effect. For example, researchers did not observe significant improvements in the horses’ neck flexibility following treatment. This may be because the magnetic blanket was applied only to the back and did not directly affect the neck muscles.
Additionally, some behavioral tests used to evaluate sensitivity showed only minor changes.
Most importantly, the study had several limitations that make it difficult to draw strong conclusions. The sample size was extremely small—just four horses—and the study did not include a placebo or sham-treatment control group. Because of this, researchers cannot rule out other explanations for the improvements, such as natural recovery, handling effects, or simple relaxation during the sessions.
What This Means for Riders
This research suggests that magnetotherapy may help reduce signs of back discomfort and promote relaxation in some horses. However, the evidence is still preliminary.
Magnet therapy should not be viewed as a replacement for fundamental management practices such as proper saddle fit, appropriate training programs, and veterinary care. Instead, it may serve as a complementary therapy within a broader approach to maintaining equine health and comfort.
The researchers themselves emphasize the need for larger studies involving more horses, placebo groups, and longer observation periods to better understand how magnetotherapy affects equine musculoskeletal health.
For now, the study provides an intriguing early look at a therapy that many riders already use, and highlights the importance of continuing to examine popular barn practices through the lens of scientific research.
Source
Jastrzębska, E., Dobbek, D., & Pawłowska, A. (2026). The Effect of Magnetotherapy on Back Pain Sensitivity and Muscle Tension in Recreational Horses—A Pilot Study. Animals, 16(77).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16010077
