Equine Massager: Equine Owners’ Feedback, Reviews and More!

Hey there! You might think this topic popped up because we’re horse enthusiasts and use an equine massager in our stable daily, or run equine massage therapy programs. Well, that’s not quite the case.

However, we’re diving into this topic because numerous horse owners reached out to us, wondering if we could guide them in choosing the right equi massage gun.

As seasoned experts in the world of massagers, having seen and tested over 80 such devices, we knew we could offer valuable insights.

In this post, we’ll tackle a few of those questions, including the most common ones. “Are there specific massage guns for horses?”

So, without further ado, let’s get started

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Equine Massage Gun – The Basics

From our experience of reviewing massage guns, we’ve seen the growing interest in these devices, not just for humans but for horses, too.

One crazy thing is that this is not something new at all; it’s been happening for a few years now (at least according to how far we have been able to research, including discussions with an actual horse racing owner).

From our hands-on tests and discussions with horse owners, we can assure you (in case you have never heard about equine massage tools) that massage guns work the same way for horses as they do for people.

They are used for specialized muscle treatment, myofascial release in horses, warming up the horse’s muscles before and after training, and relaxing them. These are some of the equine massage therapy benefits.

But is an equine massager different from regular massage guns? Can your horse share its equine massager with you? Let’s find out, shall we?

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How Can an Equine Massager Help Your Horse?

Over the years, we’ve seen the evolution of equine massage therapy. The question would probably be when equine therapists discovered that equine massage guns could be helpful in horses. Well, the simple answer would be as soon as an equine massager became available (perhaps).

Turns out there are a variety of ways that equine massage therapy can help keep your horse healthy and fit.

1. Basic equine massage to warm muscles and facilitate myofascial release for horses. Your horse can benefit from an equine massage to warm up their muscles before they engage in activity (training, racing, etc).
2. Trigger-point therapy to get rid of muscle knots. Since horses are involved in physical activities, muscle knots are a common occurrence that, if left untreated, could result in discomfort. Using massage gun on horse is a sure way to get rid of these knots – just get the proper physiotherapy to identify them on your horse.
3. Myofascial release in horses to ease muscular contraction and joint movement. Fascia tightening around muscles can hinder the performance of your horse. Horse massage therapy works to release the tightened fascia to improve the horse’s performance.
4. Lymphatic drainage removes fluid accumulation in muscle tissues. Horses are prone to fluid accumulation (edema) due to injury or inactivity. A skilled equine therapist can utilize an equine massager to gently drain excess fluid back into the lymphatic system, where it can be effectively cleared.

From our research and observations, it’s evident that this equine massage tool can offer equine massage therapy benefits.

You’ll probably need an equine therapist at first to help you with the initial face of knowing what to do. With time, you should be able to use a massage gun for horses by yourself.

According to equine therapists, such as Troy Brandenburg, an equine massager has great benefits.

There are other benefits of an equine massager, including your beloved animal’s overall wellness. A happy horse makes a happy owner; apparently, there is no better way to do it than by using an equi massage gun.

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Is an Equine Massage Gun Different From “Non-Equine” Ones?

Given our extensive experience testing various massage guns, this is a question we often grapple with, especially in our case, since we have had to deal with all kinds of percussion massagers.

But is a horse massage gun different from the ones we have had and told you about?

Well, no. They are all the same—they are all massage guns. The same technology used for the “standard” ones works for the equine massager.

The fact that they are massage guns for horses doesn’t mean they’re stronger or that they have features unique only to them.

In fact, the equine massager can also be used on other pets as long as they like it. However, the main question here should be whether equine massage guns are actually better than non-equine models (such as Theragun, Hypervolt, etc.).

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Should You Buy an Equine Massager from Specific Horse Brands?

From our perspective, having tested numerous brands, we see that if an equine brand offers detailed guidance on equine massage therapy, then you should go for an equine-specific product.

Otherwise, we can tell you for sure that equine-specific equibe massager is not entirely different than standard massagers. We have reviewed and handled many massage guns, and we are confident in our assessment.

Our hands-on tests and in-depth research for this article revealed that these equine massage tools are relatively simple compared to what we have tested and reviewed from non-equine massage gun brands. They’re actually a bit outdated, to say the least.

However, if you check the update from Troy Brandenburg equine massage gun, you wil understand why his brand has 20 speeds.

Here is some context to keep you in the know:

• Massage guns have evolved significantly since the first models were unveiled around 2017 and 2018. So much so that models that came along in 2019 feel a little outdated in today’s market. 
• Those earlier versions had simple ergonomics (the 90-degree handle), and weren’t as effective – most were vibrational massagers.
• Things have changed since then, with new models that have better ergonomics and longer amplitudes (the distance traveled by the massage gun head as it percusses).
  The earlier devices had amplitudes ranging from 9 to 11mm, offering vibrational therapy. Enter 2022, and we now have devices with amplitudes of 12-16mm.
• Stall force: the pressure it takes to stall the motor of a device has also significantly increased. This means that there are more percussive devices today.
• Somehow, most equine massage guns seem stuck in the past. Many have vibrational therapy features that seem outdated today.
  There are exceptions, of course, and we chose one product with the best qualities available.

Based on our hands-on comparisons, we often find non-equine massage guns to offer better value. They are not only outdated in terms of their performance features, but they are also quite expensive.

This is somewhat ironic, to be honest. It means you could actually be overpaying for a massage gun that would typically cost much less.

But there’s one key benefit to choosing to go for a specialized equine massager: equine sport massage therapy.
We’ve picked a product from a trusted brand – Brandenburg Equine. Founders here are passionate about horses, own horses, and know everything about using a horse massage gun.

We believe paying a little extra isn’t a bad idea because the horse massage will be done properly. We’ve given that product priority in our article.

However, if you know how to use an equine massager properly or would rather learn how to massage your horse on YouTube and elsewhere, we recommend buying an equine massage gun from a non-equine brand. You’ll likely pay less and get more from your product – improved ergonomics, warranty, and performance features.

Check out our non-equine brand devices below.

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Best Massage Gun for Horses: Equine-Dedicated Brand

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Brandenburg Equine Massage Gun – Our Top Pick

In our extensive testing of equine brand massage guns, this Brandenburg Equine Massage Gun is by far the safest bet. It’s a proven brand established many years ago by a well-known equine therapist, Troy Brandenburg.

You won’t just get an equine massager; you’ll become part of the Brandenburg Equine family. Troy and his team are well-versed in equine massage therapy. They have a decent collection of how-to videos and very informative blog posts.

As for their equine massager, it features a classic design similar to many standard massage guns, specifically, the T-shape design.

It features some Hypervolt characteristics that are easily noticeable – the shape and design, the LED band at the foot end of the handle, and the battery release button. It’s also easy to notice the display screen at the back of the device (stylishly done).

The ergonomics are okay here if you use it on yourself. It may not be an issue, though, if using massage gun on horse. It has a few other grip points when you use two hands.

In terms of performance, you can expect 10-11mm of amplitude and about 30 lbs of stall force. The amplitude may be vibrational, but you can apply a bit of pressure with that stall force.

It also has a percussion range of 1200-3200 PPM, similar to some non-equine brands we reviewed.

What we thought was a bit overdone was the number of speeds. Up to 20 speeds seems a bit too much. However, there may not be many for an equine therapist. For us humans, 4 to 6 speeds are enough.

The fact that you toggle up and down between those 20 speeds by pressing the “+” and “-“ buttons is also helpful, perhaps a tad more convenient than the single-button operation seen in another equine massager.

To be clear, the combination of 10mm and 3200 maximum percussions sounds like vibrational therapy to us. Maybe Troy could argue differently. Either way, our next equine massager is a bit more punchy.

Before that, however, you can expect this best massage gun for horses to be hushed (the 10mm amplitude is the clue). Low noise is hugely important, according to Troy.

I found the noise level to be critical. Many equine massage guns, while not loud to us, have a different reaction on horses.

As I wanted to be able to massage around the Poll and Atlas (head) of the horse, it was paramount to have a sound and pressure that was comfortable to them.

Remember, a horse is an animal of flight, and if you do something that they don’t like, they will react in a negative manner. This situation could pose a problem for both the person and the horse.

– Troy Brandenburg, in his recent e-mail to Massage Gun Advice

Our two cents: As you can see from the quote above, Brandenburg folks know what they are doing, and the design choices in their product seem very well-grounded.

To continue, Troy’s equine massager comes with 6 nicely varied attachments:

1. Flat,
2. ball,
3. wedge,
4. fork,
5. bullet, and
6. Arch (equine massage therapy for a larger area that the fork attachment can’t do).

They have a guide with videos that show you how to use each attachment.

The battery has a 2400mAh capacity and can run for 4-5 hours on a single charge—plenty of time. The battery’s lifespan will vary depending on the pressure applied.

The device comes with a hard-shell traveling case that looks classy. It’s on sale now and costs $225 (55% discount!) with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get it right here.

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Massage Gun for Horses: Non-Equine Brands

If you prefer the latest tech or more proven horse massage therapy without the brandenburg horse logo, here are some great picks that may interest you. If you are one of our regular readers, this is probably not the first time you have read about them.

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While Ekrin Athletics may not describe themselves as equine massager makers, our tests showed this device would be a great choice for horse massage therapy.

We already know what it can do for humans, and we are pretty sure your horse will also enjoy it.

UPDATE: Actually, we are not guessing. Since we published this article, many of our readers have purchased the device and provided us with positive feedback. For example, one happy horse owner, Phyllis, recently sent photos of her horse, Tucker, enjoying a massage using the B37.

Now, let’s take a look at the equirelease massage gun reviews. We’ve got a video from our tests. You can see what comes with it, how it works, and how it sounds. We also tried to stall it on each gear to show its power.

So, from this hands-on experience, here’s what stood out about the Ekrin device.

For starters, this equi massage gun has better ergonomics than the product we have seen at the top. The 15-degree angled handle allows for a natural grip. It’s also a stylishly made massager you will be proud to own.

In terms of performance, it features a 12mm amplitude and a stall force of 57 lbs. You can never go wrong here. With the procedures we named above, having an equi massage gun that can withstand more pressure is a huge advantage, especially when dealing with muscle knots and stubborn fascia.

When it comes to the amplitude (stroke length), 12mm is what we like to call a sweet spot. It’s neither too vibrational nor too aggressively punchy, either. This also translates to lower noise because low/medium amplitude massagers, like Ekrin or Brandenburg above, generally tend to be quieter than their high-amplitude counterparts.

It also has an 1800 – 3200 RPM range and 5-cycle speeds—just enough to be a breeze.

It also comes with a lifetime warranty and excellent customer support. We can’t provide much guidance on equine massage therapy, but we are certain Ekrin will offer outstanding support for device-related queries.

The B37 costs $249.99, but you can apply the MGA20 coupon for a 20% discount. It then costs $187.50 (you’re welcome!). Buy Ekrin B37 right here!
Don’t forget to read actual reviews from fellow horse owners.

TIP: You can also read our in-depth Ekrin B37 massage gun review →

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Lifepro Sonic LX Professional – Also Great

In our lineup of tests, the Lifepro Sonic LX proved to be a versatile option for humans and particularly for myofascial release in horses. It is from a proven brand and has great features.

The Lifepro Sonic LX massager has a similar design (T-shape) to the Brandenburg equine massage gun but promises better quality.

Speaking of quality, it has a 12mm amplitude and a 33 lbs of stall force. It’s not the reckoning force that Ekrin B37 is, but it has slightly more power than some equine massage guns.

It has a percussion range of 1800 – 3400 RPM, similar to the Equirelease massage gun. It has 9 speeds to cycle through – we’ll take 9 speeds over 20 speeds any day.

It comes with 10 massage heads, which will work just as well on your horse – there are 3 metallic ones.

It’s not as quiet as Ekrin B37, but it’s quite enough – you don’t have to worry about scaring your horse with it.

It comes with a lifetime warranty and great customer support.

To get the Sonic LX Professional, you must part with $139 or use the MGA10 coupon to purchase it for 10% less.

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Equine Massager Wrap Up

From our hands-on evaluations, if you’re leaning towards a typical equine massager, we recommend the Brandenburg equine massage gun because of Troy’s reputation and top-class company.

From our side-by-side tests, if the equine-specific models aren’t cutting it, we’ve found some non-equine massager that might be a better fit. The Ekrin B37 stands out to us because of its impeccable quality. However, depending on your needs, the other two are equally great options.

As always, feel free to ask us a question or just drop us a comment below.