Equine Back & Muscle Soreness | Photizo Vetcare
Red Light Therapy for Horses
Back & muscle support on the yard
Hollowing away from the saddle. Cold-backed on mounting. A shortened stride and a horse that feels tight through the topline. Photizo Vetcare gives you a simple, drug-free way to support back and muscle comfort on the yard, as part of the care plan set by your vet and physiotherapist.
Used for
- Neck and back pain
- Muscle spasms and trigger points
- Overuse and muscle injuries
Designed for the yard
- 31-second pre-programmed dose
- Portable and rechargeable
- 633nm red + 850nm near-infrared
What owners use it for
Musculoskeletal conditions named in the Photizo Vetcare instructions for use
Kissing spine
For horses with diagnosed kissing spine, used to support comfort as part of a wider care plan alongside your vet and physiotherapist. It does not treat the underlying bone changes.
Sore, tight backs
Neck and back pain, where a horse is tight through the topline, hollow under saddle or reactive to grooming and rugging.
Muscle spasms & trigger points
For muscle spasms and localised areas of muscle tension or tenderness, used to support comfort as part of the wider care plan.
Overuse and hard seasons
Overuse injuries and muscle soreness after a heavy competition block, long hauls or a step up in workload.
Alongside bodywork
Used between physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage appointments as part of the routine those professionals have set.
Saddle-area soreness
Localised soreness where the saddle sits, alongside a proper saddle fit check. For girth rubs and broken skin, see our wounds and skin page.
How light therapy supports muscle comfort
What the device delivers, and how it fits into a routine at home
Red + near-infrared light
Photizo Vetcare delivers 633nm red and 850nm near-infrared light to the treatment area. These wavelengths are used in photobiomodulation, where light interacts with biological tissue and cellular processes involved in recovery.
31 seconds per area
One press delivers one pre-programmed 31-second dose. Move the device point by point across the treatment area, following the Photizo treatment guidance and your vet's rehabilitation plan.
Work the area, not one spot
Backs and large muscle groups cover a broad area. Position the probe flat against the treatment area with good skin contact and move point by point across the area, following the Photizo treatment guidance and the plan your vet or physiotherapist has set.
Don't increase workload too soon
If your horse is being treated for a diagnosed injury, an apparent improvement in comfort is not a reason to increase workload. Keep to the exercise and rehabilitation plan agreed with your vet.
What the research shows
Photobiomodulation and equine back pain
Back pain in competition horses
A controlled clinical study enrolled 61 Quarter Horses competing with signs of back pain or spinal dysfunction. Horses received low-level laser therapy, chiropractic treatment, or a combination of the two. Laser treatment was associated with significant reductions in veterinarian-assessed back pain, epaxial muscle hypertonicity and trunk stiffness. The combination of laser and chiropractic treatment appeared to provide some additional effects.
The study used an 810nm, 3W laser delivering 150J over 50 seconds per treatment site, not Photizo Vetcare, and only 34 horses completed all three assessment sessions. The results therefore support the wider rationale for photobiomodulation in equine back pain but cannot be taken as evidence that Photizo Vetcare will produce the same outcome.
Haussler KK, Manchon PT, Donnell JR, Frisbie DD. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2020;86:102891.The wider evidence
Research into photobiomodulation for musculoskeletal pain has produced mixed results across both human and veterinary work. Differences in wavelength, dose, power and treatment protocol make direct comparison between devices difficult.
Photizo Vetcare should therefore be considered an adjunct to appropriate veterinary and physiotherapy care, not a replacement for it.
Owners report
We're delighted with the Photizo Vetcare machine. It's a brilliant device, easy to use, well made and very effective. The horses respond really well to it, standing relaxed during treatments and seeming very comfortable afterwards, which has been great to see. It's become a valuable part of our routine for supporting recovery and general wellbeing, and we've found it both practical and reliable around the yard.
— Liam H., Verified PurchaseIndividual results vary. Owners report outcomes based on their own experience with their horses. Always involve your vet.
Frequently asked questions
Does it treat kissing spine?
No. Kissing spine is a diagnosed bony condition managed by your vet, and light therapy does not change the underlying bone. Owners use Photizo Vetcare to support comfort in the surrounding muscle as part of a wider plan that your vet and physiotherapist direct.
How does it fit alongside my physio or chiropractor?
Photizo Vetcare can be used between appointments on areas identified by your vet or therapist. Let them know you are using it so they can incorporate it appropriately into the wider care plan.
How much of the back should I treat?
One press delivers a 31-second dose to one point. Backs and large muscle groups need several points, moved across the sore area. Follow the Photizo treatment guidance for the number of doses per area and your vet's advice on how often.
Can I work the horse straight after treatment?
Take care. The Photizo instructions note that an animal may have significant pain relief after treatment and warn against over-exerting a treated area where an injury has been diagnosed. Keep to the workload your vet has agreed.
Does coat thickness affect treatment?
For best light delivery, place the device directly against the treatment area on clean, dry coat, with good probe contact. If your horse has a heavy winter coat, ask your vet or contact us if you are unsure about positioning.
Are there situations to avoid?
Do not use over the eyes, over the thyroid gland, over active tumours without veterinary clearance, or over the abdomen of a pregnant mare without vet approval. Follow the user manual for the full list of contraindications.
Support back & muscle comfort at home
Ships from Ireland. CE-marked. Backed by a 2-year guarantee.
Shop Photizo VetcarePhotizo Vetcare is CE-marked and fulfils the requirements of the relevant European product directives, for home use on animals. Content on this page is for informational purposes and does not replace veterinary advice. Always involve your vet in your horse's diagnosis and treatment. Individual results vary.