I have a photo from the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 where Stuart Tinney’s horse Vettori is wearing what looked like a lycra suit. In fact, he was wearing what is called a compression suit and, as we all know, Stuart and Vettori were the top ranked Australian combination in Kentucky. Maybe this suit had something to do with it?
After many years of development and testing, this interesting new product will be launched by Australian company Hidez™ Pty Ltd in June. Hidez is a wholly Australian owned and operated company based in Windsor, NSW, Australia, a well renowned horse region at the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
The Hidez Equine Travel and Recovery suits use cutting edge technology and are designed to assist a horse during travel and help with recovery from strenuous activities. The suits use a “graduated compression” system, helping circulation and supplying more oxygen to muscle groups.
Matthew Spice, the suit’s inventor and designer, says that the Hidez suits “are designed to reduce muscle vibration during travel and to enhance blood flow, which can reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery”
As you can see from the photo of Stuart with his top horses, Pluto Mio, Panamera and Orchard Hill, the suits resemble a second skin and they say that it takes just a couple of minutes to “zip it on” and can be removed even faster. The suit is manufactured of a special moisture management fabric, which keeps the horse dry and comfortable at all times.
‘I first used Hidez at the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Kentucky 2010 on my horse Vettori. As I use a compression suit myself to recover after riding and exercise and found it very helpful in my muscle recovery I thought that I would like to do the same for my horse. Vettori rested in Hidez after exercise and whenever I rode him after being in the suit he felt relaxed with no muscle soreness. I personally think that Hidez are a very useful recovery tool and I will use Hidez on my horses most definitely” says Stuart
Another celebrity horse using the suits is one of Australia’s top racehorses, Hay List. John McNair, trainer of Hay List says
“You see a lot of cyclists, footballers and other sports people using them. The Hidez suit improves blood flow back to the core organs to aid recovery, help with muscle fatigue. We have been using them on Hay List for a couple of weeks now and the benefits are obvious in (Hay List’s) recovery & travel it makes a huge difference.
It doesn’t worry them. They don’t take any notice of it once it has been on for a couple of minutes, it keeps them safe & stable. I am sure looking at him this morning the suit has helped him get over his run. I believe that the Hidez suit has played a role in Australia’s leading male sprinter setting a career-best rating in the world handicapper’s conference.”
Hidez compression suits will be available in Australia and New Zealand in June and will be available at specialty equine retailers in the United States by June/July. It is expected to be available in Europe, Middle East, Japan, and Asia before the London Olympics.
