Schneiders Magnetic Hock Wraps Review: Does Magnetic Therapy Work?
A Schneiders magnetic therapy hock wrap review covering the neoprene construction, anti-slip gel strips, stall use, and the honest state of the evidence for magnets.
Well made, comfortable, and resting on a claim the evidence does not support. Here is what you are actually buying.
The verdict: A well-built contoured hock wrap in 4mm breathable neoprene with a moisture-wicking charcoal lining, anti-slip gel strips and three adjustable straps, which stays put on a stalled horse overnight. Buy it if you want warmth, light compression and coverage on an old horse's hocks and you understand that the magnetic element is not well supported by evidence. Do not buy it as a treatment for hock arthritis, which needs a veterinary diagnosis and a plan.
Schneiders Magnetic Therapy Hock Wraps for Horses
~$125
Contoured hock wraps in 4mm breathable neoprene with magnets placed around the joint, a charcoal moisture-wicking lining, anti-slip gel strips and three hook and loop straps.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Material | 4mm breathable neoprene |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Contoured for complete joint coverage |
| Fastening | Three hook and loop straps with elastic stretch panels |
| Anti-slip | Gel strips to hold position |
| Lining | Charcoal, moisture wicking |
| Intended use | Stall time, per Schneiders |
Specifications above come from Schneiders' published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- The construction is genuinely good. Three straps with elastic panels and anti-slip gel keep a hock wrap in place, which is the thing hock wraps usually fail at.
- A moisture-wicking lining under neoprene is the right design, because plain neoprene against skin for hours causes scurf and rubs.
- Warmth and light compression on a stiff old hock overnight is a comfort measure many owners value, and it does not require the magnetic claim to be true.
- Contoured to the hock rather than a straight wrap, which is why it stays where you put it while the horse moves around a stall.
- Reusable and washable, so unlike a poultice or a liniment there is no per-use cost.
Where it falls short
- The evidence for static magnetic therapy in horses is weak. Controlled studies have generally failed to show effects on blood flow or clinical outcomes beyond what a wrap alone provides. We are not going to tell you the magnets work, because the research does not support that.
- Some of what owners perceive as benefit is likely the wrap: warmth, mild compression and protection are real effects of any well-fitted neoprene wrap, magnetic or not.
- Neoprene traps heat and moisture, so these need coming off and the legs checking daily. Left on too long they cause exactly the skin problems the charcoal lining is trying to prevent.
- They are stall wraps, not turnout wraps, and not something to leave on an unsupervised horse in a field.
- Hock swelling and stiffness in an older horse can be arthritis, bog spavin, an infection or an injury, and those have completely different treatments. A wrap on an undiagnosed hock is a delay, not a therapy.
What owners report
Owner reports on magnetic wraps are positive and are also exactly what you would expect from any comfortable, well-fitting wrap: horses seem more comfortable and move off more freely in the morning. Because almost nobody compares against a non-magnetic wrap of the same design, those reports cannot separate the magnets from the neoprene.
What owners consistently do praise here is fit and durability, and those are claims that stand on their own. The wraps stay up, they wash, and they last, which is more than can be said for a lot of the category.
Who it suits
- Owners wanting warmth and light support on an old horse's hocks overnight in a stall.
- Horses who benefit from any wrap and need one that stays put.
- Anyone already working with a vet on hock management who wants a comfort measure alongside it.
Who should skip it
- Anyone treating diagnosed arthritis, who needs a veterinary plan. Our bute versus Equioxx comparison covers the medication side, which is a vet's decision.
- Horses with any acute swelling, heat or lameness, which needs examining before it is wrapped.
- Anyone buying specifically because of the magnetic claim, which the evidence does not support.
Alternatives worth considering
Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel, 12oz
~$15
A liniment gel is the traditional and much cheaper way to bring warmth and a sensation of relief to a stiff joint. The effect is largely counter-irritant and short-lived, which our magnetic therapy versus liniment comparison sets out honestly. Never use it under a wrap or on broken skin.
Check price on AmazonNutramax Cosequin Optimized with MSM Joint Health Supplement for Horses
~$115
If the goal is joint support rather than local comfort, a researched oral joint supplement is a more defensible use of the same money. It is still a supplement rather than a treatment, and it belongs in a plan your vet knows about.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Magnetic therapy vs liniment
- Turnout vs stall for arthritis
- Best liniments for horses
- Cosequin Optimized with MSM review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Editor's Pick ยท Affiliate link
Cosequin ASU for the Older Horse
The joint supplement with the most research behind it in horses, combining glucosamine and chondroitin with avocado and soybean unsaponifiables. Worth starting before an older horse is visibly stiff rather than after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does magnetic therapy work on horses?
The controlled evidence is weak and has generally not shown effects beyond what a wrap of the same design provides on its own. That does not mean owners are imagining a benefit: warmth, compression and protection are real. It does mean the magnets are not the reason, and buying at this price specifically for the magnets is not supported.
How long can hock wraps stay on?
Follow the manufacturer's guidance and, more importantly, take them off daily and look at the skin. Neoprene against skin for extended periods causes rubs, scurf and moisture problems. If you see heat, swelling or soreness that was not there before, stop using them and call your vet.
Are hock wraps safe for turnout?
These are described for stall time, and that is the right use. Wraps in a field can slip, catch, or come off and be trodden on, and an unsupervised horse in a slipped wrap is a real injury risk. Keep leg wear for supervised time.
Will hock wraps help arthritis?
They may make an arthritic horse more comfortable in the same way a warm wrap makes anyone more comfortable, and they do not treat the disease. Hock arthritis is a veterinary diagnosis with real treatment options, from joint medication to management changes. Our turnout versus stall for arthritis comparison covers the management side, which is where the biggest gains usually are.
Magnetic wraps or liniment: which is better?
Liniment is far cheaper and its effect is short-lived and largely counter-irritant. A wrap gives sustained warmth and mild compression. Neither treats a joint problem. Our magnetic therapy versus liniment comparison sets out what each actually does and what neither of them does.
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