The Mechanical Horse
Still another form of vibration is the mechanical horse. These appliances are ingeniously devised to simulate the different gaits of a horse. The movement may be made very moderate, or it may be made to resemble the trotting or gallop¬ing gait of a swift saddle-horse. There are up-and-down movements, the tilting movement, and, in fact, movements that simulate all those experienced in actual horseback riding.
Since horseback riding is known to be one of the most beneficial of all exercises, because of the peculiar and, except by the mechanical horse, otherwise unobtainable, rocking, tilting, swaying motion of the hips and hip-spinal joints, this ap¬paratus provides a most excellent type of exercise vibration. Its effects upon the spine, hips, intestines, liver, weight, digestion, metabolism, and nerves are very valuable. One who takes plenty of other forms of exercise will not need to use the mechanical horse, but those who for any reason do not exercise sufficiently, or whose exercise is not sufficiently “limbering,” or who are becoming stiff, will profit greatly by exercise on the mechanical horse. The same may be said re¬garding the vibratory massage or, rather, massage vibration, mentioned above. These appliances are somewhat expensive, and not many homes will be provided with them, but their cost would certainly not be as much as that of medical care and loss of time from business owing to illness that might have been avoided by suitable exercise. But many gymnasiums, clubs and treatment rooms are provided with these appara¬tuses and one may thus have the benefits of their use without being compelled to purchase them.