Pressure's off for Injured Horses

Horses are following the country's top athletes on the road to recovery from injury thanks to the development of the world's first horse hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Designed by Melbourne based company, Fink Engineering, the first equine chamber was installed at Flemington in May this year.

The chamber has already proved successful in speeding up the healing process for hundreds of prized mares.

The rectangular equine chambers hold up to three horses at a time and use specially designed masks providing 100 per cent pure oxygen to stimulate new collagen and decrease swelling on injured tissues.

The innovation provides the same hyperbaric oxygen treatment that hospitals around the world use to speed up the healing process for injured athletes including top AFL and rugby players.

Australian company EquiiOx, a combination of the Latin word "equus" for horse and "Ox" for oxygen, was set up last October by a group of veterinarians and scientists to develop the chambers.

The team carried out extensive research on the therapeutic value of hyperbaric medicine in human and animal patients. EquiiOx found the treatment would help treat acute and chronic wounds in horses, getting them back on the track up to 70 per cent faster.

The company then invested in Melbourne company Fink Engineering late last year to design a rectangular chamber equivalent in size to a three horse float.

Fink Engineering designed its first rectangular hyperbaric chamber for human use in 1996 and has since transformed the way in which hyperbaric medicine is practised.

The company has designed nine hyperbaric chambers for hospitals around the world and is now constructing four more horse equine chambers for export to the Middle East and Europe.  It is estimated the potential market in Australia and overseas would be A$100 million.

While the first chamber took more than six months to complete, Eric Fink, Owner and Managing Director of Fink Engineering, said he now hopes to roll out one horse hyperbaric chamber every month.

"The first chamber installed at Flemington in June has been a tremendous success. More than 350 horses have already been treated with some very remarkable anecdotal results," explained Mr Fink.

"A number of round chambers have been used in America to treat horses in the past but they are not a very user-friendly shape for horses or for people. The rectangular build is more suitable for horses and animals to use worldwide."

After designing the unique innovation, Mr Fink said he was determined the chamber would be built locally.

Coffs Harbour-based engineers W.E. Smith Hudson were enlisted to build the chamber using various grades of XLERPLATE® steel from BlueScope Steel.

"W.E. Smith Hudson was the obvious choice because they are one of the best pressure vessel shops in the world," Mr Fink added.

"The job wasn't a challenge for the company and we have since had an extremely successful relationship. We are now hoping to make many more of the chambers for export around the world."

The choice of steel supplier was the next critical decision for Fink Engineering and W.E. Smith Hudson because there could be no risk in terms of delivery and quality.

"We were thrilled to be involved in the production of the world's first rectangular hyperbaric chambers for the treatment of horses," explained W.E. Smith Hudson's Purchasing Manager Bruce Watt.

"We used BlueScope Steel not only because it is Australian made but also because it is the most suitable material for use in the project. A key factor in our relationship with clients is reliability of supply. In conjunction with our local OneSteel Metaland store, they have provided outstanding service over the years," said Mr Watt.

BlueScope Steel supplied 12 tonnes of 460R XLERPLATE® steel for each chamber.