VETOFLEX - Czech-engineered compression therapy for post-surgery, post-foaling, and hernia recovery. Developed with veterinary university research, knit in the Czech Republic, stocked in Ohio for same-day shipping.
Just out of surgery? Emergency overnight shipping available. Call 937-RU-SAVVY ext 1000 or email Jen@SavvyHorseProducts.com.
In August 2024, Jen's dressage horse Dreamy achieved 80% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Ten days later he underwent emergency colic surgery for a volvulus. No resection was required - but a week later the volvulus returned, and a second surgery was needed. The second incision developed a severe infection that persisted for months.
During his ICU stay, Dreamy was fitted with a standard abdominal recovery belt. It wasn't designed for his warmblood frame. He came home with pressure sores, bald patches, and discomfort. His cheerful demeanor turned sour every time the belt went on. Jen and her team padded and shimmed it with fleece and foam, but it was never right.
She started searching for something better. She found Vetoflex in the Czech Republic - and their ergonomic recovery belt addressed every issue she'd been fighting. Today Dreamy still wears Vetoflex daily for abdominal support.
"Vetoflex is a Great product. Way easier than other option on the market. I don’t need any fancy straps or pads, no rubbing, and I feel like it’s safe if my horse gets caught up when I’m not home."
Six things the Vetoflex Recovery Belt does that standard hospital belts don't.
Sizes — Foal, Cob, Full, Extra Full. Custom belts for ponies, broodmares, drafts, or unusual conformation — Jen specs them with Vetoflex directly.
Shields incisions from stall dust, flies, and environmental contamination throughout the recovery.
Reduces strain on healing tissue, prevents post-op weakness, keeps the surgical site stable.
Localized compression keeps edema around the incision down. Recovery looks cleaner from day one.
Fleece-lined topline prevents pressure sores. Breathable hypoallergenic fabric, soft against the coat.
Stable Belt for box rest and the first weeks home. Riding Belt for return to work under tack. For performance horses, we recommend both — that's the full recovery arc.
Same belt architecture, two structural options: standard Recovery Belt for post-op support, or the Hernia version with a foam plate that distributes pressure across the abdomen when a hernia has developed.
If your vet has just scheduled one of these surgeries, you should have a Vetoflex Recovery Belt waiting at home.
The colic recovery belt should go on immediately after surgery. It protects the incision from stall dirt and insects, supports the abdominal wall as it heals, and reduces soft-tissue swelling around the incision site.
The pre and post-foaling period is a vulnerable window. Abdominal weakness and pre and post-partum hernias are real risks for the mare. The Vetoflex Recovery Belt stabilizes the core, supports the abdominal wall, and gives breeders peace of mind on the mares wellbeing.
For horses that develop a hernia after abdominal surgery, Vetoflex's Hernia Recovery Belt includes a pocket for a supportive breathable foam plate. The plate provides additional compression support to the herniated area to reduce edema and further herniation.
In-depth insight backed by veterinary research and real-world clinical use. You'll learn how Vetoflex Recovery Belts are designed to protect surgical sites, support the abdominal wall, improve circulation, and reduce post-operative complications, with detailed protocols for each phase of the recovery.
Free. No email required.
Take five measurements with a soft tape, compare to the chart, and pick the size that fits all five. Only measurement 4 (belly circumference) wraps fully around - the rest follow the body line.
Stand square + relaxed. The horse should be balanced on all four feet, head in a natural carriage. Don't measure mid-step.
Soft tape, no pull. Use a soft fabric tape measure and follow the natural shape of the body. Don't pull tight - allow room for comfort.
Borderline? Size down. Compression sizing rounds DOWN at the borderline - if you're between sizes, choose the smaller one so the belt stays in compression.
Outside the FOAL / COB / FULL / EXTRA FULL ranges? We can spec a custom belt with the Vetoflex team for ponies, foals, special breeds, or pregnant mares. Email Jen@SavvyHorseProducts.com or call 937-RU-SAVVY
Each belt is sold in COB, FULL, and EXTRA FULL sizes. For performance horses going through colic surgery we recommend buying the Stable + Riding pair so the abdominal wall stays supported through every phase of the recovery.
The first belt your horse wears after colic surgery. ICU, box rest, and the first weeks home. Heavier coverage, designed to stay on 24/7 with fleece-lined topline to prevent pressure sores.These belts are also available in a FOAL size for newborn warmblood foals and custom orders available helping with umbilical hernias.
View belt
For the return-to-work phase after stable rest. Built to wear under tack so the abdominal wall keeps healing while your horse goes back into light work.
View belt
Same architecture as the Stable Colic Belt with one critical addition: a breathable foam plate that distributes pressure from a developed hernia across the entire abdomen, instead of letting it concentrate on the weakest spot. Box rest version. Recovery Hernia Belts are also available in a FOAL size for newborn warmblood foals and custom orders available helping with umbilical hernias.
View belt
The return-to-work hernia belt. Same foam-plate support, built to wear under tack as the horse comes back into work.
View beltIf you're a vet, hospital ICU, or rehab facility that uses compression therapy in post-op care, there are two paths depending on how you want to handle the inventory.
You hold inventory at your practice and dispense it to clients directly.
Best for: Equine hospitals, ICU teams, busy rehab facilities, practices with a dispensary or retail counter.
You recommend it. We ship from Ohio direct to the client.
Best for: Solo practitioners, mobile vets, one-off post-op cases, practices that prefer not to carry inventory.
Either path starts the same way. Email Jen@SavvyHorseProducts.com with your practice details, or call 937-RU-SAVVY Jen handles all clinical inquiries directly.
Vetoflex's compression belts are part of a broader recovery protocol. These two papers, published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, walk through the exercise programs vets prescribe for horses returning to work after colic surgery.
Original research on the CARE training and performance program for horses recovering from abdominal surgery. Published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2019).
Download the paper (PDF) →The 4-week post-colic exercise protocol from the CARE study, written for owners and barn managers to follow at home.
Download the protocol (PDF) →The woven fabric will return to its original shape once washed. We recommend washing the belt at least once every couple of weeks with daily use to maintain its original compression shape.
Standard hospital belts are designed for ICU-to-discharge use - one shape, one size, get the horse home. The Vetoflex Recovery Belt is engineered specifically for the long recovery: fleece-lined topline to prevent pressure sores, breathable woven fabric, three production sizes plus custom orders, and a Stable + Riding belt pair for the full recovery arc.
For performance horses returning to work after colic surgery: yes, we recommend both. The Stable Belt is the heavier-coverage version for box rest, ICU, and the first weeks at home. The Riding Belt is built to wear under tack as the horse returns to work.
Same belt architecture - the Hernia version has a pocket holding a breathable foam plate that distributes point pressure from the hernia across the abdomen.
Take five measurements with a soft tape. Every Recovery Belt product page includes the chart and a measurement video. If your horse falls outside the standard ranges, we can spec a custom belt - email Jen@SavvyHorseProducts.com.
Machine wash cold on delicates, mild detergent, no fabric softener. Hang dry only - do not tumble dry. The fabric is medical-grade and engineered to hold its compression and shape through hundreds of wash cycles.
Standard sizes ship next-day from our Ohio warehouse. Emergency overnight shipping is available - call 937-RU-SAVVY to arrange. Custom sizes are a 2-3 week lead time, often faster.
30-day return window on unused Vetoflex products in original packaging. Once a belt has been worn on a horse, we can't accept it back for hygiene reasons.
If your vet has scheduled a colic surgery, post-foaling care, or hernia repair, the belt your horse will wear afterward matters as much as anything that happens in the OR. We carry the ones we use on our own.
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