Thera-Tree for Marathon Runner:

“I was getting more strength and better times the more I went.” 
-C. Morey

Equestrian, personal trainer, golfer, and marathon runner, Cheryl Morey, age 57, recently finished the Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Virginia while “wearing” a Thera-Tree in her backpack. Her time was a personal best, even though she had been training less than usual in the months leading up to the race due to an injury in early summer. “This was surprising to me, as I had torn a ligament in my foot and took off 2 months from running and only logged 120 miles since May as prep for October’s race, which is not a lot of training.”

Cheryl decided to add the Thera-Tree, a unique wellness device designed for horses, into her ultramarathon runners’ pack after observing the benefits she had seen to horses’ health when they were in the gentle electromagnetic field of the Thera-Tree. Designed by Olympic gold medalist Tad Coffin, the Thera-Tree is used worldwide on equine athletes at all performance levels. Specifically, it helps optimize hydration resulting in lower heart rates, faster cardiovascular recovery, with less sweating as the body’s cooling system runs more efficiently. Other benefits include decreased muscle soreness after exertion and reduction of inflammation throughout the body.

Witnessing the benefits on Tad's horses, Cheryl considered the possible benefits of using the Thera-Tree in her preparation for the Marine Corp marathon.

“So, I thought, if this helps the horses, why not experiment and see what it does for me?” Cheryl says.

She started training with the Thera-Tree one month prior to the race, with the device tucked in her Nathan Aries 2.0 L Hydration Pack Running Vest behind her water bladder and along the outside of the pack. The Thera-Tree unit is wireless and durable, fabricated of carbon fiber, and weighs less than 2 pounds. The placement near her water was by design, to "charge" her drinking water as well as her internal water supply.

“I really do think it influenced me positively. My times got better. My recovery has been generally good, but this time it was better than previous runs for sure” explains Cheryl.

When comparing her times from previous races, Cheryl studied her first marathon and this year’s marathon because she was diverted in both races. The first race, the diversion was due to not making it to the 17-mile gauntlet in time, forfeiting mile 18 and 19 and going directly to mile 20 from the 17-mile marker. This year it was advised by local EMS partners and the MCMO medical team to implement two gauntlets earlier than planned for the health and safety of the participants in the race due to heat and humidity. It was also deemed necessary to keep all runners on the shortened course as they would continue to have medical assistance and have access to hydration sources.

In the first race in 2012 at age 47, she did intervals of walk and run, finishing at 6:40:07. This was a very challenging race as she had struggled with pain in her IT Band and had to stop to stretch several times. In this year’s race, at age 57, her time was 5:48:15, almost an hour difference! Also, she did not stop one time to stretch and had no pain in her IT Band. She shared that each year she purposefully slows to a walk as she passes through the Blue Mile in honor of soldiers killed in action. Also, this year her pace was slowed a bit during a stretch where she helped give a push to a handcyclist who was struggling to make it up one of the big hills. Even with those two slow-downs, she still had a better time.

“I ran more this time, and my walks were more of a light jog. Even though it was warm and humid, I didn’t sweat as much and did not use up all of my water in my bladder pack. I felt very hydrated throughout the race. I still burned over 3000 calories, but it just seemed easier.” Cheryl says the most interesting observation she had was that “I was getting more strength and better times the more I went.”

Data from her FitBit confirmed this, showing that her cardio efficiency was at a steady 136 bpm throughout the whole race with only a couple of peak times. “During this year’s race, at mile 24, (40k) I ran an 11:11 mile and my heart rate was a steady 136 bpm.” Another remarkable part of Cheryl’s experience with the Thera-Tree at this year’s marathon is that she recovered easily, and it was no problem to play a full round of golf the next day and go back to farm chores as usual.

Her smile in the picture sums it up!

The science behind this technology is connected to the work of University of Washington researcher, Professor Gerald Pollack. His research has shown that water has a fourth phase, a liquid crystalline, in between a liquid and a solid that has distinct properties, one of which is the separation into positively and negatively charged zones. He believes that the water in our bodies is predominantly fourth phase water and the charge differential is a 'water battery' that drives much of our biology. It plays a fundamental role in the movement of fluids, the delivery of oxygen, the distribution of nutrients and the removal of waste. The fourth phase 'water battery' is recharged with light, particularly in the infrared spectrum. 

Dr. Pollack's books and many videos on YouTube are excellent references for those interested in a deeper dive into his research. 

The Thera-Tree, which produces an infrared energy field, was developed as an offshoot of Tad's many innovations in saddle design. A larger version of the Thera-Tree comprises the main structure of the saddle typically referred to as the saddle tree. The biological benefits of this technology for horses have been clearly demonstrated for more than 8 years: excellent hydration, lower heart rates, reduced stress, greater relaxation, faster recovery, and improved overall wellness. Tad, an Olympic athlete, his wife Kelly, and a growing number of humans are using this technology with great success for their own wellbeing. 

The unique Thera-Tree devices are made in the USA at a small specialty shop near Charlottesville, VA called Tad Coffin Performance Saddles, where inventor, craftsman, and Olympic gold medalist Tad Coffin has dedicated his life to horsemanship, specifically equine wellness. The same technology is available inside a cuddly teddy bear, called the “Thera-Bear,” which is helping kids with Autism and pets with anxiety. 

The units are available for month-to-month rental, contract free. For more information, please visit give Tad a call at 434-989-3229. 

Thera-Tree is the Key for Daisy Meadow Morgans

The ‘Thera-Tree’ therapy device made by Tad Coffin Performance Saddles is made for pain relief, optimized performance, relaxation, and faster recovery for horses across various disciplines. No matter what the job description, the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of using the Thera-Tree make it a key to accessing the most potential with any equine partnership.

Amy Farley, trainer of World Champion performance Morgan horses at Daisy Meadow Farm, LLC has seen firsthand how the Thera-Tree has focused her horses for better performances. “We have had miraculous results with using the Thera-Tree, and now have three of them that we keep in constant rotation.”  On a recent visit to the farm in Arrington, Va., Amy introduced me to the horses, let us watch some of them work, and spoke of the progressions they have made since they began using Tad Coffin’s simple-to-use wellness technology in December of 2020.

At the ring we watched two amateur owner riders work their flashy Morgan horses through Western Dressage tests. Both horses had a lot of presence: big beautiful eyes, baroque necks and a light, active way of going that are the hallmarks of what is desired in performance Morgans today.  One of these horses is “Pistol,” a 19-year old campaigner, whose fluid, showy movement looked nothing of his age as he worked under the guidance of avid owner/rider Lisa DeNuzzo.

Amy spoke of her goal as a trainer to “channel the equine flight response into a focused performance,” and noted that this is particularly the case with a certain breeding line their stallion “VSB Dark Storm Cloud” comes from, the Minion Millenium line. “Millenium” horses tend to be big, sensitive, charismatic and run “hotter” than other Morgan bloodlines, so having a tool that helps channel their energy has come at just the right time in the program.

From a training standpoint, Amy says “I can take a horse and make it solid with this. We have taken horses that everyone would pass on and turn them into solid citizens that anyone would want. I attribute that to Tad’s technology. It improves their ability to focus. In the past, I had been able to fix specific physical issues with the MagnaWave, but I have found that the Thera-Tree treats the WHOLE horse and because they are physically comfortable, they are calm and focused.” She adds, “It’s like they think differently after wearing the Thera-Tree. They are just more solid. Because there is less inflammation, they aren’t sore.  There is nothing in the way to get through to them. I find that I am unpacking the MagnaWave less and less.”

As far as the Thera-Tree routine, “Some of them wear it all night long, and others wear it in the daytime. We have one that we just won’t work until he has worn it for about 2 hours beforehand. We recognized that he was starting to develop a back issue and this was building to a high level of anxiety. Since the Thera-Tree therapy, we don’t see any of these indications anymore,” added Gabrielle Clauser who rides for Daisy Meadow. “Evan” wears the Thera-Tree when shipping to shows, and this has completely turned around his demeanor. In the past, his team had braced themselves for some “outlaw behaviors” but with the Thera-Tree in his routine, he is a steady citizen and was in the top 10 as a Western horse at the Oklahoma show earlier this month. He has been so trainable and fun that Gabby is branching out his repertoire and the pair plan a debut in the Morgan Hunter over fences classes soon. Gabby also commented that having Evan wear the Thera-Tree while being shod helped his behavior so much that now the device is part of the farrier routine for all of the horses, as “it relaxes them and makes the job easier for everyone.”

Gabby introduced another horse, “CBMF Moment in The Sun,” a 13 year old gelding with multiple Grand Championships as a driving horse. Shortly after they bought him at a sale, they discovered that he had a bad case of stringhalt. Fortunately, the Daisy Meadow team had also just discovered the Thera-Tree, and they set out to see what it could do for “Mo.” He was a perfect one to test it out on, and the results have been astonishing. He wears a Thera-Tree all night long and the stringhalt has subsided so much that Amy says it is really only apparent in certain circumstances. “The more he wears it, the sounder he gets. He’s just been getting better and better.”

The Thera-Tree works by imparting a gentle electromagnetic field of Far Infrared spectrum light, which in turn positively affects all the functions of the body on a cellular level. This is specifically accomplished by affecting the charge differential of water within the cells, making it very efficiently bioavailable across all cellular functions. When the “Freed of Charge” Grounding Girth is added into the equation, the horses are able to access energetic equilibrium through gaining electrons directly from the earth’s surface. These “extra” electrons work as antioxidants in the body and give it what it needs to heal itself.

Because the horses can comfortably relax in the Thera-Tree and enjoy the beneficial Far Infrared ‘light’ therapy in their stalls while they are on ‘free time,’ it helps the busy schedule in a show barn run efficiently. The Thera-Tree works over time like a very low-charge “trickle battery” with its own piezoelectricity that never has to be charged.  It is durable enough that if horses lie down or roll over on it, there are no worries.  When the horses are “grounding,” each for about 30 minutes a day, this is the only time the device isn’t completely “wireless.” When the horses are grounding, this is done using a cord to an outlet which has been checked for proper wiring. This is the only time the Thera-Tree needs direct supervision, and this is easy to do in crossties in conjunction with a grooming session. The grounding sessions are a chance for the body’s electrical system to reset itself and it helps counterbalance living in a world increasingly full of non-native EMFs.

Lisa, who is the owner of most of the horses and is an accomplished horsewoman herself, emphasized that all of the horses in this training program get all the time they need. “We don’t push them to get to the show. Each one is an individual, and they progress at their own pace. That’s just our philosophy. If there is something that helps their health and wellness, then I want it for my horses! It was wonderful to meet Tad and Kelly and learn about the benefits of this unique technology. I want him to put SmartRide Rx technology in western saddles, but he says that’s not high on his list,” she laughed, “so I’ll just plan on getting a TC jumping saddle for when I foxhunt.”

Thera-Tree® & Tad Coffin SmartRide Rx for Kissing Spine

William Woods University Equestrian Studies program hosted Tad and Kelly over the weekend. Please check out this video of a gelding named "Irish" who had been out of work due to kissing spine, as he experienced Tad's Thera-Tree® and SmartRide Rx Saddle Technology.

https://youtu.be/SLSZqKsa04