Why Use Equine Massage?
What is Equine Massage?
Equine Sports Massage Therapy is where soft tissues of the horse are manipulated with the goal of loosening tight muscles, joints, tendons, scar tissue and stress points; increasing blood flow and lymphatic activity and reducing stress. Trigger point therapy, stretching and mobilisation techniques also form part of my massage treatments, along with heat therapy. Heat therapy is applied using my Epiony Heat Pad and Thermal Wand as and when required depending on your horses needs, every horse is different and their treatment will be tailored specifically to them.
By promoting relaxation, circulation and healing, equine massage can help improve a horse's performance, balance and mental state. Massage plays a very important role in prevention therapy and in recovery from injury, for example if your horse is on box rest, muscle atrophy can occur and/or legs start to fill up. Massage can help to stimulate unused muscles and encourage lymphatic drainage to remove the build-up of toxins from your horses body. The manipulation of soft tissues, fascia and muscles can improve how your horse looks, performs and ultimately feels in his/her self. The difference can often be seen after just one treatment.
While the main aim of equine massage is manipulating muscles, it also has a positive effect on your horses lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems, leaving your horse with an all over wonderful sense of well being. Every horse can benefit from massage work, from your retired/non ridden pony to your happy hacker to your high level competition horse.
Benefits of Equine Massage
When muscles are overused or misused, they become over stretched and sore. This results in the horse compensating improperly using other muscles or tensing up, eventually leading to potential injury and restricted motion. Equine sports, rehabilitation and relaxation massage can be applied by a qualified therapist to locate and treat muscle strains, injuries and tension.
There are a wide range of benefits to equine massage, here are a few to give you an idea:
✅Improved circulation.
✅Improved lymphatic drainage.
✅Reduces swelling and inflammation.
✅Releases tension.
✅Releases natural pain relieving endorphins.
✅Prevents adhesions in muscle tissue.
✅Increases blood flow to muscles.
✅ Reduces stress.
✅ Improved energy levels.
✅ Improved range of movement and stride length.
Signs of tension release and relaxation while your horse is having their treatment can include blinking, licking and chewing, yawning, looking sleepy, lowering the head and big sighs. These are all signs your horse is benefiting from their treatment.
Does my horse need a massage?
Your horses behaviour or outlook may have changed suddenly or you may have noticed a reluctance to work or with routine movements and they may appear stiff.
Common signs your horse will benefit from a massage:
🐴 Appears stiff or not striding out to full extension.
🐴 Grumpy when girthed up or behavioural changes.
🐴 Poor (or reduced) flexibility.
🐴 Unwillingness (in all work or specific movements).
🐴 Bucking/napping.
🐴 'Cold backed'.
🐴 Twisting over fences.
🐴 Refusing to do things that were once easy (jumping/ dressage movements).
🐴 Saddle slipping to one side.
🐴 Headshaking or head shyness.
These changes could be signs of muscle tightness or pain/discomfort and that your horse is trying to tell you something. Equine Massage Therapists are unable to diagnose any problems your horse/pony may have, however they can treat any issues they find (e.g. muscle tightness/stress points) while attending your horse. Equine Massage is not a substitute for veterinary care but is to be used alongside conventional health care.
Keeping your horse happy and healthy is the key to a successful partnership 💕.
Contact Nicki for a friendly chat and to see how she could help your horse.