WHY MASSAGE HORSES?
Horses respond very well to qualified Equine Massage and Bodywork. They do not have preconceived notions about massage therapy and they do not have the head chatter that we humans have that gets in the way of responding to touch.
Muscle imbalance is a significant cause of injury and myofascial (muscle tissue) pain in a horse. Massage can help to correct the length and health of the muscle, which in turn can correct the alignment of bones and joints.
Soreness or injury in a muscle interrupts the flow of the electrical impulses from the brain and restricts the blood flow to that area. Chronically contracted muscles become locked in muscle memory. With massage, circulation returns, toxins are flushed out of the muscles, healing and healthy muscle tone can occur.
Examples of when a massage assessment and treatment can be beneficial:
| Refusing or resisting leads | Loss of performance ability |
| Head and neck discomfort | Shortened strides |
| Hip and shoulder lameness | Improper tracking |
| Girthing problems | Unhappy attitude |
| Sudden change in behavior or cooperativeness | Holding tail to one side |
| Excessive rolling | Head shaking |
Situations your horse may experience that would benefit from a massage assessment:
| Performance – Increased activity causes soreness and stiffness of muscles and joints | Lesson Horses – Constant change in riders causes tension, soreness, and stress |
| Recovering from injury or sickness – Sudden decrease in movement causes stiffness and stagnation, boredom and anxiety. | Off-site trips - New situations can cause anxiety and tension and new terrain may be more difficult to navigate. |
| Seasons – Weather changes can effect the level of activity, types of foods available, temperature, dampness, etc | Changes in Environment – Changes to daily expectations can cause anxiety and tension |
| Older Horses – With aging comes a multitude of ailments such as joint swelling, weakening ligaments and edema | |
