The Benefits of Equine Sports Massage Therapy
Equine Sports Massage Therapy provides numerous benefits, both physical and mental, and regular professional sessions will ensure your horse's muscles are prepared for any level of work. Massage can help a range of common musculoskeletal issues and, when used on a regular basis, can help prevent injury.
Changes in behaviour and typical ridden issues could be a result of muscle tightness or pain. Your horse could be trying to tell you there is a problem if he/she displays any of the following:
reluctance to relax into a contact
lack of poll flexion and bend
difficulty with lateral work on one or both reins
failure to track up, on more than two tracks, uneven stride length
limb stiffness
inability to pick up the correct canter lead or inability to perform flying changes on one lead
stiffness or lack of flexion/bend on one or both reins
headshaking, tilting or shyness
bucking or rearing under saddle
refusing fences/drop fences/running out
napping
naughtiness when being saddled/girthed
refusal to go forward
irritability/stress/depression
Equine Sports Massage Therapy can be tailored for each horse depending on his or her workload, age and physical condition. It is a fantastic way of assessing and locating problem areas within your horse’s musculoskeletal system, and can be used in conjunction with veterinary input, remedial shoeing, saddle fitting, veterinary physiotherapy and osteopathy. As it speeds up healing, calms the nervous system, relieves stress, anxiety and depression, stimulates circulation and improves lymphatic drainage, massage is invaluable for horses on box rest. In some cases (where massage is recommended by your veterinary surgeon and forms part of your horse’s treatment) you may be able to recover the cost as part of your insurance claim. Insurance companies may differ depending upon the type of policy/cover that you have, and you should therefore check the position with your insurance company prior to booking.
