Why Massage?

A muscle is a band of fibers that stretch and contract. Anytime a muscle is worked, it is subjected to "knotting up," which effects the movement of the muscle. Even a miniscule knot can cause the entire muscle to spasm and feel tight. A human can often "make do" with the pain, seek medical help, exercise, or medication. A horse is dependent on its human counterpart to provide relief.

To tell us they are in pain, horses turn to non-verbal communication. Resistance, in the form of bucking, rearing, pulling, hollowing their back, and increased agitation are all often an attempt to express pain and/or discomfort. These conditions often result in poor performance. There is generally a fine line between the horse's expression of "stubbornness" and "pain," and more often than not these qualities are inextricably linked.

This conundrum leaves the rider in the old pitfall, "Do I push him/her through it, or do I back off and risk losing valuable training/riding time?"

Equine Massage Therapy is a means to relieve muscle knots, which lead to spasms and discomfort. It can benefit the backyard horse, trail horses, race horses, hunters, jumpers, dressage horses, eventers, buggy horses, barrel horses, ranch & farm horses, etc... Other benefits of massage therapy include increased circulation, enhancement of muscle tone and range of motion, relief of tension, and general improvement in the horse's general disposition

Remember that, while Equine Massage Therapy may be beneficial to your horse, it is NOT a substitute for regular veterinary care.

Benefits of massage include:

• Enhances muscle tone and range of motion.
• Reduces inflammation and swelling in the joints, thereby alleviating pain.
• Promotes the healing process by increasing the flow of nutrients to the muscles, and aiding in carrying way excessive fluids and toxins.
• Creates a positive effect on the contractual and release process of the muscles… releasing tension… relaxing muscles.
• Stimulates circulation by: defrosting frozen muscles, thereby releasing endorphins – the body’s natural pain killers.
• Helps to maintain the whole body in better physical condition.
• Improves athletic performance and endurance.
• Helps to restore full range of motion.
• Assists in balancing the body by treating it as a whole, rather. than individual parts.

Conditions that may be the result of tight muscles and/or muscle spasms:

  Massage has also shown to provide relief to horses who:

• Have in the past or are currently colicing (Massage performed in the midst of a colic while awaiting veterinary care, has shown to be helpful).
• Have in the past or are currently Tying up. (Massage performed while a horse is tied up, has shown to help the horse recover more quickly).