Let's take a look at how massage can improve and maintain your horse’s performance, from increasing flexibility to relieving poll tension build-up.

As with human athletes, horses can also develop strains, muscle tears, adhesions and fatigue as a result of regular or even strenuous exercise.

In all aspects of modern horsemanship, owners are finding that Equine Massage Therapy is beneficial not just to the physical aspect of the horse, but it is also showing improvement in the horse’s mental well-being.

Techniques which are used during a massage therapy session range from basic cross fibre friction to the complicated myofascial release (specialised physical and manual therapy used for the rehabilitation of soft tissue and fascial tension).

Below, we take a look at eight areas in which massage therapy can help to improve and maintain your horse’s performance:

1. Increased Flexibility

Poor flexibility is usually caused by muscle fatigue, tightness or even inflammation. Massage therapy can improve flexibility through stretching techniques, designed to ensure correct alignment and rehydration of the muscle fibres following a workout. Hydrated muscles have much more elasticity, and a more remarkable ability to stretch, thus improving flexibility.

2. Improved Suppleness

Suppleness is a mixture of unrestricted movement in the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. Therapists combine massage with skeletal mobilisation to increase the range of motion in joints, allowing and encouraging the horse to become more free-flowing and expressive in its movements.

3. Relieving Poll Tension

The horse’s poll is an area in which a lot of tension manifests itself. Stretching and massaging the horse’s poll can relieve a whole abundance of tension build-up, usually culminating with the unlocking and stretching of the jaw through uncontrollable yawning.

4. Tackling Psychological Issues

Gentle myofascial release work in and around the horse’s poll and neck can help alleviate tension in the most ill-treated, timid or fear-aggressive horse, after just one session of massage therapy.

5. Aiding Muscle Recovery

Equine massage therapy will also ensure pathways to and from muscle bodies are free from adhesions, allowing the effective expulsion of acids which can cause fatigue and even cramp, as well as giving access to oxygen-rich blood cells to replenish depleted stores, and repair any torn fibres.

6. Harmonising Both Horse and Rider Balance

A good massage therapist can tell a lot about the rider from the physical tensions which are felt when palpating the horse. Often, a horse may be one-sided through its back, if the rider is uneven in their seat.

7. Increased Muscle Conditioning

By eliminating these tight muscles, massage therapy removes restrictions which could hinder the recovery period. Unrestricted muscles are reached more easily by nutrients which in turn allows them to easily grow and adapt to their workload.

8. Detoxification

Mainly used in between techniques and at the end of a massage, effleurage is the sweeping motion which is used to guide toxins towards the lymph nodes, where the body can easily remove them as natural waste. By removing these toxins it helps to prevent cramping and fatigue, and also promotes the hydration and suppleness of muscles.

Conclusion

Regular Maintenance Equine Therapy makes it easier to prevent an injury from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after the injury has happened.

Horses that are in routine work tend to use the same muscles repeatedly in order for them to perform their intended job. Because of this, their muscles start to develop tension patterns.

Equine Massage Therapy is beneficial not just to the physical aspect of the horse, but it is also showing improvement in the horse’s mental well-being.

This is also another reason why it is important to add regular maintenance therapy sessions to their calendar and another reason why I recommend follow-up sessions.

Hannah

Massage is not a substitute for veterinary care. We work closely with you, your vet, & farrier to fully benefit the whole horse. We are happy to answer any questions you may have or book an appointment, email Hannah on hannahegan.eq@gmail.com