Facts & Benefits of Equine Massage

Benefits:

•  Improves muscle tone and increases range of motion

• Increases flexibility and performance

• Balances the body by treating it as a whole instead of individual parts

• Alleviates muscle pain and tightness

• Reduces inflammation and swelling

• Promotes healing by improving circulation

• Relieves muscle tension so that the muscles can relax

• Lengthens connective tissue which results in the reduction of adhesions in the muscle

• Loosens and softens scar tissue

• Prevents atrophy (wasting) of inactive muscles

Massage may be able to relieve:

•  Trouble with transitions

• Trouble picking up leads

• Shortened or choppy strides

• Girthing problems

• Irritability or resistance

• Hind end weakness

Facts to consider:

•  60% of a horse body weight is muscle.

• Muscles respond to injury or stress by hyper contraction resulting in unnecessary stress on opposing muscle groups and joints.

•  Muscle soreness can occur from any of the following:
• injury
• not warming up muscles properly
• cooling down too fast
• structural or systemic imbalances
• over-stretching the muscles
• misuse or overuse of the horse
• poor saddle fit
  

•  Like humans, horses anticipate pain and overcompensate to avoid it.

•  Muscle problems are cumulative: when a muscle becomes tight, over-compensation increases tension in opposing muscle groups.

• Massage and equine body work can relieve many issues and enhance the quality of life of your equine athlete.

Massage is NOT recommended if your horse has any of the following symptoms:

•  Evidence of a fever

• Has any form of cancer

• Has any form of skin disease

• Has a contagious or infectious disease
  

• Massage is not to be administered to abscesses or tumors

***Always remember massage therapy is not a substitute for veterinary medicine.