Equestrian Sport Massage 

Thought to originate in China, massage is the art of a range of techniques designed to treat the tissues in the body. Some of the physical benefits of equestrian sport massage therapy:

• Loosens tight muscles, stretching the connective tissue

• Relieves muscle cramps and spasms

• Decreases muscle fatigue

• Loosens joints and improves range of motion

• Increases muscle strength 

• Calms the nervous system

• Stimulates circulation

• Firms up muscle and skin tone

• Speeds up healing from injury and illness

• Can aid in breaking down adipose and scar tissue

• Improves lymphatic drainage

A few of the mental benefits include:

• Relaxation

• Improves length and quality of sleep

• Relieves stress, anxiety, depression and irritation

• Increases the ability to concentrate

• Improved sense of well being

Equestrian massage always starts with initial palpation. Palpation is the use of the sense of touch to physically examine the body. Following this, the use of techniques such as efflourage, petrissage, tapotment or cross fibre friction can be used to treat.

You should seek the help of an Equine Sports Massage Therapist if your horse displays any of these signs:

• A reluctance to seek or relax into a contact

• General stiffness in the neck, or a reluctance to flex through the poll

• Difficulty in tracking up in any of the gaits, if they are displaying an uneven stride length or if they have any general stiffness within the limbs

• If your horse is struggling with correct canter leads, or if your horse finds a flying change more difficult one way

• Difficulty with lateral work

• A reluctance when jumping

• If your horse is 'cold backed' or displaying vices when ridden, ie. bucking, rearing etc