The Benefits Of Equine Massage include, but are not limited to:
A horse will move more effectively if they are efficient in their stride. This results in less wear and tear on the joints, ligaments and tendons thus leading to a longer performance life. A horse that is flexible looks, feels and rides much better!!
At times it may be necessary to work on an existing case by referral from your veterinarian as part of your horses rehabilitation programme. Any muscular, orthopedic or soft tissue injury can benefit greatly from massage therapy and, along side controlled exercise, it can help the scar tissue lie down in an improved pattern.
When the horse is being massaged you will notice that he looks as though he has just had a workout. My clients are often amazed that their horse becomes warm and sweaty whilst stood in the stable on a cold winters day. Once the circulation is going, this will help eliminate waste products that are in the system. Massage can be of great benefit to horses that are on a controlled exercise programme, for example, if recovering from illness or injury. Please note, prior agreement from your veterinarian is necessary.
Once the range of motion has been improved through massage therapy and correct stretching exercises, the horse can then begin to work in a more efficient manner thus improving stamina and performance.
A horse that is suffering any form of discomfort has to be a saint not to complain about this. However, there are plenty of saints out there and you may not be aware that your horse is uncomfortable. Some horses will present their objections by subtle or dramatic changes to their behaviour pattern. It is then easy to look back in hindsight and realise that your horse wasn’t being naughty and in fact he was trying to communicate with you that he is in pain.
An improvement in stamina, disposition and range of motion will greatly enhance the horses performance and quality of the gaits.