We can't hide ourselves away in the presence of an animal. - Ted Andrews

Why Massage?

The capability of each horse to perform and progress within their specialty depends on their confirmation, muscle efficiency and flexibility. These allow the horse the freedom of motion necessary to learn and reliably perform new movements.

While we cannot change a horse's confirmation, massage can increase muscle efficiency and flexibility. When skeletal muscles are working, energy is burned and carbon dioxide is produced. Increased carbon dioxide stimulates skeletal muscle circulation and respiration; the horse "warms up." When muscle work is strenuous or prolonged (beyond the muscle's capacity), a build up of metabolic by-products settle in the muscle that creates muscular fatigue. Massage helps remove toxins produced by muscular fatigue.

The removal of these metabolic by-products increases muscle efficiency. Under normal training conditions, the by-products of Monday's workout are mostly removed during Tuesday's workout, and so on. Time off does not remove toxins with the efficiency of massage.

Massage increases circulation; better circulation increases muscle elasticity and range of motion. Horses with flexible, efficient muscle action and freely moving joints are much less prone to injury, are more relaxed and recover from strenuous activity more quickly.

How do I know if my horse needs a massage?

Many clients wait until the horse is lame before considering massage. Lameness is usually associated with muscular breakdown but can also be the result of prolonged overuse. While massage can benefit the lame horse, horses who rely on efficient muscular function to perform optimally are good candidates for evaluation. Consider for a moment how your body might feel after spending the weekend carrying boxes up and down stairs. On Monday morning, your leg muscles are stiff and sore but you are not limping or "lame." Massage would certainly be beneficial to your recovery and comfort. Likewise, many horses push beyond their physical capacity motivated either by force or by an inbred eagerness to please their human partner. These animals would also benefit from massage.

Most, but not all, horses would benefit from massage; however, the only way to be sure is have your horse evaluated by a Certified Equine Massage Practitioner or a Veterinarian familiar with the indications for massage.

Which conditions can massage help?

Horses having problems adjusting to their environment or those having difficulty learning new behaviors benefit from massage. Young animals seem to show dramatic improvement in learning capacity after massage.

Aging horses can be helped to recondition muscles damaged from overuse by increasing circulation to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. These individuals can be helped to perform comfortably in their latter years.

Massage for horses rehabilitating from surgery and/or injury benefit by reduced swelling with fewer adhesions forming. Massage maintains better muscle tone and aids in calming and relaxing the animal - a relaxed animal heals quicker.

Before an event, selected massage techniques are applied to help fine-tune the animal's muscular and nervous system optimizing their performance. After the event, other techniques are used to manage the cool-down process and optimize systemic recovery.

What kind of horses do I work with?

I work with ALL breeds and in ALL specialties of performance horses. A sore muscle is a sore muscle - regardless of the horse's specialty.

An experienced Practitioner is the most vital factor in producing positive results for you and your horse. Certified Practitioners can also teach you the specific massage techniques and stretches most helpful to your horse.