Does my horse really need a massage?

Equine athletes can withstand long hours of rigorous training and the stress of competition, and yet a single wrong step can lead to an injury that can limit or even end their career. Behind every high performing human athlete is a team of experts - trainer, doctor, nutritionist, massage therapist, chiropractor, acupuncturist - all making sure every system is working properly and at its optimal capacity. Our high performing equine athletes deserve the same support.

​Whether you own a competitive hunter/jumper, dressage, eventer or barrel racer, there are demands placed on any equine body which requires a team of experts to maintain top conditioning. As owners and caretakers, it's our responsibility to make sure the work we do with them is enjoyable and pain free and to ensure their body and mind is functioning optimally so they can perform to our high human standards.

 When something goes wrong, horses will try to conceal their pain — it is their nature as prey animals to hide pain and discomfort and compensate for it by adjusting the way they use their body. So often we don't know something is wrong with our horse until it is very wrong. Equine massage therapists can help promote healing of minor injuries or complement treatment for more serious issues. Regular massage therapy can resolve soft tissue issues before they become serious. It's normal for equine athletes to carry some muscle tension, especially if they're working hard. But if these muscle issues aren't addressed early on and maintained on a regular basis, they will eventually affect the way the horse moves which can lead to a common problem like lameness. Tension in the poll and TMJ may cause the horse to carry his head and entire body differently — affecting seemingly unrelated muscles which affects their ability to bend properly and to use their body incorrectly. This incorrect use leads to undefined pain, reluctance to work, irritability and misunderstanding between rider and horse.