Massage is appropriate for all types of horses, regardless of breed, discipline, age, or work level. It is just as applicable for a trail horse as for the seasoned competitor. Human athletes utilize massage to enhance their performance capabilities, so why wouldn’t you want that same advantage for your horse, particularly when you consider all of the time and money you spend.Massage not only addresses problems once they’ve formed, but it can help address issues before they become problems, making massage an important part of your horse’s preventative health care program.
Often times you will notice your horse isn’t quite right. He’s not really off, but he’s not performing to his full potential either. These subclinical issues are difficult for conventional health care providers to diagnose and even more difficult for them to treat. The usual manner of x-rays and similar technology only show muscle damage once it has become extensive, whereas massage can detect the same damage before it reaches this permanent level.
Massage works by targeting muscle dysfunctions that interfere with the way the horse moves, creating issues such as discomfort or decreased stride length which translate into your horse not feeling or performing their best. Just as a human athlete can sustain muscle injuries and visit a sports massage therapist to help them get back into condition more quickly a horse receives the same benefits from massage. These include:
Increased range of motion and stride length
Improved flexion
Boosts stamina and overall performance
Improves quality and symmetry of movement
Relieves muscle spasms and tension
Enhances muscle tone
Improved disposition
Alleviate discomfort due to muscle injuries and minimizes scar tissue formation
Improves circulation and boosts the immune system
Reduces tactile defense
Reduction of edema
Loosening and stretching of tendons
