WHAT IS MASSAGE?

Massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to improve drainage, circulation, and relaxation, to stimulate muscles and to release muscle-related problems such as spasms.

‘The real place of massage is to prepare the body for exercise, thereby enhancing performance and preventing injury; and to reduce muscle fatigue and ensure a rapid return to normal’ - Mary Bromiley.

WHEN CAN IT HELP?

All sorts of problems can be reduced or eliminated by massage, for example :-

Slight stiffness on one rein; Not relaxing the lower jaw; Continually plunging the head to the ground; Flinching when the girth is tightened; ‘Cold backs’; Shortened stride; Trailing one or both hind legs; Hind leg crossing under the horse during motion; Difficulty with correct canter strike off; Constantly changing canter leads; ‘Motor biking’ around corners, especially in canter; Refusing to go into canter; Refusing, running out or rushing at fences; Jumping flat; Hanging a front leg over a fence; Bucking every time the saddle is put on; Tying up; General inability to relax, both in and out of the stable; Uneven muscle development; Uneven shoe wear;

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Massage enhances performance and prevents injury, allowing the horse to work in comfort and so perform to his full potential by :

  • Releasing muscle spasms
  • Increasing blood circulation, preventing stress build up
  • Increasing flexibility and joint movement
  • Improving co-ordination and stride length
  • Increasing elasticity preventing muscle pulls
  • Reducing post-exercise muscle soreness

WHAT DO I DO?

I will spend about an hour with each horse, discussing his problems, massaging the whole horse (concentrating on the problem areas) and then watching him ridden or lunged. The exercise immediately after treatment allows the horse to feel the release of tension in his muscles and appreciate the removal of pain. Some cases will be corrected immediately; in others with longstanding problems there is usually a great improvement after one treatment, although three or four treatments may be required to effect a full return to optimum performance. I may give the owner some simple exercises to do with the horse to increase the mobility of the joints, reducing the risk of further problems.

INJURY PREVENTION

Horses with no specific problems or with problems that have been corrected benefit from a monthly maintenance massage to keep the muscles supple, prevent injury and detect areas of tension before they become a problem.

 

EXAMPLES OF WORK
  • An Eventer/Hunter had been laid off for two years due to injury, on returning to work he was stiff in his neck, leaning to the left on circles, dragged his near hind, jumped flat and flinched when the girth was tightened. After only one treatment all of the problems were resolved, he worked with much more impulsion and returned to his winning ways.
  • A Connemara pony was generally unsettled in his work and refusing at fences. After one treatment he was much calmer in his general work and won the ridden M&M championship at a county show, after a second treatment he was ridden champion again and won his working hunter pony qualifier in Yorkshire.
  • A four year old stallion being broken in was tying up after each lunge session. Study showed the muscles of his hind quarters were under developed. Regular massage sessions have improved his muscle development and allowed him to be worked on a daily basis.
  • A 13.2 child’s pony was refusing to canter. After one session the young rider was able to perform canter transitions easily within the school at named markers.