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Equine Sports Massage

All of the different disciplines in the horse world are getting so competitive creating a greater need to give our equine athletes every advantage.  Equine sport massage can help maximize your horse’s performance by improving flexibility, increasing circulation, lengthening muscle fibers, and it can help reduce healing time for injuries just to name a few.

We need to learn how to listen to the horse who communicates through behavior and performance.  This can be blatant or it can be as subtle as acting cinchy, refusing to pick up the correct lead and/or not performing up to previous levels.  Sometimes we think it’s just bad behavior but in actuality the horse is trying to tell us that something is wrong or they are hurting somewhere.  A horse that is pain free is readily able to deliver maximum performance in the arena or on the trail.

Massage affects the muscles through relaxation, thereby decreasing pain and also improving circulation and the lymphatic systems.  Massage can have immediate benefits but it takes regular treatments to bring significant improvements to the overall health of the muscle.  When a horse is massaged, it sends messages to all of the different parts such as the body, the mind and the emotions which are all connected by the nervous system.  Working the muscles reduces stress hormones, lowers blood pressure, slows the breathing rate, improves digestion and gives a sense of well being.  Massage also helps to release endorphins which are the body’s natural pain relievers.

A lot of our horses suffer pain through stiffness due to repetitive maneuvers or movement with a limited range of motion.  Muscles need to use their full range of motion or they will loose their ability to do so.  Some of these horses develop secondary problems which can lead to postural and/or gait adaptations.  Equine sports massage can help to prevent the loss of motion.

All horses can benefit from an equine sports massage treatment, from the family pony to top quality competition horses.

It is important to remember that equine sports massage is not a substitute for professional veterinary treatment.   

By Linda Ghent

Linda Ghent is a 22 year police officer (retired) who now is part owner of Star Amazing Grace Performance Horses with Terri Kinney.  Linda has a full time Equine Sport Massage practice.  You can contact Linda at  www.StarAmazingGrace.com  or StarAmazingGrace@aol.com