How do you know if your horse would benefit from massage? If your horse is body-sore he will communicate the best way he can: By trying to avoid things that bother him.
You may notice:
- Stiff, tense or reactive muscles
- Postural changes, like camping under in front or out behind, a persistent bend, lean or tilt, a dropped back, and/or high head carriage
- Hypertrophy from incorrect muscle usage, often seen as a bulging underside of the neck
- Decreased stamina or muscle loss
- Stringy or lumpy looking muscles
- Reduced flexibility or stride length
- Muscle or fascia appears stringy, tight or has a dehydrated appearance
- Soreness or sensitivity to touch
- Reduced range of motion or flexibility
- Poor posture or changes in posture and gait
- Reluctance to engage in certain movements, gaits or leads
- Behavioral changes, such as increased anxiety, irritability, or an unwillingness to work
- Signs of discomfort during grooming or saddling
- Decreased performance or confidence
- Asymmetric muscling or posture
- An underlying condition or conformation concern
- Pain face (ears back, wide eyes, tight nostrils and lips, tense facial muscles)
- Spooking
- Hollow movement
- Difficulty with transitions
- Counter-canter/cross-firing or difficulty changing leads
- Struggling to bend or turn in one direction
- Back dips away from pressure
- Uneven muscle development (such as overdeveloped glutes with underdeveloped hamstrings)
- Bucking, bolting or rearing under saddle
Muscle responds to any kind of stress by tightening up. Muscle tension and pain are cumulative. It usually starts small, a little bit at a time, and builds up to become more serious.
Luckily, massage can interrupt this cycle and restore correct use. If the problem has been there for a long time, massage is a great way to help the body transition to more correct muscle use.
Massage with myofascial release differs from other bodywork in that it’s only therapy that actually physically breaks up the knots, tension and adhesions that are the root cause of the discomfort and restricted movement.
Benefits of massage with myofascial release include:
- Improved muscle function, strength and musculoskeletal balance
- Build muscle build muscles faster with a fuller range of motion
- Improved exercise recovery, joint alignment, static and dynamic posture, self-awareness
- Enhanced chiropractic adjustments by helping the body adapt to and hold the adjustments longer
- An increase in stride length and range of motion
- Reduced risk of injury
- Supports the body’s natural healing and maintenance mechanisms
- Naturally reduce pain and stress
- Enhanced relaxation, contentment, well-being and performance
- Increased career longevity
Massage therapy is the cornerstone of equine bodywork. Regular sessions will improve your horse’s performance, trainability and soundness.
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