| A horse's body is 60 percent muscle so it only makes | | | | always a good idea to have a vet examine the horse |
| sense that they can suffer from the same sort of | | | | to rule out more serious health problems. |
| muscle and joint aches and pains that humans | | | | Equine massage can be performed by hand, by hiring |
| experience. Similarly, just like a good massage can | | | | a professional masseuse, or by using a massage |
| work wonders on the human body, equine massage | | | | device. As you can imagine, giving a horse a massage |
| therapy can make a big difference for the horse as | | | | by hand can be tiring work that may leave you in need |
| well. | | | | of a massage yourself. Hiring a professional certified in |
| Equine massage therapy provides a number of | | | | equine massage can be a pricey alternative. While the |
| benefits, including: | | | | initial outlay for a quality equine massage device may |
| - Relieving muscle tension and spasms. | | | | seem expensive, it will quickly pay for itself. |
| - Improving blood circulation, this in turn helps speed the | | | | A full-body massage device both manipulates the |
| healing of injuries. | | | | muscle tissue and provides soothing heat, which |
| - Improves muscle tone. | | | | makes the massage therapy session much more |
| - Increases range of motion, performance and even | | | | effective. The combination of heat and massage has |
| endurance. | | | | been found to increase muscle tone and strength, |
| - Prevention of adhesions by lengthening connective | | | | speed post-operative recovery, and even encourage |
| tissue. | | | | older horses that have become stiff to put their |
| - Decreases joint pain by reducing swelling and | | | | little-used muscles back to work. |
| inflammation | | | | There are a number of leading horse trainers and |
| - Relaxes an calms the horse for examination by the | | | | riders that recommend using a full-body massager to |
| vet, dentist or farrier | | | | deliver massage therapy, including Di Lampard, Nikki |
| - Improve disposition since the pain or discomfort has | | | | Barrett, Marie Burke, John Bowan and Robert Lemieux. |
| been alleviated | | | | Experts have found that just three to five minutes of |
| While all horses benefit from regular equine massage | | | | massage therapy per muscle group - both before and |
| therapy, there are certain signs that your horse will | | | | after exercise - helps relieve tension in tight muscles |
| exhibit to let you know that massage is needed, | | | | and increase blood circulation to the areas receiving |
| including limping or lameness that can't be explained, | | | | the massage. This in turn improves the horse's |
| shortened stride, difficulty with lateral movements, head | | | | performance, attitude or disposition, and helps restore |
| tossing and cold back syndrome. However, before | | | | free motion. |
| jumping headlong into equine massage therapy, it's | | | | |