Massage therapy is a great prevention tool as well as aiding in recovery from injury.  The benefits of regular massage include:

• improved circulation and respiration
• improved range of movement, flexibility and fitness
• removal of waste and toxins from the body
• increased muscle tone and condition
• loosening of stiff and aching joints
• creation of energy or relaxation  depending on the technique used
• rehabilitation after injury
• release of knots, stress points and tension from muscles, tissue and fascia allowing the skeletal frame to settle into it’s natural state
• improvements in the overall health and wellbeing of your horse!
• support for the immune system
• improved proprioception
• reduced activity of nociceptive pain receptors

I have witnessed the effects of massage on a range of horses from nasal drainage in an asthmatic horse to a favoured limb standing square.  It is so rewarding and never ceases to amaze me.  Your horse will soon settle into the treatment, I generally find that horses appreciate the relief of muscular release and some will work with me leaning into the pressure or adjusting their stance to gain the full benefit of the work. 

I do have some additional tools you might see me use; the "blue tool", my hand held Magboy, red light pen and my Equiball.  I prefer the use of my hands to gain the best feel but these tools do save my hands sometimes and can be really useful where the horse is particularly sensitive.  I also have an Equilibrium massage pad and an Epiony heat pad that I might use to keep muscles warm if it is especially cold, to loosen tension or in preparation on the next horse where I am treating more than one on a yard.

Your horse's emotional, lifestyle, nutritional, exercise and health routines need to be working correctly to help your horse's body heal, repair and maintain itself.  Massage therapy complements these basic requirements and prompts the body to reset itself so it can regain the health and stability of its internal and external systems.

Research shows that massage therapy has a huge benefit for all horses whether retired, leisure or competing - excerpt taken from Mike Scott LMT, CSF and Lee Ann Swenson MSc, BSc's paper published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science Volume 29, Issue 9, September 2009, Pages 687-697; Evaluating the Benefits of Equine Massage Therapy: A Review of the Evidence and Current Practices.  To read the full paper click here.