Equine Sports Massage is the therapeutic application of professional sports massage techniques applied to the horse. The hands on technique used is aimed at increasing performance levels and endurance, as well as helping to reduce the risk of injury due to muscle fatigue or strain. Massage is beneficial to the horse pre, during and post competition, as well as horses on box rest or in rehabilitation and as a maintenance/preventative therapy.
There are many physical and psychological benefits of massage therapy for the horse, for example, it;
Massage can create either a calming/relaxing effect or a stimulating effect
on the horse's mind, the former helping to release tension/panic in a
highly strung horse and the latter to help prepare a horse prior to competition/exercise
for example.
Horses in all equine disciplines can benefit from massage. From racing, showjumping and eventing, to endurance, polo and dressage. And, for those with leisure horses and ponies, massage can benefit the well-being of the animal, release tension and aid mental relaxation.
60% of a horse's body weight is muscle so it is little wonder muscular problems can cause a variety of motion problems and training set-backs. There are many who are quick to accuse a horse of being un-genuine and un-cooperative when they are actually in pain and discomfort, resulting in the need to compensate by relying on other muscles to take on extra work, which in turn strains them and their associated joints and ligaments creating a knock on effect of problems throughout the whole of the body systems.
The masseur's aim is to achieve a supple musculature allowing the horse to work in comfort and to the best of his ability.
When applying Swedish massage techniques, the movement of the strokes are applied in a certain way so as to aid and direct the flow of body fluids, venous blood and lymph back towards the heart. The neural response created by the hands on massage effects deeper structures within the body and creates a secondary effect of warming. This warming increases the circulatory flow within the whole body which enables an increase in the removal rate of toxins from the blood which in turn enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body helping the body systems to function to the best of their ability. Massage - even when localised over a small area, effects the whole body as all the body systems are interlinked.
When injury (1) occurs there is usually pain (2). Pain results in muscle spasm (3) which creates a reduction of circulation (4). Muscle atrophy (5) then occurs which causes ligament strain (6) resulting in loss of movement (7) which in turn create adhesions (8) which cause pain (2) and so the cycle continues. By reducing (2) via appropriate therapy there is no (3) which results in little (4) causing minimal (5) which means no (6), (7) or (8) therefore enabling recovery!
