Optima Equine Therapy

01/26/2026

Did you know the cold weather can have a noticeable influence on how horses move, feel and respond to exercise?

These effects become very clear during the winter months, when work becomes irregular & when temperatures drop. Your horses internal systems that support normal movement begin to slow down. This creates a very physiological challenge for the musculoskeletal system.

One of the first changes that occurs is within your horses nervous system. The nerves rely on speed to carry information from the brain to the muscles. Colder temperatures reduce the rate at which these signals travel. This means your horses muscles do not receive instructions as quickly or as efficiently as they would in warmer weather. The result your horse feels less coordinated or more hesitant during first movements of exercise. Horse may appear slow to respond or stiff, or even unbalanced until their systems begin to warm.

This is why it is vital to have longer warm ups & cool downs during the colder months.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas 🎄

10/06/2025

🚨Attention 🚨

Now Offering Red Light Therapy & TENS therapy sessions!! Can be added as an addition to your Canine or Equine Massage session or its own separate appointment

Red Light Therapy : Red light therapy is a technique that utilizes natural wavelengths of light, delivered to our bodies through the skin. This non-invasive procedure creates more energy within our cells' mitochondria.

Red light aids in:

Boost blood circulation — vital for delivering oxygen and nutrients to tired muscles.

Reduce tension and stiffness — so your horse moves freely and comfortably.

Speed up recovery — after training, minor injuries or surgeries.

Support older horses — easing everyday wear and tear, helping them feel younger for longer.

• Wound healing: Accelerates the healing process for wounds and reduces scar tissue.

TENS Therapy: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses low-voltage electrical currents to relieve pain. A TENS unit is a small device that delivers the current at or near your nerves to block or change your perception of pain. Healthcare providers use TENS to treat a range of conditions, including osteoarthritis, back pain, Joint pain Etc

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a type of pain relief therapy. It uses a low-voltage electrical current to block pain or change your perception of it.

• The electrical current raises the level of endorphins (your body’s natural pain-killing chemicals), which then trigger your body’s pain-relieving power

Contact us today, to book, further info & to find out pricing .

09/08/2025

A really good podcast & explanation on what Positional Lameness is in horses!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7GUXcbSAu6O4PEREHyHPWL?si=zYMPoeKqT-Crb9eaFgtYqQ

The Horse First: A Veterinary Sport Horse Podcast · Episode

08/08/2025

Here are 25 of the Most Interesting & Important Properties of Fascia:

Fascia is a truly fascinating tissue that plays a central role in how the horse moves, feels, and functions.

1. Fascia is a full-body communication network.
It connects every muscle, bone, organ, and nerve—literally a three-dimensional web that transmits mechanical, chemical, and electrical signals faster than nerves in some cases.

2. It’s a hydraulic system. Fascia is made up largely of water, and its gel-like matrix allows for gliding, shock absorption, and pressure distribution. Movement and massage help keep this system hydrated and functional.

3. It has more sensory nerve endings than muscle. Fascia is densely packed with mechanoreceptors (for pressure, tension, stretch) and nociceptors (pain sensors). It’s key in body awareness (proprioception), coordination, and even pain perception.

4. It transmits force across the body.
Muscles don’t work in isolation—fascia distributes force across chains of movement (like the deep front line or superficial back line) spreading forces both across joints and parallel to them through other tissues.

5. Fascia can contract independently of muscle.
Thanks to tiny contractile cells (myofibroblasts), fascia can hold tension on its own—even without conscious movement. This contributes to stiffness, guarding, or holding patterns.

6. It responds to …https://koperequine.com/25-of-the-most-interesting-important-properties-of-fascia/

06/23/2025

Did you know horses can drink up to 20+ litres of water on a hot day!

With this heat wave hitting us so hard & in the high temps, it’s important to keep our ponies hydrated & cool.

Avoid riding in the middle of this heat, Try to aim for for very early mornings & very late in the evenings.

But even the tiniest amount of exercise can cause heat stroke.

06/16/2025

I see a lot of people recommending chiropractors and pemf and excluding massage therapists. I want to give you a few reasons why I believe a massage therapist should be used regularly at times in a horse’s life:

We all have different skills to contribute to your horse’s care. Bodies need different kinds of help at different times.

Remember that it’s the muscles that create tensile strength and hold the bones and organs in place. They are also what pulls the body out of optimum, by strength or weakness, which combine to create imbalance and potential unsoundness. This is especially true and important when a horse is coming into increased work, coming back into fitness, or when a horse is older and needs a little help staying loose and comfortable. You can be a great trainer, your horse will still build strength unevenly, it’s simply what happens when out of shape horses are put into exercise. It’s natural, normal and expected.

By being proactive and working with a great massage therapist you can help your horse be more balanced and comfortable and so sounder, more mentally balanced and train more easily. We can help the horse through the process by manually suppling, helping him learn his body, improving awareness and letting him use himself the best he can while he works to build and become, hopefully, the best version of himself.

Learn more here - https://koperequine.com/why-hands-on-massage-is-the-best-way-to-for-sore-care-muscles/

06/09/2025

Is Your horse holding tension?

Tension in horses is often sometimes very much overlooked, until it evolves into a much bigger issue. But early signs can be VERY subtle!. Muscle tightness can affect behaviour, performance & even saddle fit.

Here are some signs your horse may be holding tension :

♦️ Shortened stride or stiffness
♦️Struggling with lateral work or bending
♦️ Uneven muscle development
♦️ Difficultly engaging hindquarters
♦️ Resistance in transitions
♦️Odd or unusual Behaviour

Regular Massage therapy improves circulation, helps relive tension & keep muscles supple. Reducing the risks of muscle fatigue, compensation patterns & injury.

Book your massage with us today

04/28/2025