Emma Lucy - Equine Massage Practitioner

27/02/2026

💚 Retraining Racehorses 💚

Retraining ex racehorses takes time and patience. They have previously been trained to run as fast as possible in a straight line and as a result will develop a different way of going to your usual ridden horse.

Realistically it will take a year -sometimes longer- of consistent, appropriate work for the horse to adapt their musculoskeletal system to their new career. During this time there will be lots of changes to the horses body.

Due to racing in a straight line and often in one direction your ex racehorse will more than likely have some asymmetries which will need addressing during retraining. The asymmetries can result in things like the saddle dropping to one side and you may find you need more frequent saddle checks at the beginning of the retraining process.

Their weakest point is often their back - they are not bred to be “sat on” and they can lack core strength and posture after their let down period. With correct ridden and in-hand training they can develop the core muscles so they are strong enough for a rider to sit on them, but this will take time.

Ex racehorses often lack lateral flexibility and they can find bending and lateral work particularly challenging. During retraining if your horse finds something challenging you may experience feelings like your horse is running away, “giraffe mode”, leaning on the bit or being behind the leg. It is important to focus on developing good lateral stability to prevent problems in the future.

It is important not to push your horse too quickly during the retraining process or you could break them mentally and physically.

Regular massage treatments can support your ex racehorse during their retraining process by relaxing them mentally. Massage also provides the immediate and progressive release of muscular malfunctions and helps reduce the risk of injury by strengthening muscular, tissue & skeletal structures. Massage will also treat and eradicate muscular asymmetries, restoring a balanced top line and introducing new ranges of flexion.

27/02/2026

I’ve got x3 weekend tickets to the National Equine Show if anyone would like them 🐴

26/02/2026

A great opportunity for somebody who may be looking for support with their horse in a positive and ethical way!

Professional, welfare-focused equine behaviour and training in the Forest of Dean. Ethical, science-based support for horses and their owners.

26/02/2026

💚 Aftercare Advice 💚

If you’ve ever had a massage treatment yourself you will know that the therapist will give you recommendations afterwards. The same applies to horses:

➡️ Horses may be sore and tender in areas following treatment and it advised horses are rested from ridden work for 24-48hours following treatment

➡️ Where possible it is recommended your horse is turned out following treatment to allow them to stretch and move. If this is not possible then a short 15 minute walk in hand is beneficial

➡️ Your horse may be quieter than usual and you may see them lying down, which is a normal reaction following treatment

➡️ You may find your horse drinks or pees more than usual as they flush through any toxins following treatment. Please make sure they have access to plenty of water

➡️ Continuing with any recommended stretches will help maintain your horse between treatments

➡️ It is recommended horses receive regular treatments every 6-8 weeks to help maintain their performance

25/02/2026

Zack enjoyed some Craniosacral Therapy and a bladder meridian release alongside his hands on massage treatment this morning 🤎

➡️ Craniosacral Therapy is an energy based therapy where light touch is applied using fingertips or cupped hands

➡️ Specific hands-on techniques are applied to the horses cranium, spine and sacrum. These techniques can also be applied to other bony areas of the body

➡️ There are no physical manipulations during Craniosacral treatment, although it can be applied alongside a full massage treatment to further benefit the horse

25/02/2026

Equissage session for Holly this morning. A great treatment for sore, tiered muscles after walking through the deep sticky mud at this time of year 💙

23/02/2026

Maintenance massage for veteran Borris this evening.
With the nights drawing out (finally 🙌) I have some later availability for treatments. Now is the perfect time to book your horse in ahead of fun ride and competition season, or before their workload increases for the spring

20/02/2026

Pets, keeping our hearts fuller and lives better. Happy from me and my 4 leggeds to yours 🧡🖤🤍

20/02/2026

What great photos these will be 🤩

Would you like the opportunity to have some pictures done in the lavender fields this year, I have secured 2 slots only for the 1st july... this will be amazing and what a way to capture a beautiful bond, we can create some really super Shots I can not tell you how excited I am to do this, 8th july has been booked up so get intouch asap

12/02/2026

11/02/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭 - 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲!
As the days get longer and your horse enjoys more time outside, it’s tempting to let them spend hours on pasture straight away. But sudden increases in turnout can put them at risk of injury, overexertion, or digestive upset.

✅ Introduce extra turnout gradually – start with shorter periods and slowly build up.
✅ Monitor your horse closely – look for signs of stiffness, soreness, or changes in appetite.
✅ Adjust feeding and exercise routines – their body needs time to adapt to increased activity.

Every horse is different! Ask us for tailored advice to help keep yours safe, happy and thriving!