Centaur Equine Massage Training

09/02/2026

03/02/2026

02/02/2026

Every skilled hand begins with patience, practice and respect for the horse. Show up today - your touch matters.

www.centaurequinemassagetraining.co.uk

19/01/2026

Massage therapy and the horse's limbic system.

The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in emotion, memory, stress regulation, and social bonding, so anything that affects it can have a noticeable impact on the horse’s behavior and overall well-being.

Massage can affect the limbic system by...

🐴 Lowers Stress and Activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System

💚 Stimulating sensory nerves in the skin and muscles. These signals travel to brain regions connected to the limbic system, particularly the amygdala (stress and fear processor) and hypothalamus (regulates hormones).

This results in:

💚 Reduced release of stress hormones (like cortisol)

💚 Increased activation of the parasympathetic system (“rest and digest”)

💚 Slower heart rate, deeper breathing, softer eyes, licking/chewing - signs of relaxation

These responses show that the limbic system is shifting into a calm state.

🐴 Enhances Emotional Regulation

The limbic system interprets touch as a social and emotional cue. Slow, rhythmic massage paticularly in familiar contact areas like the neck, withers, and shoulders can...

💚 Produce oxytocin (the bonding and calming hormone)

💚 Reduce anxiety or hypervigilance

💚 Promote feelings of safety and trust

This is why massage often helps sensitive, reactive, or previously stressed horses settle over time.

🐴 Helps Release Stored Emotional Tension

💚 Horses commonly store emotional stress in the body, particularly in:

The poll
TMJ
Neck
Back
Pectorals
Flanks

💚 Massage of these areas sends feedback to the limbic system, which can cause:

Yawning
Licking and chewing
Blinking
Stretching
Shaking

These are neurological "reset" behaviors tied to limbic system processing.

🐴 Improves Learning and Memory

💚 A relaxed limbic system improves cognitive function. When stress levels decrease:

✅️ The hippocampus (responsible for memory and spatial learning) functions better

✅️ The horse becomes more receptive to training

✅️ Emotional associations with certain tasks can shift from negative to positive

This is why massage before training or rehabilitation sessions can help the horse learn more calmly and effectively.

🐴 Strengthens Horse–Human Bonding

💚 Gentle touch activates bonding pathways that involve the limbic system, especially the amygdala and hypothalamus. This leads to:

✅️ Increased trust

✅️ Improved tolerance of handling

✅️ More willingness to engage socially

Some horses become noticeably more affectionate or softer in their demeanor over time.

🐴 Overall, massage shifts the horse from a sympathetic (“alert, stressed”) state to a parasympathetic (“calm, connected”) one.

www.centaurequinemassagetraining.co.uk

01/01/2026

✨ January Sale – Start the Year with a New Skill ✨

Enrolment onto our Equine Massage Course is discounted through January.

Learn how to:

🐴Improve horse comfort, performance & recovery.
🐴Build practical, hands-on massage skills.
🐴 Begin a new career with horses or add a valuable qualification to your current equine career.

Whether you’re a horse owner, groom, rider, or looking to work professionally with horses, this course gives you the knowledge and confidence to make a real difference.

📍 Study at your own pace
📩 Enrol now and save

20/12/2025

Happy Winter Solstice Eve

We have nearly made it ❤️

09/12/2025

The importance of treating each horse as an individual, something which is focused on a lot with our students.

26/11/2025

❄️How Cold Weather Can Affect Horse Muscles❄️

🐴Muscle Tightness and Stiffness🐴

➡️Colder temperatures cause muscles to contract and become less flexible. This can lead to:

⭐Stiff movement
⭐Reduced stride length
⭐Difficulty bending or collecting during riding

‼️Older horses or those with prior injuries may feel this more strongly.

🐴 Increased Risk of Muscle Strain 🐴

➡️Cold muscles are more prone to injury. Without proper warm-up:

⭐Muscles can tear more easily.
⭐Tendons and ligaments become less elastic.

‼️This is especially important for performance horses.

🐴 Slower Warm-Up and Cool-Down 🐴

➡️ Horses take longer to get their muscles warm enough for work. If they cool down too quickly afterward, muscles can tighten again.

🐴 Reduced Blood Flow 🐴

➡️ Cold causes blood vessels to constrict, which can:

⭐Lower circulation in muscles
⭐Delay removal of lactic acid
⭐Lead to muscle soreness after exercise

🐴 Increased Risk of Conditions Like Tying-Up 🐴

➡️Horses prone to tying-up (muscle cramping and stiffness) may be more affected in cold weather, especially if:

⭐They are exercised without proper warm-up
⭐They have inconsistent exercise routines
⭐Their diet is not adjusted for winter

🐴 Compensatory Tension From Posture 🐴

➡️ Cold wind or icy footing may cause horses to brace their muscles, tightening:

⭐Back muscles
⭐Neck muscles
⭐Hamstrings

‼️Over time, this can lead to soreness and reduced performance.

🐴How to Help Protect Your Horse's Muscles in Cold Weather🐴

✅Warm-Up Thoroughly

⭐Walk for 10–15 minutes before trotting or cantering.
⭐Gradually increase work intensity.
⭐ Use Exercise Sheets or Quarter Sheets, especially for clipped horses or those prone to stiffness.

✅Keep Them Moving
⭐Turnout and light daily exercise help prevent stiffness.

✅Ensure Proper Nutrition
⭐Adequate electrolytes, vitamin E, and potassium support muscle function.

✅Massage or Stretching
⭐Regular massage and stretching can help older or stiff horses loosen up.

✅Maintain Appropriate Rugging (this will vary horses to horse, there is no one size fits all when it come to what rug to put on).
⭐A warm horse = warm muscles = less stiffness.

www.centaurequinemassagetraining.co.uk