03/07/2025
What is Equine Bodywork & How Does equine bodywork help your horse 🐎
Equine bodywork is all about supporting your horse’s health, comfort, and performance by working with their muscles, fascia, and posture. Many horses carry tension deep in their bodies without showing obvious signs — until it eventually affects how they move, behave, or perform. Just like us, they can feel tight, sore, or uneven from everyday activities, exercise, tack fit, or conformation imbalances.
A horse’s body relies on two main groups of muscles: the large locomotor muscles (like the glutes and hamstrings) that create movement, and the deeper postural muscles (like the multifidus and serratus ventralis) that support the spine, shoulders, and core. These postural muscles are especially important under saddle, as they help your horse stay balanced and absorb the rider’s weight. When even one part of this system becomes tight or overworked, your horse may start compensating in other areas — leading to discomfort, loss of flexibility, shortened stride, crookedness, or tension.
Equine bodywork helps release that tension using massage, myofascial release, and gentle stretching techniques. It improves blood flow, eases tight muscles, restores range of motion, and helps re-balance the body as a whole. Regular sessions are not only great for horses in heavy work — they’re also hugely beneficial for young horses, retirees, or those recovering from injury. Even subtle issues like girthiness, one-sidedness, or reluctance to bend can often be traced back to underlying muscular tension or fascia restriction.
By keeping your horse’s muscles soft, flexible, and working in harmony, we support their overall wellbeing, prevent injury, and allow them to move more freely and comfortably. Equine bodywork is a gentle but powerful way to care for your horse from the inside out.
📍 Auckland-based
📞 027 217 3669
📧 equinebodyworksolutions@gmail.com
💬 DM me to book or learn more!
