02/01/2017
What does an equine sports massage therapist do?
I often get asked this, and thought it would be nice for y'all if I went a little further into detail with what I do.
The equine sports massage therapist will perform an initial evaluation, which locates tight muscles, tense muscles, well developed muscle groups and under developed muscle groups. Which than allows them to best determine the areas/muscles that need the most attention. Or even which muscles they stress the most within their discipline.
She/he may ask about your riding schedule, your tack and the horse's daily routine. Armed with that knowledge and the results of the evaluation, the E.S.M.T will use several different techniques to relax, stretch and tone the horse's muscles. If you participate in a particular discipline, the E.S.M.T can focus on the muscles most used by your activities and may also advise you as to which of the horse's muscles are not used much by your current activities.
The horse will likely enjoy much of the massage. Even when people don't think or feel their horses tense there can still be some tension happening.
Stimulating circulation and relieving minor tension or stiffness is so relaxing; it feels delightful to the horse just as much as a person would enjoy it. The horse may stretch out so that the E.S.M.T can work directly on a particular muscle. He may lower his head, or c**k a hip to relax muscles so that the E.S.M.T may work on them more effectively. He may even press into the strokes when the pressure and release are feeling good.
The horse may not enjoy everything done during the massage, however. Remember, a deep sports massage is a therapy...not a relaxing spa visit.
Areas of tension, particularly in areas with long-standing issues, may require more time or more pressure to relax. While the therapist is working on such areas, it could be somewhat uncomfortable for the horse. The E.S.M.T may find a particularly tense area or a knot, which requires strong manipulation to relieve. She/he may be separating/stretching muscle fibers to increase flexibility; she/he may be working to relax an especially contracted muscle.
All this takes effect under the skin, but the results of this work are very noticeable. The horse may feel tender in reaction to this work for a day, or even several days if the issue was severe, but when they have shaken it off, they will feel much more relaxed and more flexible. They could likely be capable of efforts that far exceed their previous performances.
Their range of motion and comfort levels when using the involved muscles can greatly improve. The benefits of sports massage therapy for your horse are outstanding.
This therapy works, just use it, give it a chance and see the benefits yourself. Your horse will love you for it! Their movement, mobility, health and demeanor will/should show a difference.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask them!
