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Equine Massage
Category: Equine Alternative Therapies
Published on 27/10/2010 by Angela Hall
Published on 27/10/2010 by Angela Hall
a good scratch (click for larger)
EQUINE MASSAGE
Angela Hall the author of this article, is a fully qualified equine sports massage therapist. She has massaged hundreds of horses in the UK and Europe and also world class race horses in the United Arab Emirates. She provides a mobile horse massage service in the north east and can be contacted on 07852 957407.
Angela has also produced a horse massage DVD to share some of her massage techniques and stretches with horse owners, it’s a jargon free DVD aimed at owners of all ages and abilities, this will allow owners the opportunity to learn a new skill and give their horses the best possible on-going care. It is available for purchase from her website:
www.massage-for-horses.co.uk. Angela has also founded EMA Equine Massage Academy (in the north east). Her school opens in January 2001 where horse owners can attend 1 day workshops and learn to massage their own horses. She will be teaching a unique combination of soft tissue techniques, manipulation and stretching. The teaching is taking place at some great venues including Kirkley Hall, Northumberland, Leamside, Durham and Askham Bryan, York. She will also visit owner’s premises to do the training providing she can work in an indoor arena or barn and have a minimum of 8 people, working with 4 horses. Full details on her website:
www.massage-for-horses.co.uk
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WHY DO WE MASSAGE OUR HORSES?
Massage is extremely beneficial to horses and ponies, it is performed to help counteract the effects of exercise and pressures on our horses from wearing tack and being ridden. It enhances their performance and also benefits schooling and behavioural problems, often an indicator of pain or discomfort. Once we’ve massaged our horses the results are amazing, only then can see how much tension has been consumed in the muscles. After a massage the result is a more relaxed, happier and healthier horse who will move more freely through the gaits and perform much better. If we massage on a regular basis the long term benefits are amazing and the bond you have with your horse is further strengthened as they really do love a massage!
All major competitors have their own equine massage practitioner as part of their team of professionals who massage the horses on an on-going basis to help performance and to protect against injury. By stretching your horse before you compete, you help the muscles and tendons have more elasticity and therefore less prone to damage. Massaging afterwards helps the healing process and to get rid of toxins which have built up in the muscles through exercise.
WILL MASSAGE HELP MY HORSE?
Massage helps ALL horses and ponies but if you cananswer YES to any of the following then your horse may well be suffering from muscle tension and would benefit from massage. The DVD Angela is producing will guide you through the stages of performing a massage and if you do it regularly your horse should show immense signs of improvement:
Does your horse?
- compete or take part in pony club or riding club activities
- have difficulty working on one rein
- frequently works on the forehand instead of engaging hindquarters
- have problems with head carriage particularly during transitions
- show reduced performance
- have a conformational fault that could put stress on other body parts
- show signs of stiffness particularly in the older horse
Does your horse suffer from any of the following?
- fallen or suffered injury
- been cast
- had saddle fitting problems
- shortened strides
- lameness whether constant or intermittent
- jarred muscles, stiffness or sore back
- laminitis
- arthritis
- azoturia (tying up)
Have you observed behavioural changes? such as:
- irritation when girthed or saddled up
- won’t stand still for mounting
- ears back and resistant
- refusing to jump
- carrying head, hindquarters or tail to one side
- biting, bucking, napping, bolting or rearing
If you answered YES – get massaging !!!
SPECIFIC EQUESTRIAN DISCIPLINES
Whether you are a pony club enthusiast or a professional show jumper, whatever your discipline, specific muscle problems do occur in specific equestrian disciplines. Take a look at Angela’s website for more information and areas you should pay attention to.
Angela is very passionate about how well massage works with horses and she looks forward to sharing more information with you in her DVD or seeing you on one of her massage courses.
All the best!
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