Full body assessment and massage:
The first session will normally take over 1 hour. I like to collect as much detail about your horse as possible, including medical history, any known injuries, your horse's normal workload, and any concerns you may have about his health. Subsequent sessions should last about 1 hour. During each session i will test for structural issues using 'Photonic Therapy Diagnosis' and test for muscular problems using 'Stress Point Testing'. Then your horse will receive a full body massage, which may also include passive stretches where required. I can also advise you on work you can do yourself in between sessions. E.g simple neck or leg exercises you can perform on your horse on a daily basis

 

Pre event massage:
This is used to warm up and stimulate the muscles ready for exercise, and can be good for horses who do not behave well in the warm up ring before competing. The treatment will last about 20 minutes and will consist of fast and deep work throughout the body.

Benefits include:

Boosts the blood circulation and promotes lymphatic drainage

Improves mental focus

Reduces the risk of injury by; increasing synovial fluid in the joints, working on known stress points, increasing the range of movement in the target muscles and increasing tissue elasticity.

Calms or stimulates the horse

 

Post event massage:
The purpose of post event massage is completely different to that used for pre event work. Post event This massage is a lot slower and is very relaxing for the horse.

 

Benefits include:

Encourages removal of lactic acid and carbon dioxide, major causes of fatigue

Boosts blood circulation and promotes lymphatic drainage

Releases muscle spasms and stress points, developed during the event

Prevents stiffness

Checking for areas of trauma

Reduces built-up tension in the muscles

Reduces recovery time

 

Things to look out for that may indicate that your horse needs a massage  -

 

• Altered behaviour - i.e. more introverted or aggressive.

• Head shaking.

• Difficult to saddle or girth up.

• Stiffness or one sidedness.

• Sore back.

• Difficult to mount

• Consistent incorrect canter lead.

• Napping.

• Lameness

 

 

 

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