Equine Sports
Massage Therapy
Our director, James, is an Equinology trained, fully insured and FEI permitted sports therapist.
Our ethos is that every horse should be treated as an individual to reach their full potential. Each horse has their own anatomy, biomechanics and a way of moving that is correct for them. We don’t believe in forced postures or movements, we believe in enhancing and improving who they are already.
“Horses were always a fascination for me throughout my childhood. I loved learning how they worked, moved and strengthened. I then applied this to my career and it has given me so many incredible opportunities.”
We are passionate about providing quality therapy, compassion & encouragement for both you & your horse
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Enhance Muscle Tone
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Increasing & Improving Circulation
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Prevent & Relieve Injuries
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Increase the Range of Movement
Sports Massage Benefits
Increased Range of Motion
A horse that moves well is more efficient in their stride. Massage aids your horse to move, which in turn supports the health and longevity of the joints, ligaments and tendons, and of course their muscles. Success in some disciplines can rely on lengthening a horse’s stride, thus improving a horse’s gait is particularly beneficial.
Improved Stamina
Increasing range of motion also has an effect on your horse’s efficiency, therefore improving stamina as well as performance.
Improved Disposition
If only our horses could talk to us! A therapist can relay information on your horse’s mood, health and wellness from their findings and professional experience.
They can discuss changes to your horse’s daily routine and life for a more considered and understanding future. A session will not only make your horse feel better, it will also allow you get closer.
Comfort To Muscle Injuries And Abnormalities
We’re here to treat soft tissue injuries and scaring, aid in strengthening, conditioning, relaxing and improving motion and comfort for your horse throughout his life. We will happily work alongside your veterinarian, farrier and dentist to achieve your ultimate goal.
Continued….
Improved Circulation
You will observe that massage draws blood into the muscle, almost a bit like he’s just had a workout, but in a soothing way, without contraction or using valuable energy. Improving the circulation helps stimulate the elimination of waste products in your horse’s body and aids the system improving oxygen flow and detoxifying.
Reduced Tactile Defences
Some horses are not keen on being touched or experiencing human activity. We are here to help desensitize this from our neighbourly fight or flight animals.
Creating a physical bond is essential, they adore being rubbed, scratched, stroked and groomed and even the most defensive of horses come around eventually as long as any other stress factors are considered. Sometimes it just takes a little help, particularly with young stock and rescues.
Assessment Of Physical Condition
It is easy to feel tight muscles on a horse, especially when those tight spots are unilateral. But what if you don’t know how they are meant to feel? We can observe subtle alterations in texture, temperature and tension and advise on how your horses training programme is progressing. Early detection of an issue can mean permanent damage is minimalised.
*Please Note*
We are not your veterinarian. Serious injuries or conditions must be discussed and looked at with a licensed and qualified equine veterinary professional.
We are more than happy to work with other equine services and adhere to treatment programs, but we will kindly ask you to sign that you are happy for us to proceed and in specific cases we may ask or offer to chat with your veterinarian or other equine service directly, to share findings and discuss a treatment plan in further detail.
We aim to achieve and enable the optimum performance level for your equine athlete. We work closely with veterinarians, physiotherapists, chiropractors, farriers and dentists.
Before Arrival
Please try to ensure that your horse is ready for us on arrival. Ideally, they are clean, dry, well hydrated and not sweaty.
Please bear in mind that we may require a helping hand if your horse may put one of our staff members at risk. Please make sure you have a head collar a lead rope to hand.
Negative repeatable reactions that we look out for:
(in other words, indications we look for to label an area as “sore”)
- Bracing
- Moving away
- Fidgeting
- Stomping
- Kicking
- Shaking
- Change in breathing
- Dropping downward
- Muslce Reaction
Positive repeatable reactions that we look out for:
(in other words, indications we look for to label an area as a “release”)
- Yawning
- Stretching
- Licking
- Glassy eyes
- Leaning in
- Pushing against us
- Nuzzling
- Slow long exhales
- Sighing
- Blowing
- Head turning
- Scratching
- Gentle biting