what to expect during an equine massage therapy appointment

The initial consultation appointment:

-A thorough history of the horse will be taken and any relevant history will be discussed and recorded.

-The horse will be observed at the walk and trot (if possible) in hand before and after the massage.

-The horse will be massaged by Claire using multiple techniques as needed. For a list and description of techniques used see below.

-An appropriate schedule of follow-up appointments will be established and recommendations will be made to the owner on what they can do in the interim.

-Allow on average 1.5 hours

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Regular follow up appointments:

These appointments continue with addressing the needs of the horse as previously established in the initial evaluation. Every massage session is horse led so as needed combinations of modalities will be adjusted. Expect these session to be on average 1 hour.

Equine Myofascial sports massage therapy

What can massage do for your horse?

Increased comfort. Improved movement. Greater longevity.

Massage therapy is an integral part of any horse's care. Whether they are an athlete on the show circuit or a beloved senior companion (and everything in between) they can all benefit.

What is massage?

Massage therapy is "the manipulation of the soft tissue in the body, such as muscle fibers, fascia, tendon, and ligament." (M. Scott, 2003)

Massage increases blood flow, relieves tension, decreases pain, and increases mobility while also improving performance, speeding up recovery, and adding to general well-being. It has been shown to decrease blood pressure and relax the nervous system.

Massage techniques Offered

Stress Point and Trigger Point Therapy

Stress Point and Trigger Point therapy are when direct pressure is placed on a spot of muscular tension or irritation. Stress points often occur at the origin of a muscle (the anchoring bone attachment) while trigger points can occur anywhere on or even surrounding the muscle itself. Stress and trigger points can be characterized by adhesions or muscle knots that can restrict movement and cause discomfort. Varying levels of direct pressure, often a thumb, heel of the hand, or maybe even elbow, are applied to a spot of irritation and held. The horse's feedback is used to let me know how deep and how long to hold each point. In order for this sort of therapy to be effective it is essential that the therapist hold a high level of anatomic knowledge.

Myofascial Release Therapy and Fascial Blading

Myofascial release therapy (sometimes with the use of a fascial blading tool) specifically targets and releases tension within fascial networks. Fascia is an integral part of the musculoskeletal system and it encases every single part of the body. Just like with muscles, fascia can become injured creating knots and adhesions in the fibers. These adhesions have a negative impact on muscle function and can affect overall performance. As long as long as the horse is consenting, almost every single massage will include some form of myofascial release - the use of a fascial blading tool will be employed when appropriate.

Deep Tissue Manipulation, Cross Fiber Friction, Compression, Direct Pressure, and Stretching

These are other techniques used during sessions. Some are used more than others but it is always dependent on the horse's needs and what they are consenting to.