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Sports Massage

Similarly to humans (particularly athletes) horses require treatment in order to maintain both their general wellbeing as well as performance. Sports massage involves the manipulation of soft tissue with the aim of injury prevention and restoration of normal functional activity of the body.

Sports massage can be of benefit to any horse/pony, from the retired family pet to top competition horses. It can be used as part of the routine care of your horse, or can be used when ridden or behavioural issues indicate that damage to the soft tissue may be the cause.

When used during training as well as before and after competition, sports massage aids in the maintenance of muscle health as well as performance. It can also highlight possible injuries- minor muscle damage can remain unnoticed until the damage becomes significant, and may present initially as a slight decrease in performance or a change in behaviour. Early attention to these minor injuries may prevent further damage, enhance  performance and improve overall wellbeing.

BENEFITS

Benefits of sports massage treatment include:

  • Improved performance

  • Enhanced muscle tone

  • Increased circulation

  • Injury prevention

  • Improved recovery rate

  • Reduced muscle soreness

  • Alleviation of muscle spasm and tension

  • Enhanced proprioception

INDICATIONS

Signs that your horse may benefit from a treatment may include:

  • Poor performance/decline in performance

  • Resistance to move forward/work correctly

  • Inability to maintain gait

  • Muscle asymmetry

  • Reluctance/resistance to work on one rein

  • Uneven stride length

  • Hollowing the back when ridden/mounted

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