For many, a massage is a relaxing and therapeutic practice that keeps us feeling great while reducing our general stress levels. Just like us, our equine counterparts enjoy massages, and receive health benefits as well.
Whether we have a professional equine massage practitioner or integrate mini-equine massages into our grooming routines, the benefits are numerous. We take a look at how massage can improve our horse’s quality of life and ways that we can support our horses with the power of touch.
Benefits of Massage
As a healing modality, equine massage increases our horse’s health and well-being in a variety of ways. Lauren Shaw, the owner of LS Equine Massage and a graduate of the Bancroft School of Massage in Worcester, MA, explains, “Equine massage has many benefits, both physically and mentally. On the physical side, consistent massage can increase flexibility, relieve muscle soreness, aid in muscle recovery, assist in muscle imbalances, muscle detoxification, and relieve tension, particularly in the poll area.” This allows your horse to perform at a higher level, move more freely, and stay comfortable over the course of your rides. Senior horses can benefit from massages as well, since it keeps their muscles supple and flexible in spite of the natural aging process.
In addition to numerous physical benefits, massage can also be advantageous to your horse’s mental state. According to Lauren, “Once a horse is feeling physically better, we begin to see changes in their general attitude.” This translates into being able to tackle psychological issues, especially those that are rooted in pain. “I grew up at a Morgan farm, and as a child my mother bought me a horse that was too much for me. There was a young woman who was completing a massage internship, and my horse was chosen as one of her case studies,” Lauren reminisces. “Throughout the months of her consistent massages, I began to see huge differences in my horse’s general attitude. He became generally calmer, had a better demeanor, and was more rational under saddle. We began to comment that the massage work had caused his brain to start working!” This drastic change in her horse’s attitude spurred Lauren’s interest in equine massage at the young age of 12 years old.
For horse owners who are utilizing massage techniques as part of their daily grooming routine, massage has yet another benefit. The touch and mindfulness of the moment helps to build on your connection with one another and become more in-tune to the subtle changes in your horse’s body. By practicing massage in an act of unmounted horsemanship, you can begin to understand your horse’s musculature and respond to the knots and imbalances with a gentle touch that inspires trust in your partnership.
Massage Basics
While professional equine massage practitioners have an in-depth education of anatomy and the various systems of your horse, you do not need to be highly trained to perform basic massages on the large areas of your horse’s body. By utilizing pressure and paying close attention to your horse’s reactions, you can give your horse a massage that will relieve muscle tension and discomfort while increasing circulation and relaxation. There are times, such as muscle atrophy, imbalance, and uneven gait, where it is suggested that you consult with your veterinarian prior to massage work to ensure that you are not damaging the system.
On the most basic level, massage is using deep touch to loosen muscles and encourage the blood flow through the system. To begin massaging your horse, use your hands in small circular motions, increasing pressure as much as your horse seems comfortable with. Your horse’s coat tends to lie in the direction of muscle, so work your way in the direction of the hair. Use your finger pad for a lighter touch and the pressure of palms and the heel of your hands when more pressure is needed. Some horses like it when your hands are moved in a rocking motion, while others enjoy a push and release of pressure. At first, you will need to experiment a bit to see what type and how much pressure your horse prefers on areas of his or her body.
Start at the base of your horse’s ears and work your way down the crest of the neck and into the large muscles. Pay extra attention to the areas that cause your horse to push into you or if your horse begins to become active in their mouth. Many horses yawn or extend their lips as a way to release tension.
If your horse pulls away from your touch or hollows his body as you palpate an area, this is a clear indication of pain and tightness. Equestrians may experience this along their horse’s back in the case of poor saddle fit. If this happens, back away from the area, and move onto another muscular group until your horse is comfortable and relaxed once more. Then, slowly work your way back to the affected area and use a soft touch to continue your massaging movements. Try to find a pressure that your horse feels comfortable with. It may take several massage sessions to work through the tightness and pain naturally. If your horse reacts strongly to your touch, consider simply using the palm of your hand to gently spread liniment on the sore area and increase blood flow to the area. If the signs of pain persist, we recommend seeking out the advice of a veterinarian or certified equine massage practitioner.
The combination of pressure and kinetic energy help the knots to release and encourage the blood to flow through the muscles. Massaging over the bones may cause bruising and may be uncomfortable to your horse, so try to steer away from these areas or use considerably less pressure.
Because of the amount of pressure needed, your hands can tire quickly when massaging your horse. There are a number of tools available to help you massage deeply into the muscle tissue, without fatiguing your hands. The Tail Tamer Horse Massager is a simple and economical tool that increases the amount of pressure you can use to work into the muscles. The rugged construction lets you put your body weight into your massage, which is extremely important when working on large muscle groups, such as the neck and hindquarters.
The Equistix Equine Massage Tool allows you to quickly and effectively massage the large muscles of your horse. The individual rollers bend and flex to accommodate your horse’s unique shape, while putting soothing pressure on the muscles and fascia. Simply grasp the tool by the handles, and roll the therapeutic combs back and forth along your horse’s muscles to release tension. Equus Athletics, the manufacturers of the Equistix, recommend rolling out your horse’s neck, shoulders, barrel, and hindquarters with the stick to improve muscle function and allow for increased collection under saddle.
To make your massage even more effective, consider adding liniment into the equation. This will keep warming the muscles long after the massage is over, to continue to increase blood flow and decrease any pain and inflammation that may be present. The thick consistency of Sore No-More Gelotion Liniment makes it easy to apply and spread onto your horse’s coat; it can also be used as an indicator of pain because heat and inflammation in the muscles will cause the liniment to lather. To use liniments in conjunction with your massage, simply spread the product onto the muscles and briskly rub into your horse with the heel of your hand or massage tool. If you choose to use liniment, make sure you wash your hands or the massage tool after use.
The Extremities
Many people focus on the large muscle groups of the horse when giving a massage, but even the bonier areas such as the head and the legs can benefit from the power of touch. When working on your horse’s head, use your hands or a soft jelly comb, such as the Grooma Sof-Touch Curry, to gently work circular motions around the forehead, cheek, and jowl area. Because the horse’s head is sensitive, try not to use excessive force.
Make sure that you give your horse’s legs the attention that they deserve during your massage session. Using a pair of grooming mitts or HandsOn Grooming Gloves, gently rub up and down your horse’s legs, focusing on the muscular sections of the forearm and gaskin. Then gently work your way down the cannon bones, using the lightest of touches to examine the tendon structures. Not only is this enjoyable for your horse, it is a great way to keep an eye on the condition of your horse’s legs and monitor them for inflammation and signs of soundness.
Staying Limber
One of the best compliments to regular massage is consistent “carrot stretches.” When done properly, these stretches keep your horse’s muscles flexible and supple. Lauren says that she recommends carrot stretches to all of her clients and suggests that they are performed at least a few times a week, ideally daily.
In order to perform carrot stretches with your horse, you will need a carrot or another horse treat. Then, take your horse into the stall, the aisle of the barn, or another quiet area with limited distractions, with a halter and lead rope (your horse cannot be cross tied or tied during these stretches). Using the carrot or treat, encourage your horse to bend his neck, and eventually body, in each direction and hold it there for a few moments. “I encourage my horses to touch their nose to the point of the shoulder, as close to the withers as possible, to the point of the hip, and to the middle of their chest in a bowing position,” Lauren explains.
“It is important to start slowly with carrot stretches and then ask a bit more of your horse each time… these stretches are hard for them!” says Lauren. “But they are essential for keeping your horse balanced and flexible in both directions. Bringing your horse’s neck to the left places a deep stretch on the right side of their body, and vice versa.”
Watch this video to learn more about the importance of carrot stretches and for a demonstration on how to safely perform carrot stretches with your horse:
After horses begin to understand carrot stretches, many of them look forward to performing them each day. Not only do they earn a tasty treat and get to spend additional quality time with their owners, they also feel really good. For horses in heavy work, Lauren recommends utilizing carrot stretches before and after each ride for optimal performance and muscle recovery.
The Power of Touch
Consider integrating massages into your horse’s management routine. “I truly wish that massage was looked at as general animal husbandry practice, just as regular grooming, deworming, and farrier visits,” says Lauren. “It’s important to treat our horses like the hard working athletes like they are and support the needs of their muscular system.”
Whether you use massage as a performance enhancing modality or simply to increase the connection between you and your horse, you can increase the quality of your horse’s life with frequent massages. With the right tools and knowledge you can help your horse become more comfortable, relaxed, and content.