Sports massage has many known benefits for the equine athlete ranging from increased circulation and lymphatic flow, assisting recovery and enhancing mobility. All horses ranging from happy hackers to racehorses can benefit from the techniques used during a sports massage to relieve muscle tension, myofascial spasms and help repair torn or damaged muscle fibres. By using specific bodywork techniqu
es sports massage can enhance their wellbeing and help maintain peak performance ability ensuring you have a happy healthy horse. Many horses often experience a certain degree of discomfort or even pain which can be expressed through bucking, rearing or more subtly by avoiding contact and engaging the hindquarters, this can happen for many different reasons but could be due to ill-fitting tack, competition strain or direct trauma and injury. While giving a treatment I aim to relieve the tension, pain and help restore the muscles back to their original elasticity and range of movement. I can currently working towards completing my final stage of the ICAT Equine Sports Massage Diploma and am looking for my final case studies. Most sessions last 1 ½ hours depending on the horse and include a full body sports massage and a range of passive stretches, each case study will receive 4 treatments. By Law according to the Veterinary Act 1966 veterinary approval must be sort before treatment can begin.
