Equine Sport Massage Therapy
Equine sports massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of soft tissues for injury prevention and therapeutic purposes involving the restoration to normal functional activity of the various structures of the body.
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Equine sports massage therapy is not only for the competition horse or those with an active lifestyle, even your retired horse or pony can benefit from the application of massage techniques used.
What to expect from your horse's massage appointment
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Your therapist will watch your horse walk and trot to see how they move, looking for any movement patterns which would indicate tightness or restrictions. This will not be performed if your horse is unable to do so, in the instance of lameness or injury requiring restricted movement.
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Testing is carried out to assess for areas of concern. This is non invasive for the horse and involves palpation of specific points over the body. Following this your horse will receive their massage, using a variety of techniques and covering the whole body including the legs and head.
The benefits of massage
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Increased performance and flexibility
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Enhances muscle tone
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Relieves muscle spasm and tension
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Improves circulation
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Prevents injury
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Improves recovery time
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Relieves muscle soreness
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Enhances proprioception
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Promotes general wellbeing
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Horses have also shown benefit when suffering from arthritis, laminitis, joint conditions and respiratory problems.
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Some signs of discomfort in horses that could benefit from massage
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Uneven stride length
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Reluctance to flex at the poll and bend through the body
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Difficulty with lateral movements
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Headshaking
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Preference to one rein
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Cold backed
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Bucking
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Hollow backed
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High head carriage
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Unhappy to be groomed or tacked up
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"Grumpy" behaviour
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Additional Massage Services
Pre Event Massage
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The purpose of this type of massage is to prepare the horse for work without the need of of energy exertion. It invigorates the horse by warming and loosening the muscles, increasing circulation and stimulating the nervous system. This can help prevent injury and increase performance.
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This is a fast paced, vigorous and deep massage which is performed prior to the horse being worked.
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Please note this does not replace the need for the horse's physical warm up.
Post Event Massage
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This type of massage is performed within 48 hours of a strenuous activity. The purpose of this is to release tight muscles and loosen the muscle tissue, aiding the removal of toxins from lactic acid and metabolic by-products. This can alleviate the effects of delayed onset muscle soreness and relax the horse and refresh their well being with the release of endorphins.
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This is a much slower and softer massage technique than the pre event, in order to relax the horse.
Fees
Full assessment and massage £45
Approx 1 hour
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Post event massage £40
Approx 45 mins - 1 hour
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For pre event massage please enquire for price as this is dependant on travel to your event.
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All horses must be dry and clean for massage work. In the instance where a horse is not able to be massaged, a £15 callout fee will be charged per horse.
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Price includes travel within 15 miles of Burbage, please discuss for further mileage as this distance can be extended if able to combined with another yard visit locally, or conducted at extra cost.
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All appointments are conducted in line with the Veterinary Act whereby permission must be gained from your vet for your horse to receive complimentary therapies unless it is only for maintenance reasons. In the instance where you have not already done this, I can do this for you prior to your appointment. Details will be taken at the time of booking.