SUPPLIES
- A quiet area in the barn
- Halter and lead
Overview
Massaging your horse is an easy and pleasant way to nourish his health as well as his sense of well-being. Massage can move toxins out of your horse's muscles and increase blood circulation. While there is no doubt that muscle tissue will benefit from massage, your horse's bones, tendons and ligaments will benefit as well. Barb Wells, a certified shiatsu equine massage therapist recommends horse massage as a way not only to relieve aches and pains but also to increase flexibility and performance. Many people also enjoy massage in order to strengthen the emotional bond between themselves and their horses.
Step 1
Tie your horse comfortably with a lead. Leave plenty of slack in the lead so your horse to move around. Start your horse's massage by gently caressing the horse's forehead and muzzle. Talk soothingly and calmly to your horse. Try to cultivate a quiet and relaxing atmosphere for the massage.
Step 2
Run your hands down the crest of your horse's neck, squeezing and rubbing as you go. Massage down to the withers, then back up to the poll. Watch for signs of tenderness and back off accordingly.
Step 3
Massage your horse's shoulders by focusing on the muscles within the tear-drop-shaped area of his shoulders. For this area you can try the effleurage (or stroking) technique. In this technique, you use hand pressure as you stroke down the fibers of the muscles. Massage gently over any areas of tension, but press deeper as he gets used to the touch.
Step 4
Rub your hands along your horse's hindquarters using the cross-fiber technique. To do this, stiffen your fingers into a ball shape and run your hand across the fibers in his muscles. This is an invigorating technique, used to enliven and loosen the horse's muscles. If you notice soreness, use less pressure and rub gently with the palm of your hand.
Step 5
Massage your horse's back by running your fingers along each side of the spine with medium pressure. While many horses will give and flinch a little, keep an eye out for a sharp response and back off.
Step 6
Finish the massage with some all-over petting and soft massage. You may even want to offer your horse a special treat to add to the positive experience.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : All horses can benefit from massage, but a horse with attitude problems or one that kicks, bucks or lags in performance will particularly thrive from a regular massage routine.
You can tell that your horse is enjoying his massage from a softening of the eyes, yawning or licking, sighing and a relaxing of the muscles you are working on. Often a horse will relax the long muscles of his back and let his head drop.
The best time to massage your horse is after, not before, a feeding.
- WARNING : Always use safe handling practices while massaging your horse. Be careful of negative responses to possibly painful areas that you are massaging. Some signs of pain in a horse from massage include pinned ears, a swishing tail and squeals or grunts.
Always consult your veterinarian before massaging your horse, particularly if he suffers from joint problems, a heart condition, an injury or exhibits signs of swelling and pain.
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