Equine Sports Therapy IRVAP (MT) & LANTRA Qualified Bit & Bridle Fit Consultant
Equine Sports Massage Treatments?
What can Equine Sports Massage help with?
Is your horse exhibiting any of the following behaviours? If so, equine massage therapy may well help.
- Show signs of stiffness / lack of flexibility?
- Reduced performance?
- Change in behaviour?
- Resentful being saddled or rugged or groomed?
- Soreness in back region
- Stumbling / shortened stride length?
- Head throwing / shaking
- Head tilt?
- Contact issues?
- Reluctance to engage or stretch?
- Incorrect lead or disunited in Canter?
- Carrying tail to one side?
- Bucking?
What can massage therapy do?
- Relieves muscle spasms and tension
- Increase mopbility, performance and flexibility
- Increase stride length
- Preventing Injury
- Improving Recovery Time
- Relieves Muscle Soreness
- Promotes General Well – being
- Aids relaxation
- Aids lymphatic flow
- Aids digestive system
- Aids nervous system
- Enhances muscle tone and coat
- Aids circulation
- Promotes relaxation
- Massage has also been known to be beneficial for horses suffering from respiratory problems, arthritis, joint conditions and laminitis.
Initial Visits
On my initial visit please allow at least 90 mins to 2 hours and this includes:-
- Discussion about you and your horse and his history, your concerns and want to would like to achieve.
- Static and dynamic assessment of your horse. During this time I will be looking at your horse’s posture and the way he moves
- Saddle health and saddle fit check; bridle fit check. This gives me opportunity to establish if there are any problems with your tack which may cause physical problems. I am a LANTRA qualified bridle fitter; although I am not a qualified saddle fitter I am able to correlate poor saddle fit with back discomfort / tightness /pain. You still need to maintain your regular saddle fit checks with your qualified saddle fitter.
- Tailored treatment of your horse involving various equine sports massage techniques appropriate to your horse or pony. Most of this is ‘hands-on’ techniques, but I also incorporate Red Light Therapy; Epiony Heat Products and my Fascial Edge Tool. I am also qualified in Equestrian Kinesiology Taping.
- Stretching and joint mobilisation techniques appropriate to your horse or pony
- Homework / exercises for you to do at home, tailored to your horse or pony to enable you both to capitalise on the treatment and prolong results.
- Full written report
I am located in North Worcestershire close to motorway networks and I am happy to travel up to 20 miles from B62; after this point I will have to charge mileage costs.
Initial visits cost £55 and follow-up visits are £45.
Discounts available for 3 horses or more. Please ask me for loyalty discounts, gift vouchers and 'refer a friend' discounts.
Please note under The Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966, it is a legal requirement that any animal treated is registered with a vet. Any remedial treatment carried out must be deligated and agreed by a veterinary surgeon.
Follow up visit
Please allow 60 to 90 minutes for follow-up treatments. This usually involves a recap of how your horse is performing since my last visit; any concerns; followed by a tailored treatment.
Pre-event Massage
This is a massage specifically for a horse which is about to perform (hence the name) and can be given from 4 hours to 10 minutes prior to the horse performing. This is because if you have treated the horse previously you will already have prior knowledge as to where that horse tends to hold tension and you can target those areas. It is not a whole body massage and takes between 15 to 20 minutes. A pre event massage …
- Increases blood flow and nutrients to muscles
- Warms the muscles in readiness for action
- Targets those muscles being using in that particular discipline the horse is due to perform and improves muscle elasticity (and hence reduce chance of injury)
- Passive stretching can assist with joint mobility and range of movement
- Aids proprioception by preparing neural pathways
- Can assist in calming the horse and aiding focus
- Encourages blood circulation (Oxygen and nutrient supply)
- Encourages lymphatic circulation (toxin elimination)
Preparing the muscles for work through massage ensures the muscles and the horse are warmed-up without any energy expenditure. Also particularly good if the horse finds warm up arenas stressful.
Activo-Med Combi Pro II Rugs
I have a brand new activo med combo pro rug with both front and hind boots.
I will be offering this as a separate treatment and also offering hire for (long-standing customers due to the high value of these rugs)
