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Equine Massage Therapy Techniques

29 11:42:55

Equine Massage Therapy Techniques






     Equine Massage Therapy Techniques are non-invasive, hands-on manual therapy that enhances your riding session, and helps heal your horse from muscular issues that may arise.

A theroputic massage relaxes muscles increasing circulation which improves movement and performance. It has also been proven to benefit performance, increase range of motion and decrease risk of injury.

Certified Equine Massage Therapy Professionals understand that it's always important to first take an initial assessment of your horse before starting any type of therapy; noticing the neck, shoulders, pelvis, back and limb symmetry.

Helpful Techniques

• Use your fingers and curl in a claw-shape and delicately massage in a circular motion along the side of your horse's jaw. Press lightly against the poll area located behind your horse's ear by utilizing the flats of your fingertips. Apply small pressure against this particular spot to alleviate any headaches that they are experiencing at the moment.

• Next is "Jostling" horse massage. On the horse's neck, place your hands on the apex. Then gently roll the flesh on neck towards you. You should work up from the withers, this is a bump where a horse's neck meets his back, to the poll & back again. Begin conducting a light pressure & increase the pressure on each and every rotary motion.

• On the horse's shoulder region, place your hand flat on the area. This covers the space where the neck & the body connect, the withers & where the girth runs. Apply a gentle hand pressure by curling it against the horse's shoulder. Shift from the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock hand position. This lessens any muscle spasms under your horse's skin.

• Subsequently, conduct a horse massage called 'sweating a horse' method. By placing your palm over the region behind your horse's elbow, this lessens the pain from a tight girth. Leave your palm for it to get warm.

• Stroke the horse's back by using your palm in a gentle manner. Stroke from the withers backwards towards the tail. You should begin with light pressure, and then slowly move on to heavy yet gentle pressure as the muscles warm up.

• Pound (using your fist) your horse's rump muscle group, called the gluteals, in a gentle and soft manner. Pressure varies from light to heavy. You have to be certain that your hands are always relaxed for you to avoid pounding over the bones.

Crucial Massage Therapy Training Tips

You have to remember some crucial things before you begin to work on your horse and conduct massage therapy. First, you need to observe your horse's overall condition. Examine your horse's usual temper. You need to be familiar with your horse's physical traits, i.e. if he/she is thin skinned or a thick skinned horse. Put serious considerations with regards to your horse's health condition, if she has injuries or has illness. You should also know her age, familiar with training schedule, if they compete or not. And whether or not the horse has just undergone a strenuous competition. Basic things matters!

Copyright (c) 2012 Jeff Beal