What is a massage?
Massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to improve drainage, circulation, and relation, to stimulate muscles and to release muscle-related problems such as spasms.
When can it help?
Any problem from slight stiffness on one rein, difficulty with correct canter strike off or bucking every time the saddle is put on, can be improved by massage.
How does it work?
Massage enhances performance and prevents Injury, allowing the horse to work in comfort and so perform to his full potential by
- Releasing muscle spasm
- Increasing blood circulation, preventing stress build up
- Increasing flexibility and joint movement
- Improving co-ordination and stride length
- Increasing elasticity preventing muscle pulls
- Reducing post-exercise muscle soreness
What happens during the session?
The session commences with a full evaluation of the horse to determine how its confirmation might affect its work, as well as taking note of any muscular asymmetry and identifying all muscles or muscle fibres that are held in a contained contraction, causing hypersensitivity and a reduced range of motion.
A full case history is taken and the horse is assessed in hand at walk and trot.
During the session the horse is massaged from head to tail, from region to region, using various palpation and massage techniques. Passive stretches are applied once the muscle groups have been isolated and softened.
Where areas of sensitivity are noted Stress Point Therapy is applied - this is followed by a cross-fibre friction technique to take out points of muscle spasm.
At the end of the session the owner or handler of the horse will be introduced to safe stretching techniques and recommended follow-up exercises which, where appropriate, should be carried out on a daily basis. Where necessary it may be recommended that respective specialists check that the horse's saddle fits correctly, a teeth check and shoeing progress.
Injury prevention
A horse with no specific problems or with problems that have been corrected benefit from a monthly maintenance massage to keep the muscles supple, prevent injury and detect areas of tension before they become a problem.
www.pambryan.co.uk
Pamela is a fully qualified Equine Sports Massage Therapist working nationwide for individuals, as well as larger organisations
