What is equine body work?  

Body work is a valuable therapy for all horses from the elderly horse retired in a field to the broodmare or top class performance horse. It involves hands-on techniques recognized for the purpose of increasing circulation & joint ranges of motion as well as improving stamina.  Essential in the competition horse which should improve the horses overall performance.  It also help relieve muscle spasms & tension which enhances muscle tone.  Overuse, over stretching and overloading muscles can cause problems which can restrict the motion and create pain

 What does a session involve?

Equine body work evaluates the horse holistically by taking into account & assessing the following factors:-

1.      The horses’ conformation, biomechanics & movement (static & dynamic)

2.      Muscle symmetry and posture

3.      Dental work & saddle + tack fit

4.   The horses’ general management including training & foot care

After the assessment is treatment. This involves:-

1.      Isolating & softening muscles using massage techniques.

2.      Using cross-fibre friction & direct pressure where appropriate

3.      Enhancing & restoring ranges of joint motion through stretching.

To complete a full assessment plus treatment can take approx 1 -1 1/2 hrs depending upon the problems encountered.

We are registered with  who regulate equine body workers throughout the world.  They ensure we all attend regular training & demonstrations, to ensure we stay up to date with current research.

Common Questions & Answers about body work

 When will  I notice an improvement?

Each horse’s problem tends to be very specific to them so there are no hard and fast rules. Some horses you will notice an  immediate improvement, some take two-three sessions before you notice an improvement.

 Does my horse need to be clean before you can work on him?

Yes, just knock all the mud off them and ensure they are thoroughly dry. Please avoid using coat gloss or rubs.

 How long do I have to wait before I can ride him?

Actually gentle follow up exercise is a component of sports massage.  Healthy sound horses can be ridden after a session.  Advice is given as part  of the treatment plan..  Please allow the horse to dictate the pace & duration of exercise.

 How Often should a horse be massaged ?

This all depends upon the level of work, conformation, health and any injuries, his tack fit etc.  If they have a hard work load a massage  twice a month would be adequate.  The normal working horse could be done approximately once a month as a maintenance

 I’m showing my horse this weekend; the scheduled  massage will be his first one, is that okay?

If this is your horse’s first session, he needs to get used to his new way of moving and there is a chance he could be slightly sensitive afterwards.