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Helping Horses be the Natural Athletes
that they are:
If only our horses could talk.
Well, they do talk but through body language. It is the
only sign telling us whether something is working or not. Something as
simple as the tail swish, stepping away or an unusual bite or kick is the
horse telling us that something doesn't feel right. Now, a good sigh or
lots of chewing tells us that they are quite content.
If you have ever had a massage, you will agree how wonderful it feels to
have that feeling of release. A serious athlete quite often will spend up
to an hour a day receiving a massage. They make it a part of their
training, so it seems reasonable to assume that an athletic horse would
benefit in the same way.
A recent report from the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
stated that:
"musculoskeletal problems are the most common cause of poor performance of
the horse. Equine massage directly addresses these problems and allows
your horse to compete at full potential. Since skeletal muscle comprises
sixty percent of a horse's total body weight, it only makes sense that
attention before or after a riding session can improve your horse's
performance and mood."
Some 3000 year old Chinese literature describes the proper application of
Massage which shows just how old this remedy is. Early Egyptian, Japanese,
Arab, Greek and Roman literature also show evidence to their practice of
massage
The word massage is derived from two sources.
- Arabic verb mass, "to touch,"
- Greek word massein, "to knead."
Equine Massage
Therapy isn't just about rubbing a horse. It involves the right sequence
to ensure all the muscles are treated and the proper stress points that
accompany the treatment are covered.
When a massage
is properly executed by a knowledgeable and skilled therapist it improves
the horse's overall general health. The horse has that "feel good"
feeling which removes a lot of the nervous tensions and anxieties. A sense
of satisfaction seems to flow over the animal as a whole.
In a sense, it refreshes the horses senses.
CELL: 780 270 5518
Spruce Grove, AB
EMAIL:
makingwork@gmail.com
*IMPORTANT NOTE*
Equine
Massage Therapy is not intended to replace traditional veterinary care.
If your
horse appears sick or lame it should be seen by a veterinarian.
At that
time you could discuss the option of a massage session based on the
veterinarian's findings.
Remember that Veterinarian referrals are not a requirement to have a
massage session, just like with humans,
you do
not need a physician referring you to a massage, though they sometimes
suggest it as an option.
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