Equine Sports Massage Therapy for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Rebecca is based near North Cave, East Yorkshire and is a qualified and insured Equine Body Worker and member of the IEBWA. She has an equine degree, BHS stage III riding and stable management and over 20 years experience with horses, including owning and managing an equine therapy and rehabilitation centre. Rebecca owns 5 horses and competes in show-jumping, dressage and eventing whenever she can and is hoping to start competing in carriage driving soon. Next year Rebecca is planning to begin an MSc in Animal Manipulation and McTimoney Therapy.

Equine Sports Massage Q and A

What is massage therapy?

Massage is a non-invasive form of therapy involving stroking and kneading the bodies soft tissues; implementing a variety of techniques and using different pressure. The therapeutic movements used in sports massage are often complemented by stretching exercises. It is used alongside conventional and alternative health care as well as proper training techniques to allow the horse to perform at an optimal level. It is NEVER a replacement for veterinarian care.

What are the benefits?

The benefits to massage are varied but include an increase in range of motion (and gait quality), improved stamina and circulation, provide comfort to muscle injuries and can enhance performance. It can also be employed as a preventative measure as subtle tissue changes can be noticed at an early stage. Nervous or defensive horses often benefit from massage. Likewise, excitable or sedate horses can often be calmed or invigorated!

Do I need my vets permission?

Yes! By law you must seek your vets' permission prior to booking a sports massage therapy session.

Does my horse need a massage?

Horses can suffer muscular discomfort for a number of reasons. Often it is due to muscle fatigue from over-exertion which can lead to compensatory pain and further physiological complications. We all suffer aches and pains at some time in our life and horses are not much different. However, horses can’t speak and we must learn to interpret the signs. These include changes in normal behaviour in the field or on the yard and reduced performance whilst working. Physical signs may include abnormally worn shoes or a change in condition. Sport horses are naturally more prone to muscular discomfort but leisure horses and indeed the family pet pony can all benefit from regular massage sessions.

How long is a session and what does it cost?

The first session last up to 3 hours and includes a thorough assessment of the horse (and sometimes the rider). Follow up sessions last approximately 1 1/2 hours. Charges are per session NOT per hour and each session costs £35.

Will I notice an improvement?

Sometimes an immediate improvement is noticed and sometimes it takes a few sessions.

How often should my horse be massaged?

Frequency of sessions depends on the horses health, type of injury, level of work, conformation, age, etc. A horse in hard work may benefit from a massage every couple of weeks whereas a riding club horse or hack may only need a session every 6 weeks or so as part of a maintenance programme and to access your training impact on your horse. Remember, prevention is better than cure and more infrequent session are better than none at all.

How long do I have to wait before I can ride my horse post massage?

A sound healthy horse can be ridden immediately after a session; indeed, proper follow-up exercise is an important component of sports massage.

For more information about equine sports massage therapy contact www.equinenergy.com or www.iebwa.com