Equine Sports Massage TherapyMassage among human beings has been around for ages but a relatively new concept is that of equine massage. This kind of massage is specially meant for horses and gradually an increasing number of horse owners are thinking of giving their animals some sort of relaxation for the hard work they do, in the form of equine massage. Most people would not know much about equine massage but in reality, contrary to what many think, horse massage therapy has existed for centuries and the Chinese believed in the massage of animals as early as 3000 B.C. Currently, most horse owners are interested about equine massage since they want to learn more on this form of healing, which forms a part of alternative healing methods. Most experts suggest equine sports massage therapy because it works excellently as a preventive measure and saves horses from getting injuries many in number. Equine massage therapy has several advantages that not only involve releasing tension from the muscles with the help of various strokes, but also around the working of the nervous and digestive systems which improves due to this kind of massage. Often horse owners make the mistake of thinking that their animals are not as vulnerable as others since all that they do is graze around the field. But now various studies are stating that horses can get injured even while doing the most seemingly harmless activities. And it is obvious that when a horse pulls a sore, its capacity to work to its optimal level gets lost. At such times it is best to serve them with a few sessions of equine massage so that they can regain their original potential. Now that equine sports massage therapy has become a popular option among many horse owners, several equine massage schools have come up in North America, which specialize in this kind of animal massage therapy. When aspirants learn equine massage they are guided by experts like registered massage therapists, veterinarians etc, to understand the intricacies involved in providing the perfect massage to horses. The uniqueness of most equine massage programs lie in the fact that students are asked to consider themselves as an extension of veterinary health care, rather than an alternative. This usually helps them to feel sympathetic towards the animal and the importance of the procedure. Certain programs make students learn equine massage so as to understand the requirements of an equine athlete in rehabilitation and also provide vital assistance to owners, so that they can maximize the potential of their horses. At the very initial stage students are made to learn some basic techniques like effleurage and pertissage. The former is suggestive of a brush stroke that is commonly used to begin a massage session and the latter is the alternate application and release of pressure, the use of which is beneficial for releasing muscle and soft- tissue tension from a horse. After the basic techniques are dealt with teachers move forward to advance techniques of massage that generally involve compression, acupressure and myofascial release. The first of the three is when the masseur provides downward pressure to the horse's body so as not to irritate the animal. Acupressure is all about treating the sensitive spots of the horse by means of downward pressure. Myofascial release is another kind of compression, the only difference being that gentle rotating movements are made. Equine Massage is not a new concept, it is a practice which has been in existence since early Roman times. The early Romans and Chinese understood that massage contributed to their animals overall health. Equine massage is a field that has been linked to ancient times. Currently, the equine massage field is considered a profession. Equine massage is not a substitute for veterinary care. It should be used as part of your horses' regular fitness and training programs to prevent injury, or as a vital part of a rehabilitation program. Equine massage is helpful in giving your horse relief from his aces and pains. Equine Massage is a passion for her, combining her love of horses with her love to help and heal those in need. Ever since Dana has seen first-hand the unbelievable results of equine massage therapy, it has sparked her interest and placed in her a desire to learn more. Equine Massage is a sports massage therapy designed specifically for horses, especially performance horses. For many years, people have been benefiting from the therapeutic effects of massage therapy. Equine massage is beneficial to all horses and the unique skills you will learn from Becky will give you the knowledge you need to help our equine friends. So what are you waiting for? Equine Massage is the manipulation of soft tissue which includes skin, fascia, muscles, tendons, nerves, joint capsules and ligaments of the horse. The manipulation of the hand strokes is the most critical component. Equine Massage is the therapeutic application of professional sports massage techniques applied to the horse. These hands on techniques accomplish increased performance levels and endurance as well as helping to prevent injury. Equine Massage is professional sports massage therapy for horses. These massage techniques are used to increase performance levels and endurance by allowing the horse to compete at its full potential. Equine massage is a great complement to traditional veterinary care as well as nontraditional care such as acupuncture and chiropractic. Massage is an important component of complete, well-rounded horse care. Equine Massage is not a substitute for veterinary care any more than my occasional massage is a substitute my physician care. The simple answer is that a medical doctor just not necessary in these cases. Equine massage is used to increase vitality and mobility, induce whole-body relaxation and stimulate various systems of the body. Your horse is an athlete and all athletes benefit from massage from the local high school track team to the US Olympic team. Equine massage is a very effective and natural therapy, and extremely beneficial for horses or ponies at any level. By assessing the horse as a whole, it enables all possible causes and effects of any pain, tension or decrease in performance to be considered. Equine Massage is a rapidly growing form of therapy which is used to enhance the performance of your horse in any area of competition. Massage helps to relax your animal so that they can focus on the job at hand. Horses are splendid mirrors and respond in kind. They meet our tension and stress in equal measure. Horse's bodies, like ours, have an incredible ability for self-healing. There are things we can do to assist them in this process of maintaining good health. Horses have unique physical needs which are addressed by equine sports massage therapy, which is basically a form of deep tissue massage on steroids. Practitioners who offer equine massage take extensive training in equine anatomy and physiology so that they understand the complex muscular system of the horse, and they learn a variety of techniques which can be used to release pain and tension in horses. Horses respond quickly and positively to massage. They are very honest about clearly communicating their sore spots (from flinching to biting or kicking) as well as letting you know what feels good (see photos ). Horses are athletes, and they suffer many the same pains that we do. Sometimes, the only way a horse can communicate is through dramatic actions that look and feel belligerent . Muscles are made up of many fibres which extend and contract to provide movement. When one of these fibres becomes damaged the others bundle round it forming a knot which prevents it from moving and allows it to heal. Muscle issues build up for weeks before a trauma will occur. When the trauma occurs, it limits the horse in mind, body or both. Muscle tissue in the equine athlete is overused, overstretched and overloaded. This stress causes tissue lesions that restrict motion and is the basis for pain. Personally, I prefer hiring an equine massage therapist with the the proper certification and training rather than doing the massaging myself. |