Physical Therapy and Massage For Horses Articles | Horses

By: Sachy Bhat

Horses are companion animals, workers and athletes. As such, they suffer from many of the same soft tissue damage afflicting humans. When disaster strikes, people call the Veterinarian. In some instances, in addition to conventional treatment, a vet may recommend therapeutic massage.

Veterinary Massage is a form of physical therapy and massage. In application to horse, it may be called Equine Massage. It is a relatively new field of massage therapy. There are now various types and schools. You can visit such sites on Equitouch, Tellington Touch, Equinergy, In Hand Equine Massage and Total Equine Massage.

There are now schools that only teach Equine Massage. There is also the Equine Sports Massage Association.

There are various approaches to Equine Massage Therapy. Many base themselves on various techniques derived from Classic or Swedish Massage Therapy. Some combine the 5-basic techniques of Swedish Massage Therapy with other New Age or modern innovations. As a result, Equine Massage Therapy is a hybrid.

The most basic type of Equine Massage Therapy is Equine Sports Massage. Sports Massage is a variation and expansion of Swedish Massage. It include the 5 techniques of Effleurage, Petrissage, Tapotement, Frictions and Vibration. The addition to Sports Massage is Stretching and Range of Motion, and 2 unique techniques. These are Rhythmic Compressions and Active Assistive Release.

Equine Sports Massage is for racehorses and other high performance equine. It is non-invasive. It uses massage as a technique and a tool to help with the overall performance and maintenance of the animal. The techniques include specific categories. You have pre-race and post-race massage. A massage practitioner also employs Equine Massage for treatment, training and maintenance practices. This is the same for Sports Massage for human athletes.

As with Human Sports Massage, Equine Sports Massage utilizes specific techniques for the different settings and times of massage. A practitioner massages the horse on a regular basis to maintain the health of the animal. At the same time, therapeutic massage acts as a diagnostic or warning system. It detects various changes in the muscles, tendons and skeletal structure. A massage can note possible problems and take preventative measures. It is the reason why many trainers arrange for a horse massage before and after a training exercise.

Massage can also act as a measure to enhance performance before the race. A massage prior to a racing event can help stimulate the horse to maximize its physical and mental performance. A massage following the event detects any possible problems, relieves tension and prevents muscle fatigue.

Treatment Massage is a way to help speed up the healing process. Combining massage with medical treatment helps to decease recovery time from injury. It relaxes the horse, eases spasm, reduces pain and increases the flow of blood and lymph circulation.

There are other forms of Equine Massage besides Equine Sport Massage. Some are holistic; others are not. Some achieve the same effects as Equine Sports Massage but focus on achieving a bonding between rider and horse. On one hand, the purpose is to help heal, relax and improve the overall well being of the animal. On the other hand, it is to increase or improve the rapport between a horse and its rider, a horse and its companion.

Some practitioners use other forms of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) with or on a horse. These include a form of non-touching massage. Reiki healing is a type of massage some therapists employ to help balance the energy flowing through a person's channels. If the channels or meridians become blocked, the energy decreases. A person becomes unbalanced. This results in illness and disease. Reiki realigns and balances the energy to begin the healing process. It does so without physically touching the body.

Some people do perform Reiki on animals. Practitioners on horses need to consider any possible variables. Size does matter if you are a small therapist dealing with a large animal. Some props, such as a stool, may be necessary. Props and other forms of massage tools are easily available from supply stores. You can purchase various tools and pieces of equipment to make your job simpler. You can also ignore the extras and work with your hands. By the way, massaging a horse can take an hour.