What Horses Benefit from Sports Massage Therapy?

The simple answer is, most if not all.

From foals to geriatrics, pasture pets to performance horses, the benefits of sports massage therapy are universal. 60% of a horse’s body weight is made up of muscle, and muscle is responsible for the body’s movement. Muscle is also the most often overlooked body system in the horse. After all, a muscle can never be neutral; if it doesn’t work for you, it works against you. A horse with a damaged or sore muscle will “favor” that muscle, and cause other muscles to become overworked and sore. This can create a cascading effect where the horse can no longer move freely.

Sports massage therapy is used to break up adhesions and spasms in the muscle body, increasing circulation while removing metabolic waste. This non-invasive therapy can be used to address existing muscle damage as well as aid in preventing injuries and loss of mobility. Sports massage causes the muscle to act as if it were working, without putting strain or stress on the muscle or surrounding structures. This can be important for horses recovering from muscle injuries, or getting back into work from extended lay ups.

Massage therapy relieves tension, reduces inflammation and swelling in joints thereby relieving pain, and increases the production of synovial joint fluid. Muscle spasms are relieved, muscle tone is enhanced and range of motion is increased. All of these things result in the general improvement of the disposition of most horses. There is also an endorphin release with these techniques that improves the horse’s attitude and overall wellbeing.

There are times that sports massage is not appropriate. If a horse has a fever or is in shock sports massage should not be used. There are conflicting theories on whether or not sports massage should be used on horses with cancer. Your veterinarian should be consulted prior to using sports massage therapy on a horse with cancer. Horses on Lasix should not be massaged while the drug is in their system.

The benefits from sports massage are great, and are often seen immediately. The horse will walk off more freely and be more comfortable overall; resulting in better movement and a better attitude.

Equine sports massage therapy is not a substitute for veterinary medicine. Please consult with a veterinarian for any acute or severe illness or lameness in your horse.