JOHN EDWARDS
CERTIFIED EQUINE SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST

  Sixty percent of a horse's body is made of skeletal muscle.  With this in mind we question why this portion is the most neglected area of the horse in regards to treatment.  Our equine partners work hard for us and as a result become stiff and sore, just as a human would during training.   Muscle knots form and if left untreated continue to grow.  Eventually we notice something is just not right, whether their gait is off or some sort of resistance appears.

    Sports massage therapy treats the whole body of the horse.  This allows treatment of the area showing symptoms and treatment of areas  compensating for the muscles that have knots in them.   If a muscle is not totally working for the horse, then it is working against the horse.  In other words if a horse is favoring a muscle because of soreness then he must use another muscle to make up for that loss... so the sore muscle is working against the best benefit of the horse.

    Massage therapy provides numerous benefits:

         - improved circulation: thereby more rapid healing
         - enhanced muscle tone and increased range of motion
         - eases muscle spasms
         - stimulates lymphatic circulation thereby increasing elimination of                     toxins
         - general improvement of animals disposition
         - lengthens connective tissue, breaks down adhesions
         - increases flow of synovial fluid
         - aids in prevention of injuries
         - boost athletic performance and endurance