How
will I know when my horse needs a massage?
The best function of massage is as a preventative. A regular
massage can find issues before they become major problems.
Signs of problems, though, could include, stepping short,
vague backend lameness, refusal of aids or the opposite problem
of “running through” aids. Increased lethargy
is also a possibility.
Does
every horse get the identical massage?
Definitely not! Every massage is tailored to meet the specific
demands of each individual horse and the sport that they perform.
Each massage will address the full body, but more emphasis
will be placed on the muscles that each horse uses most and
this will vary greatly based on the work that each horse performs.
In addition, each horse will have its unique "positive"
points which will be addressed during each session.
How
often should a horse be massaged?
This depends on the horse's level of work. High performance
horses will benefit from massage once a week;
Normal working horses should be massaged every four to six
weeks; Retired horses will respond well to a massage every
six to eight weeks.
How
soon will it be before I see results?
An improvement should be seen and felt after the first massage.
With each massage, a deeper pressure can be used as the animal
grows accustomed to the therapy. If you are massaging because
of a specific issue, and you do not see improvement after
3 to 5 massages, you are probably dealing with something that
is not a soft tissue concern.
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