Heavy training and competition schedules take their toll on the muscle system of the horse. Sixty percent of the horse's body weight is made up of muscle tissue. Since muscles (damaged or not) do not appear on radiographs, observation of how the horse is behaving will be the main indicator of pain and muscle damage. Signs of possible muscle damage include head tossing, stumbling, difficulty accepting the bit, decreased stride length and performance, difficulty with leads, refusing jumps, bucking, balking, grumpiness, and the list goes on.

Muscle problems are cumulative in nature and the resulting pain and stiffness can rob your horse of his or her athletic potential. This is where Rider’s Edge Integrated Equine Bodywork comes in! A full body sports massage will restore damaged muscles and more importantly, when applied at regular intervals, help to prevent the damage before it happens.