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Reasons
Because your horse needs it!
Human athletes deal with concerns about performance or injury by using some or all variations of therapy available to them. Horses are incredible and sensitive athletes, and suffer from muscle soreness, tension and restricted movement just as we do. But because they are unable to communicate this verbally, horses are frequently misunderstood...
Equine sport is also becoming increasingly intense, making it essential to have a solid preventative and maintenance health program. It should be designed to create and maintain a movement that is natural, free and rewarding for both rider and horse.
Bodywork therapies are vital parts of any such program.
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Fred gets relaxed seeing his therapist arrive... |
 Releasing tension while getting gentle craniosacral treatment on his hinds. | Some other facts & findings:  A horse's body weight is made up of 60% muscles; that is almost double that of the average human.
The muscular system is responsible for motion; any malfunction of that system is consequently the predominate cause for motion problems. Failure to recognize this often results in inadequate treatment.
Tight, built-up muscles are shortened muscles that have lost flexibility; this makes them more prone to fatigue and injury. |
Once a muscle is in spasm, even a normal, safe movement becomes unsafe and can result in a tear, pull or massive spasm (like a Charley horse).
Muscular problems tend to be cumulative in nature and do not stay in one isolated area. As the first set of muscles tighten, the next group in line must pick up the slack and is put under stress. Then this group too tightens and passes along even more stress onto the next group of muscles… What started as an unnoticed tightness in the shoulder ends up as troubled flexors and tendons down the leg.
It is, therefore, not always the last thing you horse did that caused the problem!
The body is a unit and should be treated as such. The moving parts of the body were designed to move through a specified range of motion freely, easily and completely. If they are unable to do so, there will be a problem.
Word of caution:
Muscles can be the entire cause of a problem or reflect a deeper cause! It is important to have the possibility of any deeper issues eliminated by your veterinarian: what constitutes proper therapy for a muscle problem could be entirely improper for a deeper cause!
Bodywork therapies are no substitute for proper veterinary care. |  Hands on healing releases energy blockages. |
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