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Benefits
|  Enhances the muscle tone: creating a positive effect on the whole contracting and release process of the muscle, massage helps prevent muscles from getting hyper-contracted and injured.
Relieves muscle spasm and tension: hands-on manipulation of the contracted muscle will help the fibres to relax and eventually lengthen back to their normal state. Breaks up tight knots: friction applied across the direction of the muscle will loosen up any fibres that were sticking to each other and creating discomfort. This will also reduce the danger of fibrosis developing.
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Touching a "happy" spot... | Increases blood circulation: the direct pressure dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow. Blood supplies the body’s tissues and organs with the necessary nutrients and oxygen resulting in: shinier coats, stronger immunity, less strain on the heart, etc. Eliminates toxins: increased circulation activates the lymphatic system, which absorbs and eliminates the body’s waste products and toxins. Helps release natural painkillers: a stimulated glandular system helps produce more endorphins, providing natural pain relief. Reduces joint inflammation: massage increases the production of synovial fluid, the lubricant of joints. | Increases range of motion: a better moving horse means more efficient strides, and enhanced strides mean improved gaits. Improves stamina and endurance: with the muscles working freely and with an increased range of motion, the horse is working more efficiently. His stamina, performance and endurance will improve | 
Touching a sensitive spot... | Improves disposition: every animal’s tolerance of discomfort is different, and some are more patient than others. But a common way for your horse to communicate his objections is to change his behaviour. So, when your friend suddenly starts pinning his ears back when you are saddling him up, he may be hurting somewhere. Reduces resistance to touch: some horses just don’t want to be touched, while others can't get enough of your scratches and strokes. Provided there is no external reason, horses that shake you off at first change their mind quickly after a bodywork session. | | Health awareness: the deep and detailed touch during a bodywork session can pick up any subtle changes in tissues at an earlier stage for intervention and care. Assess physical condition: tightness in muscles on one side only, changes in temperatures and tension and the reaction to touch can help you to evaluate the success of your horse's training program and type of work. Relaxation: this is generally the first benefit that comes to mind when talking about massage; it is especially useful for high-strung horses. Complementary: bodywork therapies work very well in conjunction with other treatment forms (traditional medicine, chiropractic and acupuncture), to provide a more lasting and complete resolution of clinical symptoms. Such as colic, tying-up, botulism, EPM. | 
Touching a stiff spot... Bodywork is used along with other health care modalities, as well as proper training, to help your horse to perform at its optimum levels.
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