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| Stride Right Equine Massage Therapy |
Equine Massage:
Horses have more than 150 muscles in their body. Each one
having a specific function that allows them to move with
enormous grace. By keeping these muscles in top form, we can
help them do more work with less effort. Massage therapy is
becoming an increasingly popular way to keep horses at the
top of their game.
Muscular problems can occur in any horse, but they most
often occur in horses which are involved in some form of
training and/or competition. Intense training for any sport
can result in exertion. The price your horse pays for exertion
will be a loss of complete freedom and ease of motion due to
residual muscle tightening. This may start out as slight tension in the body and may go unnoticed at
first. In time, this tightness is followed by the development of spasms and eventually knotted tissue at
the area where muscle exertion and tightness occurred. Spasms and knots cause pressure. Pressure
causes discomfort and pain. The horse responds to this by resisting, refusing, or just being "not quite
right" in their work. However with accurate massage techniques, the compromised muscle tissue can be
restored to its normal function. The pain subsides and the problem disappears.
The benefits of equine massage are numerous, yeilding
both immediate and long term results. It is a fantastic
tool that can help you gauge if your horse has a
problem brewing and, in many cases, it can even help
you prevent injury. All of this in addition to improving
athletic performance!
The massage touch has a very strong healing influence
on the horse. It is widely used to prevent and relieve
stress. Massage techniques can affect the whole body
by increasing range of motion, improving stamina,
enhancing performance and gait quality, improving circulation and removing toxins from the tissues,
and providing comfort to muscle injuries and soreness.
Acupressure:
Acupressure is a lesser known form of bodywork. Stemming from
Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupressure is the practice of applying
fingertip pressure at specific points on the body to influence and
control the flow of Qi. (Pronounced “chee,” Qi is the energy that
activates all life processes.) It can be used to improve general health
and wellbeing, as well as to strengthen muscles, joints and even organ
systems. It can also be used in emergency situations and in cases of
both acute and chronic illness.
Acupressure works to alleviate pain by releasing endorphins
(the body's natural pain killer), which relieves the symptoms of
various conditions.
While their benefits can be outstanding, acupressure and massage are neither
treatments nor cures; please realize that they are evaluation tools and are not
substitutes for veterinary medicine. But they do complement — and even enhance —
veterinary treatments, and as a means of prevention they can go a long way in
improving your horse’s quality of life and ability to perform.
| Stride Right Equine Massage Therapy Serving Savannah, GA and surrounding areas 912-660-1706 Cara@striderightequinemassagetherapy.com |
| A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with its heart, and wins with its character. ~ Tessio |
| Rates: Massage session $65 (usually lasts about an hour) Acupressure session $55 and up Combination Massage/Acupressure session $80 Trip fees may apply to areas greater than 30 miles from Richmond Hill, GA. |