By Tina M. Lippincott, ESMT

Tina M. Lippincott, ESMT

When a horse is stressed, he becomes tense, muscles get tight – knots form and soreness sets in. It takes a firm, but tender touch to work that tenseness out and return a horse to peak performance. That's where equine massage comes in.

Sports massage therapy can improve performance in the equine athlete by increasing circulation, thereby releasing natural painkillers known as endorphins and promoting more rapid healing of injuries. It can also relieve painful muscle spasms; improve mobility and range of motion; reduce joint pain and inflammation; and in general help the physical condition of the entire body. This may result in increased endurance and longevity of the horse's athletic career and an improved disposition.

Sure, it may sound like massage therapy is the magic bullet for your equine star, but it must be emphasized that massage is NOT a substitute for veterinary care or diagnostic protocol. It is a preventive maintenance therapy and adjunct to your horse's regular health care. The methods and practices of a skilled equine massage therapist should be sought only after seeking veterinary attention.

The equine massage therapist employs a variety
of opening, locating, treating and closing strokes
by hand through weight and body leverage.

So, what are the methods and practices of a horse masseuse, and how does one break down the communication barrier to isolate a problem area? Turns out, horses are great communicators of discomfort (though some can be quite stoic) and will indicate pain from the most subtle shift of balance/position, flick of ear, or change of expression, to aggressive moves like biting, kicking out, or even pushing the painful part towards the practitioner. They are great at telling us where it hurts. With this information, the massage therapist employs a variety of opening, locating, treatment and closing strokes by hand, applying weight and body leverage similar to a human massage. For safety, the horse is tied or held loosely by a handler.

All horses may at some point benefit from massage therapy, from the backyard trail horses to the high level performance horse. Look for signs of discomfort such as the lack of impulsion, balance and coordination, resistance to lead changes, uneven tracking, tension in the head and neck or attitude problems. With a few treatments pre-event, post event and on a regular maintenance basis, your horse stands a good chance of "loosening up" and returning to high performance.

If you are interested in learning more about this effective treatment, or in learning the skills to become a certified practitioner, visit www.equissage.com. When your horse is in pain, he depends on you to find relief.

Equine Sports Massage Therapist Tina Lippincott says she measures her success by a horse's ability to perform. Blue ribbons and national titles are wonderful but her greatest joy is to witness a horse enjoying his work and achieving his potential. Tina admits, "To that end, any horse I can help is a success."