Horses are just like us, they have jobs and daily activities that can cause muscles to become tight and cause pain. Repetitive motion or standing in a stall can reduce the range of motion in the horse’s body. This reduced lack of motion combined with pain can cause the horse to misbehave, buck, rear or bite. Often, pain is primary reason behind bad behavior in horses.

Massage therapy breaks up adhesions and loosens tight muscles thus increasing blood flow into the area bothering the horse. Waste materials, think lactic acid, are flushed out, oxygen and nutrients are rushed in. This reduces pain, increases range of motion and heals tissue faster. Bad or dangerous behavior is reduced and performance is increased. All of which makes for a happy horse owner and rider.

Horses by nature are prey animals. In their minds they must be on constant vigil for predators, like that scary yellow flower or paper bag on your tack trunk. This constant vigilance is also a factor in disrupting a horse’s rest in new settings, like portable horse show stalls. Massage addresses the nervous system and calms the horse. A calmer nervous system aids digestion which reduces the chance of ulcers or colic and increases the digestion of nutrients. Often, you will see your horse during a massage session lower their head, close their eyes, droop their lips, and even yawn! This tells me the horse is calm and feels safe to let his guard down. And, that he is thoroughly enjoying his treatment!