There are many reasons why a horse may need bodywork. Here are some tell-tale signs:

• Your horse is sore

• Your horse’s muscles are tight

• Your horse is struggling with lead changes or staying on the correct lead

• Your horse is having trouble jumping or with typical movements

• Your horse feels stiff or restricted

• Your horse won’t accept contact or resists collection

• Your horse’s posture is abnormal or they change their normal stance at rest

• Your horse has behavioral issues

• Your horse has an injury and the vet has cleared bodywork

• Your horse is compensating for an injury or poor conformation

• Your horse is an athlete and has a heavier work load

• and much more!

There are so many wonderful benefits to equine massage therapy!

To name a few:

• Enchances muscle tone

• Increases range of motion

• Reduces inflammation and swelling in joints

• Can help alleviate pain

• Increases blood flow and circulation, which can promote healing and drains excessive toxins and fluids

• Enhances performance

• and much more!

• It’s always good to ensure that your horse is warmed up before a massage. If you plan to ride the day of, be sure to do so before the session. If not, feel free to handwalk for 10-20 minutes.

• Be sure to have your horse clean and dry before I begin.

• Try your best to schedule for a day/time that does not interfere with any other procedures, such as feeding, turnout, riding, or too close to a horse show.

• If this is your horse’s first session, please plan to have someone present who knows this horse well and can provide information.

• If necessary, have someone ready to hold your horse.

• I would advise you have someone ready to hand walk your horse for at least 10 minutes afterward.

• Please ensure there are no contraindications on the day of the session. See the list of contraindications for reference.

• Do not feed treats or distract your horse during the session because it means they will not get the most out of it. They should be focused on me as much as possible.

If it is your horse’s first massage ever, or first one in a very long time, I recommend giving it 48 hours to allow the muscles to adjust after the initial session.

Otherwise, it is best to give it 24 hours rest.

If you plan on riding the next day, be sure it is only with light work.

• For best results, hand walk your horse for a minimum of 10 minutes within 2 hours after your session. Turnout afterwards is also a great plan to have.

• If your horse is older or just beginning their bodywork journey, it is best to give them 48 hours off after their initial session, as their muscles are still acclimating to massage

• Your horse should not be ridden for the rest of the day, and it is recommended to let your horse have rest for the next 24 hours. But, it’s best to plan a lighter ride for the following day if you are going to.

• Massage can be an intense experience and your horse will most likely need to rehydrate, please ensure that there is plenty of water available to your horse.

• Be mindful that your horse may need some time to adjust to their new way of moving after a deeper session. Many horses are compensating for issues when they move “normally,” so they need the grace to adjust to this new experience.

• Please update me on how your horse is feeling following a session and feel free to leave a review!

Unfortunately there is no one clear answer to this question. Each horse is an individual, and therefore has their own customized maintenance plan.

Some horses may benefit from weekly bodywork sessions, while others can get away with monthly session or even bi-monthly sessions.

This will be determined after my initial session and my discussion with you. It is important to get your feedback and have open communication so we can understand your horse’s baseline and how long the results last for your specific horse and go from there.

Any horse experiencing any of these contraindications must be cleared by a vet or doctor prior to being worked on:

• Recent Joint Injections

• Recent Vaccinations

• Tying Up

• Abnormal Vitals

• Neurologic

• Certain Stages of Pregnancy

• Excessive Loose Stool

• Skin Conditions

• Illness

• Undiagnosed Lameness

• Active Bleeding

• Cancer

• Heat/Swelling

• Other Procedures Being Done (Chiropractic, Dentals, etc.)