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INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HORSE’S TREATMENT

If your horse has been injured, massage may not be appropriate until the injury has healed sufficiently to ensure that the massage will not cause more damage. For minor injuries this will be around 48-72 hours, for other more major injuries this may be as long as a week or more.

If your horse has suffered a major injury ask your vet when massage may begin on the horse for rehabilitation.

Massage can be of great benefit during the chronic stage of an injury.  At this point the body begins to repair damage by laying down new fibres.  However, it does so in a haphazard manner.  This causes the repair to be initially strong but also tends to form stiff scar tissue that does not allow the muscle to function as well as before.  Massage using friction, stretching and pressure appropriately will cause the muscles to align the new fibres correctly and thereby restore correct muscle function and flexibility.

Preparing your horse for massage:

	Please have your horse caught and ready to start receiving treatment at your appointment time.
	The area needs to be level, free from obstructions and preferably should be on good footing. Ideally the area should be somewhere quiet where the horse can relax.
	Your horse should be clean of all mud, manure and dirt from the hock\knee up, including the poll, head, between the legs (front and back) and under the girth area. I cannot massage through mud. Dirt not brushed from the coat will be ground into horse during the massage, interfering with my ability to feel the muscles and irritating the horse. The oil\gel used during the massage will stick dirt and grit into the coat. If your horse has rain scald or any other skin condition, please let me know beforehand. Infectious skin conditions may be spread to other areas of the horse.
	Ideally your horse should be warm and dry – exercising prior to the massage is fine, if it is chilly please make sure that your horse has a good warm rug on. What to expect during and after a massage:
	An initial palpation (palpation = feeling the muscles and checking for soreness by touch) of the horse will reveal any major problem areas but some muscle problems will only appear as you begin to treat the area or after the area is warmed up and deep work begins.
	If the palpation reveals any areas of serious inflammation or injury I may ask you to contact a vet, rather than proceeding with the massage without a full diagnostic workup of the problem area.
	Most horses enjoy massage but obviously they will react as I begin to work on problem areas, during some techniques or even if they are not used to being touched in some places. Please don’t correct your horse unless asked to, I am used to most horses reactions.
	Your horse may shake, yawn, spontaneously stretch or even look sleepy or surprised (dopey) after releasing some stress or trigger points – these are signs that the horse has received relief from the pain these areas cause. A good shake can even help in the process.
	Please do hold your horse still when possible, it is much more difficult to massage a horse that is allowed to wander about than one that is asked to stand (much as you do for the farrier or vet).
	After most massage sessions your horse should be allowed to relax quietly for a while. If your horse has received a deep tissue or post-injury massage you may be asked to walk your horse out for 5-10 mins, please keep to straight lines rather than lunging the horse in circles.
	If deep work has been performed on your horse, you will be told how to proceed over the next few days - this may include not riding the horse or other changes to the normal routine.
	Some problems may require several visits to resolve, others may involve correcting saddle-fit, shoeing\trimming or riding style before they are permanently eradicated.