Benefits of Using Equine Massage Therapy on a Dressage Horse

If you spend any time riding in the dressage arena, you know that your horse can sometimes become tight and even a bit sore just like any athlete that has to use muscle power. If a horse is tight, they can’t relax. Relaxation is very important to a good dressage test. With the help of Equine Massage Therapy, you can keep your horse’s muscles supple and possibly increase your scores!

Susan Saward is a dressage competitor that has been using massage therapy to help her 13 year-old horse Gucci perform. She says that there are many benefits to having regular sessions with an Equine Physical Therapist and she also uses an equestrian massage system that is a pad that contains a vibrating massage unit for 20 minutes a session. Here are the top benefits that she’s obtained with massage: 

1. “It warms up the muscles so cuts down on warm up time. The horse is also much more supple.” 
2. “I notice a definite lengthening of the stride when she has a massage before warm-up.” 
3. “I like to use the equestrian massage system while plaiting (braiding) her mane before a show to relax her so she holds still and makes the job much easier and faster.” 
4. “She’s more relaxed in the horse box if I give her a massage before travelling. And she is more relaxed at the show if I use it once we arrive.” 
5. “I like to use a hand-held massage unit for spot treatment such as a knot in the muscle or filled or swollen legs. It increases circulation and helps speed healing.” A hand-held vibrating massage unit is ideal for injuries that are more intense and that the pad-type massage units, which offer an overall massage, may not reach as quickly or directly.

Rowena Cook from Equine Management and Training states some other benefits of massage for horses of all disciplines: 
1. Injury prevention, due to the muscles being warm and supple before work. 
2. Aids and promotes relaxation 
3. Improves venous and lymphatic drainage and so reduces swelling 
4. Promotes healthy circulation 
5. Improves joint mobility

I know that my horse yawns and falls asleep when I borrow Sue’s machine. We have even used the hand unit to help with our own pulled calves and aching backs. Just remember, a healthy and relaxed equine athlete, is a happy equine athlete!

Nothing beats an equine massage from a Physical Therapist, but if you can’t have one every day, there are a few equine massage systems on the market. We use the Equissage Equine Massage Therapy System. Their website states, “Safe, versatile, non-invasive and easy to use, the system is suitable for every horse, in every discipline.” It consists of a pad with a massage unit attached that “gives a deep cycloidal massage to the whole horse.”


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *