Equine Massage Therapy is the therapeutic application of the hands to manipulate the soft tissue underneath the skin. The many layers of soft tissue structures are paramount to a healthy horse.

The complex system of the horse and the intricate musculature requires a deep understanding of anatomy to truly understand what is going on beneath the surface of the skin. Each move performed by the therapist is used for a specific purpose to ensure that the horse is receiving the most accurate and beneficial treatment. 

Horses benefit from regular massage therapy as it can be used as a preventative measure for any potential injuries. By locating potential problems early on, you significantly reduce the risk of it becoming a far bigger issue in the future. Prevention is better than cure!

Change in behaviour, stepping short, “girthy” or cold-backed horses or even something as simple as ‘my horse just seems off’ can be one of the many reasons why you should consider starting a regular massage treatment. 

There are a wide range of benefits of Equine Massage Therapy and it has an effect, not only on the body, but also the mind. 

• Improved suppleness
• Increased flexibility
• Pain relief
• Relief of muscle tension, spasms and trigger points.
• Enhances muscle tone
• Induces a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing
• Reduces formation of scar tissue and adhesions, especially if the tissue is in a state of healing
• Increases range of movement
• Aids muscle recovery
• Increase in circulation and lymphatic system-very useful for those horses on box rest.
• Assists in the removal of toxins

• In the event of an injury it can aid recovery and help prevent muscle atrophy. 
• It may prevent injury by improving muscle usage before minor problems turn into major ones.

There are many more reasons to give your horse a massage and sometimes it’s nice just to ‘give something back’ for all the joy that they give us!

If your horse is in good health and the treatment is maintenance or to assist in optimising performance veterinary consent is not required, however I will always ask  which practice your horse is registered with. I am obliged by my duty of care to report any abnormalities identified during assessment and treatment.

I will require veterinary authorisation for those horses who are currently under their care prior to beginning any treatments. 

I am more than happy to work alongside your vet, farrier, chiropractor, physio etc as I believe that each professional has an important part to play in maintaining your horse’s health!

I will take some background information over the phone prior to the initial assessment. Information required includes details of vet and if there has been any treatment /routine visits from farrier, dentist, saddler etc. This would also be the opportune time to discuss any concerns that you may have about your horse.

During my first visit, the horse will be assessed on their conformation and their actions in walk, trot, turning and backing up. 

The treatment itself includes palpating the whole body and feeling the muscles, treating areas of concern using a variety of techniques depending on what is needed. All treatments are led by the horse. If he is not happy with something, I can easily adapt in order to carry out the treatment effectively without causing any upset!

While most horses find their treatments relaxing and show this by ‘releasing’, some are more stoic and rarely give anything away.  

Please allow up to 90 minutes for an Initial Assessment appointment and treatment.

Follow up treatments usually take around 1 hour, though the treatment time is appropriate for each individual horse and may sometimes take longer.

Through assessing the horse, both through static and dynamic observations, I aim to deliver a treatment plan to target muscular tension, increase circulation and optimise range of movement and performance. Regular treatments are recommended to support muscle tone and injury prevention. 

I cover the whole of the South Lakes footprint. Please note that travel costs may apply depending on your location and if you’re outside this area.

If you need to cancel your appointment, I will require as much notice as possible in order to accommodate another client. 

A charge of 50% of treatment cost will apply if cancellation is less than 24 hours before appointment.

Initial Assessment and treatment                                                       

Up to 2 hours depending on horses circumstances.

Maintenance Treatment, includes stretching and joint mobilisation where applicable.

There are times where tools may be used during treatment in order to efficiently treat certain areas. I firmly believe that no tool can take the place of hands on massage, however there are times where such items can complement a treatment, especially on well muscled or larger horses. 

I have various equipment which help me treat your horse including:

• The ‘Knobble it’ – very useful when doing any trigger point work and on clipped horses.
• The ‘StickOn Gua Sha’ – an excellent addition for myofascial release treatment..
• Balance pads – a gentle stabilising treatment which is led by the horse. Great for horses who need extra support with engaging those core muscles and improving posture.
• Theragun-excellent for targeting those deep muscles. 

If you have any queries about any of these items please message me and I will be happy to explain more.