E3laan Horse Blankets

Horse Therapy

Equine massage therapy helps keep your horse in top shape

A horse's body is 60 percent muscle so it only makes sense that they can suffer from the same sort of muscle and joint aches and pains that humans experience. Similarly, just like a good massage can work wonders on the human body, equine massage therapy can make a big difference for the horse as well.

Equine massage therapy provides a number of benefits, including:

-      Relieving muscle tension and spasms.

-      Improving blood circulation, this in turn helps speed the healing of injuries.

-      Improves muscle tone.

-      Increases range of motion, performance and even endurance.

-      Prevention of adhesions by lengthening connective tissue.

-      Decreases joint pain by reducing swelling and inflammation

-      Relaxes an calms the horse for examination by the vet, dentist or farrier

-      Improve disposition since the pain or discomfort has been alleviated

While all horses benefit from regular equine massage therapy, there are certain signs that your horse will exhibit to let you know that massage is needed, including limping or lameness that can't be explained, shortened stride, difficulty with lateral movements, head tossing and cold back syndrome. However, before jumping headlong into equine massage therapy, it's always a good idea to have a vet examine the horse to rule out more serious health problems.

Equine massage therapy can be performed by hand, by hiring a professional masseuse, or by using a massage device. As you can imagine, giving a horse a massage by hand can be tiring work that may leave you in need of a massage yourself. Hiring a professional certified in equine massage therapy can be a pricey alternative. While the initial outlay for a quality equine massage device may seem expensive, it will quickly pay for itself.

A full-body massage device both manipulates the muscle tissue and provides soothing heat, which makes the equine massage therapy session much more effective. The combination of heat and massage has been found to increase muscle tone and strength, speed post-operative recovery, and even encourage older horses that have become stiff to put their little-used muscles back to work.

There are a number of leading horse trainers and riders that recommend using a full-body massager to deliver equine massage therapy, including Di Lampard, Nikki Barrett, Marie Burke, John Bowan and Robert Lemieux. Experts have found that just three to five minutes of equine massage therapy per muscle group - both before and after exercise - helps relieve tension in tight muscles and increase blood circulation to the areas receiving the massage. This in turn improves the horse's performance, attitude or disposition, and helps restore free motion.

Copyright © 2009

About the Author

Health Connection provides Equine Massage therapy, Equine Treatment, Equine Acupuncture, massage cushion, Equine pain management and equine acupuncture for horses in the UK.

Draper Equine Therapy Horse Cooler $249 The Draper Equine Therapy Horse Cooler is designed for use after work for a balanced cool down while keeping circulation optimized. Machine washable and dryer safe.

Therapy $12.49 Therapy

In Therapy $4.49 In Therapy

Ice Horse Cold Therapy Replacement Packs $18 Ice Horse Tendon Wraps are top quality insulated tendon wraps that assist in the cold penetration of inflamed soft tissue.

Draper Equine Therapy Polo Wraps $45 The Draper Equine Therapy Polo Wraps provide therapy for your horse while they work and move. Polo Wraps are machine washable and dryer safe.

Draper Equine Therapy Turnout Blanket $299 Keep your horse comfortable and warm with the Draper Equine Therapy Turnout Horse Blanket. Lined with Holofiber/Celliant and wool. Machine washable and dryer safe.

Equilibrium Magnetic Therapy Chaps $124.95 Equilibrium Magnetic Therapy Chaps. Comes with 2 powerful magnetic strips. Magnetic Therapy Chaps feature VITAflex magnets that possess strong circular and permanent magnetic fields of alternating pole sequences increasing the electric charge in the cell's membrane improving the cell's ability to regenerate. For indoor use only the Equilibrium Magnetic Therapy Chaps are perfect for the injured horse or older horse with joint pain.

Horse Equine Cold Therapy Wraps 4 Lb $71.57 Quality insulated cannon bone/tendon leg wraps that stay cold up to two hours.Provides compression which assists cold penetration of inflamed soft tissue. Re-usable after three hours in the freezer.Can be used for cold and heat therapy. Dimensions (L x W x H):11.25 x 8.25 x 4. Includes 2 wraps

Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad $479.95 Great for rehabilitating or the hard working horse, the Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad. The Massage Pad increases relaxation, improves back flexibility, and helps to reduce stiffness caused by injury, chronic conditions, or strenuous work.

Horse $10 Horse

The New Equine Sports Therapy $9.99 Equine sports therapy is becoming widely accepted as a way to treat horses suffering from performance and other injuries. An essential reference for veterinarians, sport therapists, and horse owners, this book covers the different physical therapy methods being used form ultrasound to the use of heat, cold and magnets. Details on each type of therapy, its history, applications to human medicine, and uses in horses are provided.

The Outside of a Horse $13.99 Hannah Gale starts volunteering at a horse stable because she needs a place to escape. Her father has returned from the Iraq war as an amputee with posttraumatic stress disorder, and his nightmares rock the household. At the stable, Hannah comes to love Jack, Super Dee, and Indy; helps bring a rescued mare back from the brink; and witnesses the birth of the filly who steals her heart. Hannah learns more than she ever imagined about horse training, abuse, and rescues, as well as her own capacity for hope. Physical therapy with horses could be the answer to her father?s prayers, if only she can get him to try.

Leather Therapy Saddle Pad and Blanket Wash $14.95 Created at the suggestion of a university professor and veterinarian to reduce the spread of skin problems from horse to horse Leather Therapy Saddle Pad and Blanket Wash breaks down heavily soiled and protein based grime and contaminants.

Ice Horse Big Black Boot $118 The unique design of the Ice Horse Big Black Boot allows you to quickly and easily apply cold therapy to your horses hooves.

Horse Miracles $12.95 Through their courage, strength, and beauty, horses will forever be known to capture hearts and bond with humans in a way never thought possible. Horses demonstrate their loyalty and bravery every day on farms and in riding stables. But in this exciting volume of the Miracles series, horses go beyond bravery--and prove themselves to be miracle workers. Whether rescuing their young owners from an attacker, overcoming abuse to serve as a teacher to other horses, or proving therapy to those who need it most, these noble creatures have proven time and time again that miracles can--and do--happen. This book brings to life the steadfast horse-human bond--and shows how horses can change the lives of their riders forever.

Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers $9.95 "Horses lend us the wings we lack." -Unknown. Riding creates an unbreakable bond between horse and owner. In this new collection, you will meet more than fifty magnificent and dependable creatures and the people whose lives they've changed. From a spirited horse who takes his visually impaired owner on a life-changing journey, to a magical miniature who brings joy to those who need it most through animal assisted therapy, A Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers is sure to gallop away with your heart.

Leather Therapy Blanket Rinse 4oz $4.99 Leather Therapy Blanket Rinse Saddle Pad & Blanket Rinse was created at the suggestion of a noted university Professor/Veterinarian. It provides anti-static benefits in a formulation designed to decrease the spread of skin problems from horse to horse. Also reduces the risk of cross-contamination from odor-causing bacteria and molds. Use Rinse in the laundry softener dispenser every time article is washed to provide residual sanitizing and texturizing benefits. Use with Saddle Pad & Blanket Wash. Biodegradable and Earth Friendly.

Leather Therapy Blanket Rinse 16oz $12.99 Leather Therapy Blanket Rinse Saddle Pad & Blanket Rinse was created at the suggestion of a noted university Professor/Veterinarian. It provides anti-static benefits in a formulation designed to decrease the spread of skin problems from horse to horse. Also reduces the risk of cross-contamination from odor-causing bacteria and molds. Use Rinse in the laundry softener dispenser every time article is washed to provide residual sanitizing and texturizing benefits. Use with Saddle Pad & Blanket Wash. Biodegradable and Earth Friendly.

Leather Therapy Blanket Rinse 128oz $64.99 Leather Therapy Blanket Rinse Saddle Pad & Blanket Rinse was created at the suggestion of a noted university Professor/Veterinarian. It provides anti-static benefits in a formulation designed to decrease the spread of skin problems from horse to horse. Also reduces the risk of cross-contamination from odor-causing bacteria and molds. Use Rinse in the laundry softener dispenser every time article is washed to provide residual sanitizing and texturizing benefits. Use with Saddle Pad & Blanket Wash. Biodegradable and Earth Friendly.