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Equine Sports Massage A horse's muscular system is 60% of their body weight, so why not take care of it? Without healthy muscles your horse would lack the ability to move freely and fluidly. The purpose of Equine Sports Massage Therapy (ESMT) is to treat, and ultimately aid in the prevention of, muscle tightness and other related ailments that can lead to lameness and other debilitating effects on your horse's health. When is your horse telling you that he needs a massage? Head tossing Bending problems Shortened strides Difficulty picking up the correct lead Bucking Stumbling When muscles tighten, they produce resistance in their motion, making the horse work harder. Muscles that are unable to extend to their fullest length can result in a pull or tear of the muscle. Regular massages keep the muscles is good working order, which in turn makes a happier horse. During the first massage that your horse is given, an evaluation will be done. An evaluation consists of a quick assessment of the the horse's muscle system. This is performed to find any points of soreness or muscle tension. Some Benefits of ESMT Increases range of motion Enhances muscle tone Helps to reduce inflammation in the joints which in turn alleviates pain A non-invasive therapy Increases blood supply to the muscles and allows toxins to be excreted through the skin Improves the disposition of the horse Relaxes spasms Helps relieve tension Increases the flow of nutrients to the muscles to promote healing Increases Synoval fluid in the joints The actual massage consists of using 8 basic strokes to massage the 25 different muscles of the equine body. A full body massage takes approximately 1 hour from start to finish. After the massage, the owner will want to take the horse on a brisk walk for about 5 minutes to prevent any stiffness from the massage. After a few minutes your horse should be moving freely and easily. Use Massage As... a Pre-Event (loosens, warms, and readies the muscles) a Post-Event (helps to return the muscles back to a normal state) Maintenance