‘Massage is the therapeutic manipulation of the body’s soft tissues – including muscles, tendons, ligaments and skin – using techniques like rubbing, kneading, pressing, tapping and holding’.
Massage has long been an accepted therapeutic tool in human societies, having been found recorded in ancient texts as far back as 200BC in Persia, Eqypt and China. It was in the early 19th Century that Swede Per Henrik Ling developed the soft tissue techniques that we are so familiar with today, and that are considered the foundation techniques such as effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration. It was realised long ago that massage could aid in healing injuries, relieving pain, reducing stress and enable deep relaxation. Other bodywork modalities such as acupressure and acupuncture, part of Ancient Chinese Medicine, also trace back thousands of years.
In modern society, holistic therapies like massage have become well respected, accepted and sought after modalities for helping our animal companions as well. Massage therapies are now known to have many physical and mental/emotional benefits such as:
- Loosening tight muscles
- Relieving muscle cramps and spasms
- Decreasing muscle fatigue
- Improving ROM (Range of Motion)
- Increasing muscle strength and condition
- Improving stretch/flexibility of connective tissue
- Loosening joints
- Stimulating circulation
- Improving lymphatic drainage
- Improving muscle tone
- Decreasing injury risk
- Aiding in healing
- Improving relaxation
- Reducing depression
- Improving quality of rest/sleep
- Reducing anxiety
- Reducing stress
- Improving overall well-being
Supporting our animals with their emotional well being as well as the physical is highly important to me and an intrinsic part of my practice. Just like us, horses and ponies can carry stress, fear, sadness and anxiety which can get ‘stuck’ in their bodies and minds, affecting how they interact with us and their herd members and how they are able to perform the tasks we ask of them. Feeling tense and worried is not conducive to good physical performance; tense minds and bodies are more prone to injury and illness. Releasing this stress and finding balance has a positive effect on how they experience their world and us
In my practice I provide a holistic approach to look at the whole picture for your equine companion, aiming to help them feel their best physically and emotionally, so that whether they are performing at a high level or enjoying a quiet life, they are getting the most out of it!
I use a range of massage techniques and clinical reasoning to support equine well being, and will work alongside your vet and other professionals to ensure your horse or pony has the highest level of support.
