Nervous System

Ensure the horse isn’t shutdown, burnt out, or stressed. If they are, we use gentle methods to help bring the body out of flight or fight mode and into a parasympathetic state where the body is receptive.

Massage

We use clinical-based massage techniques throughout a session, including, but not limited to:

• Effleurage — Long, gliding strokes used to warm the tissues, encourage circulation, and assess areas of tension.

• Petrissage — Kneading, lifting, and compressing techniques used to work deeper into the muscles and surrounding soft tissue.

• Trigger Point Therapy — Focused pressure on specific areas of muscular tension to encourage the muscle to relax and release.

• Myofascial Release — Gentle, sustained techniques intended to address restrictions within the fascia—the connective tissue surrounding and connecting muscles throughout the body.

• Targeted Muscle Work — Individual muscles and muscle groups can be addressed based on the horse's movement, workload, compensation patterns, and areas of tension.

Stretching & Range of Motion

Bodywork isn't only about muscles feeling good. We also want those muscles and joints to move well.

Sessions may incorporate:

• Gentle passive stretching

• Dynamic (active) stretching

• Range-of-motion exercises

• Techniques intended to reduce muscular restriction and support more comfortable movement

PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field)

• When used correctly by a highly trained and certified practitioner, there are wonderful benefits.

The body works as a connected system. When one area becomes tight, sore, fatigued, or restricted, a horse may begin using another part of the body differently to compensate.

Over time, those compensation patterns can influence the way the horse moves and performs.

Regular sports massage and bodywork can help:

• Positively effect proprioception so the horse learns a better way of moving

• Relieve muscular tension and soreness that may lead to tendon, ligament and joint problems down the road

• Support healthy circulation to working muscles, avoiding atrophy and hypotonicity

• Improve or maintain flexibility

• Support comfortable range of motion

• Encourage relaxation and reduce unnecessary muscular guarding

• Support recovery following training, hauling, and competition- recovery is necessary to build and maintain muscle health

• Maintain soft-tissue health in horses with demanding workloads

• Support more balanced, efficient movement

• Keep the equine athlete feeling and functioning at their best

• Systemic Support for the following: immune/lymphatic systems, digestive systems, respiratory system, musculoskeletal support, arthritic joints.

It’s not just about fixing a problem.

One of our biggest goals is preventative maintenance.

Equine Bodywork for the performance horse shouldn’t wait until a horse is obviously sore or their performance has changed. Regular sessions give us an opportunity to become familiar with a horse's normal muscle tone, movement, and patterns of tension.

That makes it easier to recognize when something feels different.

Because caring for the performance horse isn't only about addressing problems—it's about supporting the body before small restrictions have the opportunity to become bigger ones.