FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.  How long does a massage take?
Most massages will last about an hour although, the first massage may take a little longer because there are generally more areas to work out.

2.  What happens during the appointment?
I begin by filling out a detailed questionnaire on your horse including, age, work performed, general health, and your observations of performance and/or behavioral issues.  Next I perform a pre-massage evaluation on the horse to get an idea of reactive areas.  Next, I massage the horse from head to tail on one side and then from head to tail on the other side.  I will make notes of my findings after completing the first side of the horse and then again after the entire massage is complete.  I will discuss my findings with you and talk about follow up treatments and exercises.

3.  Can I ride my horse before the massage?
No.  It is best for the horse’s muscles to be “cold”, so allow at least 3 hours between riding and the massage.  If the horse”s muscles are recently worked, a cool down massage may be given but it will not be nearly as therapeutic as a “cold muscle” massage.

4.  Can I ride my horse after the massage?
Absolutely!  A sports massage is a great warm up for the muscles.

5.  How often should I schedule a massage?
Every horse and situation is unique, so I will discuss my recommendations with you after my initial evaluation.

6.  What can I expect after the massage?
After the massage I will ask you to walk your horse briskly for at least 5 minutes.  You may notice some stiffness at first, but this will quickly work out.  The next time you ride your horse, you should see improvement with his movement!

7.  If I know my horse has a problem with his left hind, can you just work on that area?
Equine Sports Massage Therapy is always done as a full body massage.  One of the accepted and essential objectives of the sports massage is to assist in creating balance in the body.  If a therapist is working on one or two specific areas only, they may be creating imbalance.  It is very likely that the muscle showing signs of pain or weakness may not be the cause of the problem.

8.  Is there any time that a massage should not be done on a horse?
Yes, massage is not indicated for the following conditions:

          Shock - Massage can lower blood pressure and when the body is in shock, the blood pressure will already be lowered.

          Fever - Fever is the body’s way of fighting infection and since massage can speed up metabolism it could cause a healing crisis.

          Cancer - By speeding up the metabolism, massage could spread a condition which may be isolated.

          Massage is never a substitute for veterinary care.