What is Sports Massage Therapy? 

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Sports Massage Therapy is designed to help athletes before, during and after training. 

It is the manipulation of soft tissue aimed to benefit a person or animal who is engaged in regular physical activity and lets face it you don't have to be a professional athlete to engage in 'regular physical activity' you might just be mucking out everyday or in your horses case, could be a 'happy hacker'! 

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Soft tissue is connective tissue including skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. Sports massage assists in the correction of problems and imbalances in the musculoskeletal system which can be caused from repetitive and strenuous physical activity and trauma.  The application of sports massage, prior to and after exercise may enhance performance, aid recovery and prevent injury!

Why would my horse need Sport Massage Therapy?  

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In short your horse might need a sports massage in exactly  the same way you might need a sports massage.  Horses are made up of 60% muscle and use 16 muscles to move their ears alone! If your horse has changed their behavior recently or has had a long lasting behavioral problem such as napping, bucking, hesitation or you feel a stiffness or imbalance (other behavioral and physical problems can include, reluctance to work on a particular rein, general stuborness, trouble bending, girthiness and trouble tacking up, aggression, cribbing, head tossing) they well be in need of a Sports Massage. By the time you're feeling these behaviors or physical indicators as a rider, your horse may be in serious need of muscle release. Quite often behavioral changes can be attributed to your horse letting you know that there is pain, tension or discomfort. Areas of muscle tension can depend on your horses breed, conformation, muscle tone, discipline and shoeing. 

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Sports Massage plays an important role in rehabilitation after injury, our main goal though is to prevent injury in the first place. Prehab such as Sports Massage is a great way to prevent some physical and behavioral problems as well as a maintenance method to keep your equine athlete performing to their best ability. The Sports Massage therapist uses palpation to target tight muscles and acupressure points in the horse. ​

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*Please note the certified sports massage therapist is not a replacement for the Vet and does require veterinary acknowledgement in order to see your horse and can advise you refer back to your vet at any point. Sports massage therapy works best in unison with all practitioners that see your horse, including your vet, vet physio, farrier and saddle fitter. 

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