Hands ON

I love massaging horses whose owners/riders are observant about their horse’s mind and body. They are able to share information that gives me a “leg up” on my own assessment. Horses are sometimes stoic on first observation. Getting rider’s insights on a horse’s daily behavior and areas of tightness help build the story of the horse’s condition. For example, riders may notice behavior changes under saddle like uncharacteristic spooking or their horse consistently wanting to swap leads behind. For riders who have the additional help of grooms (Bless the grooms who work so hard for the horses), their “hands-on” observations are information gold. 

All horses benefit from massage, whether they are competing at the highest level or retired in pasture (I just met a horse in his 30’s who gets regular massages and is doing great). Who wouldn’t benefit from muscle tension release and improved circulation! In a perfect world, a horse would get a massage (and possible laser support – see blog https://www.fivestarequine.com/blog/light) every 4-6 weeks. There are a lot of factors that determine frequency. Sometimes based on the horse’s job and stress level, that window could tighten to 3 weeks or push to 7 weeks.

So, what happens in between massage sessions?  It is always so heartening when riders/owners ask me for some “Hands On” homework. This not only connects the person in a deeper way with their horse, but also helps them to know what to look for. If the rider is willing to work, let’s say on tight hamstrings, a few times a week then that can really benefit the overall wellbeing of their horse. Riders can also more accurately observe how quickly their horse stays loose or develops tension. This is very helpful information for future massage sessions and even helps to determine if the horse needs additional assessments from a veterinarian, farrier, or chiropractor.

 If you want to make me…oh yeah…and your horse really happy then get your “Hands On.” Here are a few hands-on assessment and massage homework tips to consider implementing 1-3 times a week:

1. Run your palms from the horse’s poll (behind his ears) all the way down his spine then continue down the back of his legs to his hocks (both sides.) Then run your hands down all four legs. See green lines on the diagram for a general idea. Do you feel any areas that are warmer or cooler than the others? Also, notice if any areas are raised or slightly indented. If so, make note of the areas. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, inconsistencies in surface areas can indicate imbalances.

2. Then run your hands along a similar pathway (both sides). This time use pressure from your fingers or palms. See yellow lines on diagram. You are going over muscles. Note there is no muscling in the lower leg. Are there areas that feel hard or tight? Does the pressure cause a little visible spasm? Does the horse pull away, shift, pin their ears, or give you one of those looks of annoyance? Again, make a note. 

3. Lift your horse’s tail – does he or she resist and try and clamp it down or is it loose? A tight tail can mean a tightness in the hamstrings or other areas of the hind end.

4. Go to the SIDE of your horse’s head (if you face them, sometimes they will react and bonk you on the head!). Touch their jaw around their eyes and ears.  Do they lean in or pull away? Horses, like people, can hold tension around their jaw, eyes and ears.

5. After the above evaluation, spend a few minutes massaging each reactive or tension filled spot with your fingers or palm. This would also apply to any areas that were unusually cold or warm. You can use consistent pressure (doesn’t have to be too hard) or circular motion. If the tail was tight and clamped down you, can massage all around where it connects to the hind end and even give it a gentle pull. If there was reactivity around the head and jaw, remember to stand to the side when you massage. If your horse is showing a strong reactivity to any massage pressure, you can just simply rest your hand on an area. Horses are very sensitive and want to balance themselves, sometime literally just light touch can help them relax and release. You just have to be patient and let them process.

How do you know if your horse is responding?

Look for the following:

- Blinking or half closed eyes

-Licking and chewing

-Yawning (as shown in the photo)

-Shaking of the head or body

-A big exhale

Your “hands on” will be incredibly beneficial for the horse and, fun fact, it is also good for you! This practice can almost become a sort of meditation with your horse. It forces you to ground yourself, tune out mind chatter, and bring you into the present moment. To all those who have trouble sitting and meditating, here you go – the “Hand On Horse” method. I should probably trademark that!

 A couple of nice massage resources to add to your information toolbox include:

1. Equinology Institute (the equine massage school I attended…and love) has some great owner massage resource articles. https://equinologyinstitute.com/resources/articles/

2. For those wanting to go down the rabbit hole even deeper, Equinology has a bodywork course for owners and trainers that is excellent.https://equinologyinstitute.com/product/eq75-equine-massage-bodywork-for-owners-and-trainers/

3. This is another informative website with excellent content and free tutorial videos. https://www.horsesinsideout.com/academy