Equine Massage: A Practical Guide (11 page)

As the horse relaxes during the session, his head will go down and his breathing will become deeper and slower with occasional sighing. Sighing is a definite indication of tension release.You will feel a strong energy field around the animal as he relaxes.

Depending on the nature of the massage you use, the horse might go to sleep or perk up and be ready for exercise. Either way, massage will benefit the horse’s overall health.

How the Horse Responds

Like humans, horses have both visual and auditory aspects to their mental makeup. Many factors in the horse’s life will influence his psychological and physical behavior.Visual and auditory tendencies will vary in relationship to: age, sex, environment (people, stabling), experiences, and training. Adjust your approach accordingly.

The Visual Horse

A visual horse loves company. Such an animal communicates primarily through motion, expressing his emotions by physical reactions and movements.This type of horse needs to be secure in his visible surroundings. Familiar areas play a strong role in his well-being. Body language signals are important, particularly since horses like to be touched when they
want
to be touched. A horse may even refuse to be touched.

When massaging a visual horse, proceed gently and peacefully.

Demonstration through gesture is more important than talking, but it is good to maintain a soft-spoken contact with him as you massage his body. Allow the horse to look around.Work him in a familiar area.

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The Auditory Horse

An auditory horse is more perceptive than a visual horse; he pays attention to sounds. It’s important to talk to an auditory horse.

This type of horse is less body-expressive than the visual horse but is willing to please. He is curious but more fragile in his self-esteem. The auditory horse always loves to be touched, but also likes serenity and time alone.

The auditory horse can be massaged anywhere; because of his nature, he copes with new environments easily. Throughout the treatment, talk to the animal in a peaceful tone of voice. Avoid high-pitched or loud sounds in his presence. Due to the auditory horse’s sensibility, you need to pay extra attention to your approach during your massage (i.e., gentle touch, awareness of horse’s feedback).

Keep in mind that both visual and auditory conditions will appear in a horse’s make-up during different periods of his life. The one condition may change to the other gradually over a long period of time, or the change may be quite rapid.As part of the relaxation massage routine, the head massage routine in chapter 6 gives you a good opportunity to evaluate the horse you are working on.

Duration of a Massage

For your first massage, and especially if it is the animal’s first massage, the relaxation massage routine in chapter 6 is highly recommended. It should last between 10 and 20 minutes. Use your own judgment and modify the time in relation to the horse’s temperament and the feedback signs he gives you. The first massage is a very special time in which you should really emphasize a soft, mindful, and caring contact to gain the animal’s trust.

On your first full-body massage, again proceed gently in a very relaxed manner, avoiding awkward rhythms and deep pressure, until you have gained the horse’s confidence.After several sessions you can increase the duration of your massages to 45 or 60 minutes, up to an hour and a half if the animal permits it.

The head massage routine in chapter 6, which complements the relaxation routine, can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.Again, some animals love having their faces touched; some simply do not, but with patience and perseverance you might win them over.

A maintenance massage routine (chapter 6) can be done any-time to keep the animal’s muscles fit; it should last 30 or 40 minutes in the early practices, and increased to 60 or 90 minutes later on. A recuperation routine (chapter 6) should be used after the horse has exercised in order to prevent stiffness or tying up. The routine should last between 20 and 30 minutes.

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It is not unusual to spend an hour and a half on a thorough maintenance routine with a horse accustomed to massage. The expression “being massaged to death” is very appealing but not very realistic; most horses will become nervous, almost agitated, after an hour-long massage. But some animals can easily take a two-hour, gentle, in-depth maintenance massage.This may sound exhausting for the masseur or masseuse, but with practice and the use of efficient techniques mentioned later (chapter 5), he or she will quickly develop good endurance.

The connection you have with the horse is important. When massaging a strange horse for the first time, do not expect too much. But after 5 to 10 massage sessions, most horses will love to be massaged; they will lower their heads and go into relaxation very quickly.That’s their way of showing you that they appreciate your work!

When dealing with an injury, consult with your veterinarian before any massage is considered. Depending on the case, once the injury is past the acute stage, a massage treatment should last from 20 to a maximum of 60 minutes, including hydrotherapy and stretching time where applicable.The severity of the case and the degree of inflammation symptoms (heat and swelling) present will dictate the nature and course of treatment. Chapter 5 presents several massage techniques that are commonly used for injury treatment. Always keep in mind that injured tissues are extremely painful; you must not overwork them. Keep your treatment time short at the beginning. As the inflammation decreases, you can proportionally increase the duration of your massage sessions.

When working on any one specific area—for example, the hindquarters or back—do not work for more than 10 to 15 minutes; otherwise you could overwork the tissues. This could result in inflammation and irritation of the tissues.

For the same reason, do not spend more than 5 to 10 minutes on a small area such as the poll or stifle. Judge the situation carefully.

Consider the state of the tissues and the horse’s tolerance at the time of treatment.And always relieve any inflammation by following the massage with lots of drainage and cold hydrotherapy (chapter 4).

Plan and evaluate your treatment mentally before you start, keeping track of time as you move around the body. With practice, this will become second nature to you.

When to Massage Your Horse

Basically, any time is a good time to massage your horse, but you want to choose the moment when your horse will be most receptive. Depending on your goals and the situation at hand, you need to find the optimum time in order to achieve the best results.

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The most effective way to use massage therapy is to integrate the massage movements into your everyday way of working with your animal. For example, you can massage right after grooming, after exercise, or when putting your horse away for the night.You can massage for a few minutes over a small area, such as the back, right after unsaddling. You can choose a morning or evening schedule for a thorough, full-body session. You are the judge; common sense is the rule. If you try to work an animal during feeding time, well, good luck.

In any case always observe these guidelines:

❖ Always do a “health” check to ensure that there are no prevailing contraindications prior to massaging the animal (page 47).

❖ Develop a routine and base your work on it. A repetitive pattern ensures confidence and relaxation (chapter 6).

When you want to deliver a good massage, it is best to wait for the horse’s “moment.” Evaluating your horse’s temperament will help you discover his “best time.” If your animal is a “morning horse,” work in the morning; if an “afternoon horse,” work in the afternoon; if a “night horse,” work in the late evening. If your animal seems to have an auditory-dominant nature, he will probably prefer a massage when everything is quiet, usually in the evening or perhaps during the day when the other horses are out.As mentioned earlier, if your animal is more visual, he will prefer a massage in familiar surroundings; within normal limits, noise will have little effect on him.

The type of training and lifestyle your horse is used to will also play a role in determining good times for massage; i.e., maintenance massage before exercise, recuperation routine after exercise, relaxing massage before and after traveling or when restless or in pain.

Keep in mind outside influences: an approaching electrical storm, strong winds, or abnormal activities going on in the barn (construction, competition, seminars, arrival of a new horse, and so on). A horse can be restless during feeding time, if he has worms, if he’s colicky, during a hot summer season, when in a heavy training schedule with very rich feed, during competition, during travel, and the like.

The relaxation routine in chapter 6 can be done at any time; it is always used to start a full-body massage. This routine works wonders in switching a horse’s mood, especially if he is depressed, naughty, mischievous, or simply tense.

The maintenance routine in chapter 6 is best done when the horse is warm after some exercise, in either the morning or

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evening. A simple walk or a little longeing will be enough to warm up the horse. If the horse cannot be warmed by exercise, cover him with a blanket or use hot and cold hydrotherapy (also known as a “vascular flush”) to produce increased circulation (chapter 4).

The recuperation routine in chapter 6 is always done after heavy training.This routine helps the horse recover faster and can help prevent tying up.

Injury treatment should be worked into a schedule followed by stretching exercises or a rest period, depending on how well the horse is recovering.

How to Approach the Horse

You Want to Massage

Your first contact, the actual first few minutes with the horse, is crucial.The situation requires awareness, some common sense, and a lot of horse sense. If you approach the horse with an understanding of his nature and immediately make him feel secure, he will trust you very quickly.

It is recommended that you observe a horse briefly before actually approaching him.Try to determine which dominance he is displaying in his character—visual or auditory. A visual horse loves company and will be much easier to approach. An auditory horse is very perceptive, pays more attention to noises, and will be more difficult to reach.

2.1 Body Language

(A) tense horse

(B) relaxed horse

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Remember that some animals have been physically abused.

They will be more suspicious of you as you begin work. Some horses might even try to get you with a quick bite or a springy cow-kick. Be alert. Keep assessing the feedback signs he gives you.

First of all, ensure that you are calm and relaxed. Do not start when you are stressed, anxious, tired, or fearful.Your feelings will be communicated to the animal through your touch, so be relaxed and have a positive attitude. In other words, the way you are is the way the horse will be. (Riders, you have heard that one before!) Speak softly and kindly to the horse as you approach him more to one side. Do not stand in front of him. Keep your hands low (at waist level) and fully opened. Give your horse time to acknowledge you before you touch him.The horse’s response will be to bring his head toward you and nuzzle you; this is how a horse shakes your hand. Meanwhile, evaluate his breathing rhythm and adapt your breathing to the horse’s.This action will allow you to observe his inner state, whether calm or restless.

Once the horse has acknowledged you, quietly raise your right hand—your natural giving hand—to his nose, and lightly massage the face. Keep talking to the animal, furthering your bonding with the softness of your voice. Gently bring your left hand to the horse’s attention, then start touching the neck lightly at the poll. If the horse does not like this, bring your hand down to the withers.

The first hand contact needs to be very warm, thoughtful, rich in feeling and vibration.Thus this contact will have a strong, positive impact on the horse. Take your time. There is no need to rush. A few minutes are all it takes to establish this crucial first impression.

Then proceed with your massage. As mentioned above, the relaxation routine is the best way to start any massage session, especially when you are breaking the ice for the first time. Always start with a very gentle, light touch, going deeper progressively.

Start with 2 to 5 pounds of pressure, moving up to 15, but no more than 20 pounds in the first session. Increase your touch gradually.To familiarize yourself with the pounds of pressure, use a bathroom or kitchen scale to appreciate how quickly pressure builds. For more detail on pressure gauges, see chapter 3, page 57.

Keep up verbal contact as you progress in the sessions and look for signs of feedback (ears twitching, changes in breathing rhythm, eyes closed or bulging, body movements, moving into you or away, stamping of feet, switching of the standing leg, swishing of the tail, twitching of skin, noises, etc.)