Finding A Good Horse Massage School

By Enid Hinton


There are many excellent careers in the equine industry. Each year more and more people join the ranks of riders, both for pleasure and competition. There are many hundreds of thousands of horses kept in a variety of barns all over the country. Many of these animals are worth a lot of money and their owners are quite willing to spend extra dollars to ensure their animal is in its very best condition.

One thing all the riders have in common is a love and concern for their animals. Because of the increased demand for good riding horses there is also a demand for those who have attended horse massage school. Many people simply do not realize that their animals can also enjoy and benefit from the work of a good masseur. This is especially true of horses that compete in physically demanding activities such as three day events and polo.

Horses are very intelligent creatures who have a long history of serving their human masters. Equines of every shape and size can give hours of pleasure to their owners and riders. They can also be trained to compete in a number of disciplines, from jumping to dressage and even jousting. However, many of these activities can be very demanding and sadly to say, injuries are quite common.

When an animal has been involved in an accident or fall it is easier for the rider to be on the look out for a problem. However, in cases were the horse was not observed in difficulties the owners often have no idea that an injury even occurred. In some cases the animal may just be stiff and resistant to certain movements. This can sometimes be treated by a week off and some turn out in the field.

One of the first things that the new student will learn is all about the anatomy and physiology of the horse. They will spend a lot of time studying the large and small muscles to see how they work together and affect the overall performance of the animal. It is amazing to see how an injury can affect the equine and cause a problem that seems to have no connection to the site of the injury.

Competition horses are especially likely to suffer an injury. Equines sports today are very demanding and horses are pushed to their limits. When a horse takes a fall there is huge potential for muscle damage. Under these circumstances it is vital to keep the animal under close observation.

As the therapist puts pressure on the muscles the animal will typically react. This allows the masseur to really find out what is the cause of the problem. A stiffness or injury in the high muscles of the hind quarters will cause the horse to move with a slightly shorter stride.

Many therapists are now regular fixtures at big competition barns. They are able to detect weakness and injury that the rider may not know exists. This allows horse and rider to work together as a team with a greater awareness of each others ability and limitations.




About the Author: