Equine Massage Therapy

By Michele Schutt

Equine Massage Therapy is sports massage applied to horses and their special needs as companions and athletes. This discipline is nothing new to the world and like human massage therapy, it was practiced in Ancient China and Rome.

In modern times, equine massage evolved from sports massage therapy for humans, when people began to explore alternate therapies in place of drugs that didn’t solve long-term muscular problems and invasive surgeries that the equine athlete might have adverse reactions to.

Horses cost anywhere from $500 to millions; their care becomes the primary concern of the owner and, in many cases, the investor. Like sports massage for humans, horses benefit from pre-event, post event, rehabilitative and restorative massage. Sports massage increases the horse’s performance and endurance. It also reduces the likelihood of injury and, in the event the horse is injured, reduces recovery time.

Modern equine massage evolved from sports massage principles in the 1970’s after Jack Meagher applied his techniques to horses. He worked as the equine massage therapist for the U.S. 3 Day Event team at the Montreal Olympics and at three world championships with the U.S. Driving Event Team. In 1980, his book, Sportsmassage was the first published in the United States about massage specific to the human athlete. He later followed it with the book, Beating Muscle Injuries For Horses, in 1985. His technique is based upon principles of free motion and knowing the early warning signs of serious problems in the horse’s muscle system.

In Beating Muscle Injuries for Horses, Meagher focused on 25 specific stress points that are often irritated in horses. Different types of riding put pressure on different stress points in the horse. He found that horses, like humans, all suffer from multiple stress points and release of these points by finger pressure, cross fiber friction and compression can result in instant relief for the horse. Although relief can be instant, if the problem has occurred over long periods of time, more treatments will be needed.

Meagher’s Method for horses is currently being taught at the Jack Meagher Institute of Sports Therapy in Amherst, Massachusetts and Wilson Meagher Sports Therapy in Concord, Massachusetts. Each course qualifies for 25 CEUs. The Jack Meagher Institute of Sports Therapy clinic is for 6 days and only accepts certified massage therapists, occupational therapists and physical therapists into their program.

Wilson Meagher Sports Therapy has a private apprenticeship program that lasts 1 – 4 days depending upon the need of the student. Components of the apprenticeship program can include: anatomy and physiology of the horse and human as it pertains to movement, problems in motion, learning observation skills pertaining to the horse and human, dialog and communication between therapist and trainer or owner, and contraindications for both horse and human.

Currently there is no governing board or state licensure for equine massage therapy. There have been attempts by the veterinarian entities to control equine massage practice by claiming that “massage is a part of veterinarian medicine”. However, judicial rulings have defined massage to be part of the grooming process therefore falling under Animal Husbandry, which is not regulated. As equine massage therapy becomes more widely accepted as a form of horse health care a regulating body will most likely develop to ensure that equine massage therapists are properly qualified.

Equine sports massage sessions can range from a 20 minute pre-event massage to a one or one-and-a-half-hour restorative massage, it depends on the need of the client. For the layman, there are books such as, Equine Massage: A Practical Guide by Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigh, RMT, that can teach the horse owner how to massage their own horse, using a relaxation massage and certain stretching techniques.

Equine Sports Massage can enable your horse to jump higher, run faster and longer, and increase the longevity of his athletic career.

All of these improvements reflect in increased earnings in winning races and shows, and they also increase the value of the animal as a stud or brood mare when it is no longer able to compete. But for those of us who will never compete at that level, we benefit by having our best friend leading a happier and healthier life -- one that we can enjoy together.

Michele Schutt is a Certified Massage Therapist and-Equine Massage practitioner. Email Michele at Centaur Therapeutics, Chesterfield, VA or call her at 804-639-2626.

Central Virginia’s authorized distributor of the STS-2 Equine Therapy System from Sumerel Therapeutics. To purchase your own system or to schedule an appointment for your horse, Call or email us today – 804.337.7190