Horse Massage

How To Give Your Horse a Massage

Here's some simple techniques to help you and your horse work together with more harmony. Not only will your horse be able to offer you more when you ask, he'll also enjoy the extra attention you give him.

Massage Your Horse's Head

Take your finger tips and make a cat's claw, then lightly do a circular motion along side the side of your horse's jaw. Chewing food each day, or being ridden with a bit in his mouth can make this area tighten if his teeth are due for the dentist, so your fingertips can help ease the tension.

Feel around for any tight banding on the poll and if you find some, use the flat of your fingertips and press gently until you feel a slight resistance. If you horse pulls his head away you have used too much pressure. You can hold your fingers here for a couple of minutes or until you feel the banding give under your touch. Imagine any headaches your horse may have just melting away as you do this.

Massage Your Horse's Neck

There is a long ligament called the nucral ligament, that runs from the poll along the top of the neck. If your horse gets tight in the neck you can jostle his neck by placing your hands over the crest with your thumbs close to you, and gently roll the top of the neck towards you. Work up from the wither up towards the poll and back again.

Most horses like you to start off with light pressure and then each time you start from the wither you can get firmer with your jostle. If you horse tightens his neck when you do this, just ease off with the pressure and try again.

Massage Your Horse's Shoulder

This part includes the whole area surrounding and including the scapula and shoulder blade, which starts where the neck joins the body, circles up to the wither and then down beside where the girth runs.

Horse Shoulder Massage

In this area you can use a technique called compression, place the palm of your hand flat on the area and twist it. The twist is like moving your hand from 10 on the clock to 2.

This twisting movement helps to separate any tight muscle fibres or spasms that may be lurking under the skin.

Massage Your Horse's Girth

Sometimes a girth tightened too quickly can make a horse sensitive and if your horse is a little girthy, place the palm of your hand over the area just behind the elbow. Leave your palm sitting here and allow your hand to get warm, in some cases your hand will begin to sweat and this is what the old grooms used to refer to as sweating a horse. This can be done over the loins if your horse has a sore back.

Massage Your Horse's Back

There is a very long muscle that runs from the wither to the croup called the Longissimus Dorsi.

This muscle is the area you sit on and it's also responsible for connecting the front of the horse to the back. This muscle loves to be stroked with long sweeping movements, so use the palm of your hand and stroke from the wither backwards towards the tail. Start with light pressure and work up to a heavy pressure as the muscles become warm.

Horse Back Massage

This is helpful to do with your horse before and after a saddle has been on his back.

Massage Your Horse's Rump

This is a fun area to massage and it has a big muscle group called gluteals. From a soft fist with your hand and making sure you have a floppy wrist, pound this whole area. Your horse will love this and will adjust his position to get you pounding on the area he likes best.!

Horse's Rump

Just make sure you vary the pressure from light to heavy and you hand always stays relaxed. Be careful you don't pound over bones such as the point of hip.

Massage Tips

Don't massage your horse if he's sick or you could make his symptoms worse.

Don't stand on a stool to massage as you won't be able to move out of the way quickly if he gets a scare.

Always watch your horse's body language for what he likes and dislikes.

Never rush a massage, always do it when you have time to enjoy giving.

If you follow the fall of your horse's coat he will find your attention relaxing.

Have fun while massing and both you and your horse will enjoy the benefits.

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