What to Expect
Prior to the initial consultation your vet must sign a consent form for your horse. Your vet may or may not wish to see your horse before giving consent. All information provided by the owner and vet is treated in strict confidentiality by the therapist.
Initial Consultation
All clients must first have an initial consultation which takes up to 2 hours. The initial consultation may involve
Following these observations, a short full body massage will be performed, which helps the horse become accustomed to massage techniques and also allows the therapist to find any problem areas. Further treatments will be required dependent on the problem areas found.
- Discussing the horse’s history and any presenting problems
- Gait analysis
- Conformation check
- Looking at the saddle fit
- Foot and farriery observation
- It might be necessary to see the horse being ridden or lunged.
Following these observations, a short full body massage will be performed, which helps the horse become accustomed to massage techniques and also allows the therapist to find any problem areas. Further treatments will be required dependent on the problem areas found.
Follow Up Treatments
Follow-up treatments, lasting around 1½ hours, will cover the whole body but the routine will be tailor made to the individual horse, with more time spent on problem areas. As the horse becomes accustomed to the techniques used, the therapist can work deeper into the muscles.
All treatments will include massage techniques and may active and passive stretches. After treatments, the owner will be provided with aftercare advice and may be given exercises and stretches to perform between treatments.
Depending on the horse, its workload, and any problems being treated, it may only be necessary for your horse to have a few treatments a year to maintain the benefits of massage.
All treatments will include massage techniques and may active and passive stretches. After treatments, the owner will be provided with aftercare advice and may be given exercises and stretches to perform between treatments.
Depending on the horse, its workload, and any problems being treated, it may only be necessary for your horse to have a few treatments a year to maintain the benefits of massage.
