Sports massages for horses- any views?

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GoJo

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just wondering what people thought really, have recently had one done on both my boys and was surprised at the results with one of them particularly.
Anyone have any experiences of them good or bad?
 
I've been using one for years. She's brilliant! Horses always show marked improvement following a visit. She is also very good at spotting possible problems (I'm not saying she makes a diagnosis or attempts to treat things, just feels when something isn't right). However, I do think it depends on the therapist - mine was off sick for quite a while and although her locum was quite competent, I was not as confident in her work.
 
I have been using Gary for a few years, agree with above really, both ponies always show a marked improvement when he has been, think he is really brill, & especially with my older mare, am convinced he helps to keep her sound & happy.
 
my 5yo has them, and i think they are brilliant. the lady spends about two hours working over the whole of the body including legs, and the results so far have been very positive. you can see that he really enjoys it, and releases tension through yawning etc. i would defifnitely recommend my lady
 
I've had a girl out to my horse and i thought it was brill, my horse loved it and fell asleep while she had it done and her mobility was loads better afterwards. Would definately recommend it xx
 
Don't rate them. Also not sure why anyone would let a "Massage therapist" loose on their horse when you can get a fully qualified and chartered physio out instead? Yes they're expensive but you get what you pay for! I personally wouldn't go to a massage therapist myself, would always use a physio, so wouldn't get one for my horse eithe.r
 
Steady on there chestnut cob!!!!
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I've had some excellent treatment from a sports massage therapist - he made my head move again when I thought it was stuck at that bizarre angle for ever. There's also a world of difference between someone calling themselves a 'massage therapist' and someone qualified to do sports massage - which is deep tissue massage. And he did help with my hip mobility too AND then referred me on to an osteopath when he found there was a more fundamental problem.

H had tweaked something in his leg last week - so bad that I was thinking he had suspensory ligament damage or something. His osteopath took a look at him on Monday, found the offending muscle and all she basically did was massage. He was a different horse the next day - sound and supple.

I think there is definitely room in the equestrian world for this kind of therapy. Again I use a qualified osteopath rather than just a massage person, but I know others that do and the horses are really rejuvenated afterwards.

Love it
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(although I'm sure there's good and bad 'therapist's out there - like any other profession)
 
brilliant i have had 2 out now who work together but on different areas when my pony fell over and hurt her shoulder and results were very good - like all though theres good and bad i guess
 
Yes but you used your qualified osteo for a massage, which isn't the same thing as using a random "massage therapist".... Although I guess using a massage specilalist is like going to a beautician for a back rub, rather than a physio for treatment.
 
i use a qualified massage therapist who has just pinpointed my horse's very specific and unusual problem area (am going to do a report on it in Comp Riders actually, as i think it's pretty interesting). she has done wonders for my horses (and me) in the past.
chestnut cob, as with all things, there are bad, good and great ones, imho!
 
i must say this was my view really until i had one done on my boys- she picked up a problem with one of them which i knew about but not even the vet could find when i called him out.
i have seen a massive improvement in one of them especially .
 
I've used a sports massage therapist for both my boys for 4 years now, every six weeks. She is superb at picking potential problems up - spotted an abscess forming before the horse went lame, tells me if my saddle needs tweaking etc. She was a qualified human physio but decided to go down the equine massage route rather than the physio route.

I think, as with many of the more 'alternative' therapies, there are good and bad practitioners out there.
 
not all massage therapists are random beauticians! look up ESMA members, we have completed an intensive course including a vet viva, practical and exam assessment, are all insured and work as part of a team including your vet, farrier etc. to improve performance in your horse. i would thoroughly recommend ANY of our organization, and we have all been trained by world renowned Olympic physiotherapist mary bromiley, one of the leading authorities in the event and racing worlds. if you have ever met mary, enough said!
 
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