For owners
Six signs your horse might benefit from a massage
Horses don’t come with dashboards, but their bodies do give warning lights.
Every horse is an athlete, even the happy hackers and the golden oldies. Their bodies work hard every day, quietly compensating for small things we don’t always notice. Owners often spot that something is different but aren’t sure what it means. These are the signs I see most often.
The warning lights
What to look out for
1. A shorter stride
Can point to tight glutes or hamstrings, lower back or hip flexor tension, or compensation further forward.
2. An uneven stance
Always resting the same leg can mean offloading discomfort, hindquarter tightness or a shoulder imbalance.
3. A hollow back
A back that dips instead of lifting: tense back muscles, a tight thoracic sling or saddle discomfort.
4. Rushing transitions
Often a way of avoiding discomfort: hip flexor tightness, tired glutes or a weaker core.
5. Girthiness
Grumpy when tacking up? Often a bodywork clue: tight pectorals, shoulder tension or ribcage restriction.
6. A tilting head
Can come from restriction around the poll, neck tightness or uneven loading through the shoulders.
Important
When to call your vet first
These signs can have many causes, and some need a vet before anything else. If your horse is lame, changes suddenly, or the sign comes with heat, swelling or pain, please call your vet first. I never diagnose, and I always work alongside your vet.
Noticed one of these? An assessment is a good place to start: I’ll look at how your horse stands and moves, and explain what I find.
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Spotted one of these?
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