Equine Massage

From the very first volumes of veterinary medicine, the therapeutic benefits of massage have been documented on a wide range of animals with a variety of ailments. During the 1950s, Russia and other Eastern European countries fully integrated sports massage into the total regimen of athletic preparation for their human and nonhuman Olympic athletes using Swedish massage, a technique developed by Dr. Per Hendrik Lang in the early 19th century. But, despite its effectiveness in relieving horses trained for intensive sports, the certified practice of equine massage in the Swedish technique did not come of age until the late 1980s, when owners and trainers began considering it as an alternative to expensive prescription drugs and invasive surgical techniques for their animals. Now an acclaimed technique used by both veterinarians and equestrians across the world, Swedish massage relies on a system of long gliding strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, and shaking motions to naturally:

 Enhance muscle tone and range of motion
 Reduce inflammation and swelling in the joints
 Increase the flow of nutrients to the muscles
 Carry away excessive fluids and toxins
 Improve the contractual and release process of the muscles, thereby releasing tension
 Stimulate circulation
 Release endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers