Aftercare Advice

Its important to know how best to support your horse after a massage to ensure they get the most out of it.

If you have any concerns after a massage, please don't hesitate to contact me - I will be happy to reassure you, and come back if necessary.

Depending on how the horse reacts to the massage, and how tense they are, they may act or ride differently afterwards. This can include looking more stiff the day after, which is why walking out and stretching is so important. If the horse is feeling especially well in themselves after a massage, you may experience a more energetic ride than usual, or if they have been displaying unwanted behaviours due to tension, such as bucking, this may become less common.

Preparing for a massage:

It is best to be well prepared for a massage, and prepare the horse as such. This includes planning for any days off they may need after, and a day of stretching or light work on the return to work. Riding prior to the massage is a good way to work around these necessary days off, and will not affect the massage or the horse so long as it is not too strenuous. 

The horse will also need to be well groomed, so no wet hair or fresh mud please! This will make it very difficult to massage correctly, and may result in skin irritation if mud is pressed into the coat, so removing thick layers of dirt is best to ensure the horse is comfortable during the massage. It is also important to pick out their hooves, as trapped mud or missing shoes can affect how we see the horse - creating asymmetries out of nothing. This will also make the horse more comfortable if you are asked to walk and trot up, which will be done for every initial assessment and may be required in routine bookings too.