↓
 
 
 
  • Home
  • Articles
  • About Lisa
    • About Lisa
    • Work With Lisa
    • Contact
  • Training Tools
    • List of All Free & Paid Training Groups & Webinars Available
    • Barn Essential Oils 101 – An Introduction To Using Essential Oils For Horses
    • 1-Hr Webinar For Equine Professionals
    • 3 Steps To Evaluating Your Horse For Potential Problems
    • Essential Horse Care 30-Day Intensive Training
  • Products | Services
    • Essential Oils
      • Why Use Essential Oils?
      • Essential Oils And Horses
      • Barn Essential Oils 101 – An Introduction To Using Essential Oils For Horses
      • Essential Oil Quality
      • Why Become A Member?
      • Browse Essential Oil Catalog
    • eBooks | Videos
    • Equine Massage
      • Case Studies
      • Natural Horsemanship’s Role
      • Book A Massage For Your Horse
    • Private Consultations
    • ZYTO Compass Scans
  • Work With Lisa
  • Horse Care Kit
  • RIDER Wellness
  • View Cart
  • FREE Report

Natural Horse Care Tips | Benefits Of Horse Massage Therapy | Equine Bodywork | Exercises For Horses | Natural Remedies For Horses | Essential Oils | Using Essential Oils For Horses | Healing Your Horse Naturally | Improve Flexibility And Performance In Horses

Taking Natural and making it Practical - Natural health solutions for the horse you love!

Home→Tags benefits of bodywork for horses

Tag Archives: benefits of bodywork for horses

Does My Horse Really Need Stretching?

Natural Horse Care Tips | Benefits Of Horse Massage Therapy | Equine Bodywork | Exercises For Horses | Natural Remedies For Horses | Essential Oils | Using Essential Oils For Horses | Healing Your Horse Naturally | Improve Flexibility And Performance In Horses Posted on October 4, 2016 by Lisa CarterOctober 9, 2024
horse massage and stretch

“Does my horse really need stretching?”  Let me answer that question with another question…Do you think you would benefit from stretching?  Do you think you might feel a little less stiff, gain a little bit more flexibility, be a little less likely to pull something when exerting yourself if you did stretches on a regular basis?

I was asked not too long ago by someone responding to a bodywork article, “My horses are out on pasture 24/7.  What benefit would they gain from stretches since they move all the time?”  If the simple act of movement canceled out the benefits of stretching, then why do top athletes stretch before their training sessions or an athletic event?

EVERY being can benefit from stretching before and after activity.  Even horses not in work are susceptible to the stresses of life.  Have you seen horses play???  Running in the pasture, bucking, jumping, dodging, are all very athletic movements and create stresses on the body.  Horses slip and fall in the slick mud after rain.

Horses that are more sedentary or stalled become stiff from standing and inactivity.  Horses in work or training are working their muscles very hard, and are often developing specific muscle groups for a specific discipline, and can become quite sore and/or stiff.  Over time, if sore, tired muscles are not released, they can become chronically contracted or in spasm, adhesions in the muscle fibers can develop, and the horse can lose flexibility and suppleness.

These horses are much more prone to injury as well.  In a performance horse, this can mean the difference between winning or losing a competition.  In every horse, this means a reduction in quality of life/comfort levels.

I would like to pose a challenge for you.  For the next 30 days, perform some very basic stretches with your horse after a brief warmup of the muscles.  The warmup can be as simple as rubbing your horse down or going for a short walk.  On each leg do a series of flexion, extension, rotation, abduction (take away from the body), and adduction (bring toward the body).

Do these every day, once a day (or at least 3 days per week).  Then come back and tell me if you notice any difference in how your horse moves and/or feels.

You will be amazed at how something as simple as a few very basic stretches can make a HUGE difference in your horse’s comfort level.  If you would like to learn more simple strategies like this to help improve your horse’s performance, flexibility and overall quality of life, consider joining me in my next Essential Horse Care 30-day Intensive on-line training class (also available for home study on DVD) or check out my Basic Equine Stretching For The Horse Owner DVD.  Your horse will thank you for it!

And don’t forget to come back here and tell me how your 30-day Challenge went!

The information in this article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any condition or illness.  Nor is it meant to replace proper veterinary care. It is meant for educational purposes only.  Always consult your chosen veterinary professional before starting your horse or another animal on any therapy. 


Lisa Carter, Certified Equine Massage Therapist, with her Arabian mare Siofhice.  www.heavenlygaitsequinemassage.com.Lisa Carter is a Certified Equine Massage Therapist (CEMT), with multiple certifications from several different equine bodywork schools.  She incorporates her knowledge and experience with Parelli Natural Horsemanship, equine bodywork, using essential oils for animals and as a veterinary technician to provide her clients with the resources they need to make informed decisions for their horses.  She encourages and facilitates network building between equine health care professionals, working together to find the best combination of therapies to meet the needs of the “whole horse”.

Are you ready to get better results with your horse?  Put your equine health care team to work so you and your horse can be doing what you were meant to.  Click here to get started!

Tagged benefits of bodywork for horses, equine pain relief, equine stretching, how to improve flexibility in the horse, stretches for horses | 2 Replies

Remove Yourself From The Bondage Of Reactive Horse Care Practices!!

The Essential Horse Care Kit

Click here to learn more...

Young Living Independent Member

Member #1345529

Click Here To Join My Team!

Buy pure essential oils for you family and horses - https://essenty.com/heavenlygaits

Looking For Something In Particular?

Article Archives

  • A Prescription For Parelli (9)
  • Case Studies (7)
  • Equine Massage Tips (50)
  • Essential Oils (32)
  • Guest Author Articles (7)
  • Horse Health (99)
  • Horse Lovers (22)
  • Natural Horse Care (59)
  • Natural Horse Care Remedies (25)
  • Web Development (10)
RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Instagram
Tiktok

Additional Training Resources

Natural Horse Care and Equine Bodywork eBooks, Videos and DVDs - www.heavenlygaitsequinemassage.com

Webinars | eBooks | Videos

Top Quality

Everything you need to start on the road to a naturally healthy horse - www.heavenlygaitsequinemassage.com

Essential Oils For Horses

Author Bio

Lisa Carter is a Certified Equine Massage Therapist serving locations around North & Central Texas. She incorporates her knowledge and experience with equine bodywork, Parelli Natural Horsemanship, essential oils for animals, and as a veterinary technician to provide her clients with the resources they need to make informed decisions for their horses. Her mission - to build a network of equine health care professionals to work together to find the best combination of therapies to meet the needs of the "whole horse".

Heavenly Gaits Equine Massage | 475 PR 118A, Hico, TX | 254-485-6937

© 2016-2022 Heavenly Gaits Equine Massage. All rights reserved. Terms, conditions, email and privacy policy.

Website design and maintenance by CEP Web Design Solutions

- Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial