kneadsupplemuscles

As an Equine Sports & Rehabilitation Massage Therapist, I spend a lot of time looking at horses from the outside – watching how they stand, how they move, where they hold tension and, importantly, how they respond to touch. But what is actually happening underneath the skin? I recently visited the Horses Inside Out – Inside the Horse Anatomy Exhibition, created by equine anatomy and biomechanics specialist Gillian Higgins. For me, continuing to learn is a really important part of being a...

What happens when a horse is too anxious and guarded to properly accept massage? This was one of the challenges I faced when I first met Sid. Sid is a highly sensitive horse with a difficult past. Although he is now in a loving home, those previous experiences haven't simply disappeared. He can be wary of people, sensitive to touch and very subtle in the way he communicates when something is becoming too much. His owner's wish was simple: "I'd like Sid to be able to relax and breathe." For...

When we watch a horse galloping across a field or effortlessly clearing a jump, it’s easy to admire the beauty of the movement without considering what’s happening beneath the skin. Hidden under the sleek coat is an incredible network of muscles working together to create every step, stretch, and turn. The equine muscular system is a remarkable piece of natural engineering. A horse has over 700 muscles, making up nearly half of its body weight. These muscles provide strength, stability, and...