Before and after a massage therapy session. The horse was stuck in left contraction, putting more weight on the left hoof and lifting the right shoulder. Asymmetries here and in the hindend, coupled with rotation of the rib cage to compensate, show a seemingly curved spine. One session isn’t going to fix the problem but it does relax the tight muscles so they can lengthen and allow the over stretched muscles to contract and work. This then allows the body to work more effectively, reducing stress on this joints, and improving posture and performance.
This 15 year old horse is enjoying a new life at a therapeutic riding center. This was his first ever bodywork. Before and after pictures are for my record keeping and so I can analyze which muscles, and how posture, changes from start to end to refine my techniques. It is also an interesting study in biomechanics. “But you just pose the horse that way!” For both the before and after pictures, I ask the horse to stand on all four legs and that is it. They get to choose their posture. Posture results from confirmation (I can’t change) and muscle use. By reducing the pain around the good postural muscles, the horses tend to choose to stand with better posture after a bodywork session. Think about how much taller and straighter you stand after a chiropractic or massage therapy session. Does anyone pose you or do you just do it because it feels better?
One of the goals of bodywork is to reduce the pain the horse has, to help him release tension in the muscles, so that he can be happier in life and in his work.
You may be familiar with the big signs of release of tension such as yawns and licking/chewing. There are more subtle signs as well.
Most common signs of the horse letting go of the tension or a reduction in pain:
-licking/chewing;
-yawning;
-sleepy look;
-itchy or running nose;
-relaxed breathing
-soft eye and nose;
-blinking quicker/more often;
-blowing nose;
-lowering head.
If a horse is not comfortable showing signs of release during the treatment session, you might spot him releasing in his stall or pasture when no one else is around!