Creature Comforts offers equine sports massage therapy designed to help your horse perform with the graceful athleticism we all love to watch. Creature Comforts is based in Burlington, Kentucky, and serves Northern Kentucky, Southwestern Ohio, and Southeastern Indiana.

Massage therapy is not an indulgence, but a non-invasive, drug-free method of alleviating many problems that restrict a horse’s ability to perform. Here’s some areas where massage therapy can help your horse:

Maintenance and muscle tone: Is it worth $25-30 a month to keep your horse in great shape? Regular massage therapy will improve your horse’s muscle tone, and lead to a stronger, more flexible back and improved top line. Your horse will bend, flex, and collect better; have increased range of motion and smoother gaits; be less prone to injury.

Injury or fatigue: An injured horse will try to avoid the pain of putting weight on the effected limb. The horse compensates by using other muscle groups, eventually over-taxing them and causing more strain. After an unusually heavy workout, a horse might experience muscle fatigue. This can put the entire body out of balance and lead to weakness, excessive sweating, and difficulty with gaits. Massage therapy can restore the balance to the horse’s body and speed recovery.

Unexplained lameness, chronically off, aggressive behavior: If your horse shows frequent unexplained lameness- your vet cannot find a reason- then muscle strain is a likely cause. The same is true for horses that seem “off”- they have shortened strides, hollow their back, are prone to forging, or stumbling- things that just don’t feel right to the rider. Aggressive behavior- pinning ears, showing teeth, or snaking the neck, can also be a sign of pain in a horse. A recent article in Equus (“Back pain and aggression linked” Jan. 2011) indicates that around 75% of horses that show aggressive behavior have significant back pain. Massage therapy relieves the stress points caused by muscular tension, allowing your horse to use his muscles properly and without pain. It can also help your horse be a better equine citizen!

Get the best performance from your equine athlete with sports massage therapy!