When I work on horses I have eight techniques of horse massage. These equine massage techniques are used at different times of the treatment and considering the flow of muscle, bone and blood.
Effleurage
Is used to begin with and this is the technique you will se most often it is also best used when changing from one technique to the other.
Petrissage
Along with effleurage it is one of the basic foundation techniques used in massage today, making it a very soothing and stimulating method.
Compressions
Possible to use in a lot of different muscles simple because of the amount of muscle mass in horses. Thumbs, finger, the heel of the hand and the point of the elbow are used.
Friction
I think that frictions are the most effective technique to utilise when working on horses. Great for superficial muscles and even better for the deeper ones provided that you get into the muscles deep enough.
- Cross fibre
- Sliding finer
- Sliding thumb
- Circular
- Elbow
- Finger
Tapotament
Percussions. Possible to use these techniques during change over from one method to another for a bit of relaxing stimulation in-between.
Vibrations
Fantastic for the forearm and all the lower legs on the tendons and ligaments.
Shaking
This technique used on the the horse’s neck.
Stretching
Always stretch after warming up the muscles. There are a lot of benefits from stretching muscles, tendons and ligaments after all the positive energy and work you have put in.
Extract from my book Remedial Massage for Horses by Raymond Bove page 145.
For more details about each of these techniques – where and how to apply them to the horse please go to Amazon to buy a copy of my book. I also offer Remedial Horse Massage Training all over the world. Call me to book an session for your community.
