How often should a horse be given sports massage or myofascial release?
The frequency of sessions depends on the work the horse does:
·A horse ridden by one person, from 3 to 5 times a week, will benefit from a sports massage or myofascial release every four weeks for maintenance purpose and to ensure any slight signs of muscular tension is dealt with before it becomes an issue.
·A horse on a training schedule for events may need a session every fortnight.
·A competition horse on a heavy training schedule should be given a session every week to every two weeks.
·If the horse has been compensating for past injuries or conformation issues, the owner may want it massaged every two weeks to keep check on muscle soreness. When the horse’s condition improves, the frequency of sessions may be reduced to once every three to four weeks.
How soon before competition can a horse be massaged?
·If this is the horse’s first massage or myofascial release, this should be done at least 7 days before competition as the horse may feel a bit sore after the session and may need some time to rebalance itself and readjust to its new way of moving.
·For a regular patient, who I know well, three days prior to competition should be enough, but some horses will be fine with a 24 hours period.