Sports massage is the therapeutic application of hands on techniques resulting in an increase in circulation and improved range of motion as well as benefiting the animal's wellbeing and overall performance. Regular sessions can also help to prevent injury from fatigue or strain as the soft tissues can compensate for other injuries. It is a popular therapy prior to competitions and also helps to aid post competition recovery.
The benefits of sports massage include:
Ruth has completed several different massage courses including the Masterson Method. The Masterson Method of Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork releases accumulated stress in the connective tissues of key junctions of the horse's body that most affect his ability to move freely, such as the poll, neck and shoulders, lower back and sacro-iliac. These are the junctions we most commonly see issues in working horses. Ruth uses a combination of sports massage techniques and stretches alongside the other therapies she offers as they complement each other well to provide an effective overall treatment.