Sports Massage for Horses

Whether your horse is a trained competitor or a weekend trail mount, he can suffer from muscular stiffness, strain, and injury, just like a human athlete. All of these common complaints can be treated—and further physical deterioration avoided—with sports massage. In this superbly illustrated, step–by–step guide, human and equine massage therapist Pennie Hooper explains that, with a little practice and simple techniques—namely compression and cross–fiber friction—you can give your horse a basic sports massage. Not only will his physical self transform as he feels better and moves more freely; you will find his responsiveness and general attitude toward work will improve, as well.

“[Pennie's] analogies with the human body have helped people to understand just what their horses go through as they carry saddle and rider and respond to the demands of dressage and jumping…From a human as well as an equine viewpoint, her perception and application have made her an exceptionally good therapist, as well as an excellent diagnostician” —Mary Wanless, author of Ride with Your Mind Essentials