Massages

[Rustnot]

I bought my first horse in December and am trying really hard to get things right so that she's happy, and I can enjoy her for as long as possible. I'm just wondering how often everyone gets their horse massaged? I'm getting lots of different opinions. The therapist I've used has suggested once every 4-6 weeks, but some people at my yard think that's too often. Some people get their horses done twice a year, some don't bother at all and others do it about once every 8 weeks.
She's a bit unfit at the moment and has experienced some tightness, but I think that was mostly down to her saddle needing adjusting, and since the adjustment her way of going has improved.
What does everyone else do?

Personally I preferred to use the Equissage pad for mine with routine chiro appointments. It was expensive to buy but worth it in my opinion and was used on multiple horses.

My “veteran” (16) competition pony is every 6 weeks vet physio currently as she’s been coming back from an injury last summer - but when she’s signed off it will be 7/8 weeks. I also use a massage pad in-between appointments.

If you are keeping them in very regular work, and increasing intensity of training activities/introducing new work then a more regular visit would be beneficial (6 weeks)

If your horse is a ‘happy hacker’ in low work then less regular is suitable.

If your horse has had a poor fitting saddle and never had regular bodywork done then yes I would expect that they will need treatments every 6-8 over a 3 month period and then you should be able to drop back down to maintenance levels to suit your horse.
As a minimum you should get saddle fitter out every 6 months alongside physio however I have saddle fitter + physio every 3 months as I believe that prevention is better than cure.
Ask the physio for exercises you can do with your horse between sessions as doing these regularly ie every day/2 days can massively support the physio regime.

Every 12 weeks as maintenance generally although it's always more often. I'd always get them out after something like a saddle re fit and I have a young, still growing pony who is a pratt in the field so often got some niggle or other needing seen to long before the maintenance appointment

I'd love an equissage however we only have one so not really worth the expense plus our lady does things like popping out shoulders and straightening out pelvises (see above - Pratt in field) that I don't think that could do

I would use a physio and ask what they recommend. We had a 14.2 pony competing at 90cm regularly and physio recommended seeing him every 8 weeks. I imagine if you are a happy hacker less often would be fine.

Make sure you understand exactly what qualifications the person treating your horse has- a qualified physio, or a sports massage therapist?

Personally, especially if you’ve had issues, I’d only ever use a physio.

During the competition season (endurance) my horse has a physio session approx every 4 weeks depending on competition dates (could be as regular as 2 weeks or as far apart as 5, but we usually compete every 4 weeks so ensure we have a session before).

Over the winter when he is kept ticking over fitness wise, but not pushed he goes to every 6/8weeks depending on how he feels.

You’re wasting your money if you’re just getting a massage therapist or generic ‘back lady’ out. Get a properly qualified physio or chiro out.

Our vet showed me how to do back stretches which should be done daily. I would be a bit cautious about how qualified people might be

Also just to echo pp about the importance of the saddle fitting. Your horses body will likely change at lot through the seasons so it’s important to be aware of this and how it affects the saddle fitting.