Massage for horses brings huge benefits – whether your horse competes in sports or works hard or just enjoys a gentle life of occasional pleasure rides.
Horse massage helps to promote relaxation, improve flexibility, maintain mobility and suppleness and also builds and strengthens the bond of trust between horse and rider.
Two products that have earned rave reviews from riders – amateur and professional – are the established Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad and the newer, handheld, Equilibrium Therapy Massage Mitt.
We are delighted to say that we have both products back in stock – but they will fly out fast.
Chatting to Laura Cutter, marketing manager of Equilibrium, the other day she told me how owners of horses of all ages and types love both the massage mitt and the massage pads.
Equilibrium launched their massage pad about four years ago. Owners loved the convenience and comfort of a product they could put on their horse’s back and deliver a relaxing and therapeutic massage to the whole area from the withers to the quarters.
Laura said that the pad was put through its paces in clinical trials by Myerscough College who carried out ‘arch and dip’ tests and concluded there were improvements in mobility and stride length of horses which used the pad over a 12-week period.
“Dressage riders have told us, and the internet forums, that their horses feel looser and more supple after they have used the pad,” said Laura.
She added: “As a company we are always looking to respond to our customers and look for new innovations. We launched the Equilibrium Therapy Massage Mitt in the last year after customers who had bought the massage pad told us they loved it – but they wanted something which would allow them to reach muscle groups in the neck, the quarters and places that the pad didn’t cover.
“Owners of young horses have told us the mitt is great for building a bond between horse and owner too.”
The massage mitt is popular with participants in all equestrian disciplines, Laura said, but she added that they had seen a rise in purchases by riders competing in endurance events. The handheld massage mitt is so easy to carry and use.
Osteopaths and physiotherapists treating horses and ponies for specific conditions say that the massage pad and massage mitt are great for owners to use between therapy treatments to improve muscle tone and flexibility.
It’s a great time of year to consider trying horse massage with one (or both) of Equilibrium’s products, especially if bad weather means your horse or pony isn’t being turned out very much.
You can currently buy the massage mitt, battery, charger and case from Pegasus Health for £90.25 (including VAT). The massage pad costs £237.50 – a great investment when you consider that you can use this product every day.