Equine Therapy with Gillian Higgins
Bring your horse to Wavendon Grange in Leicestershire for a Musculoskeletal Assessment, Therapy Session and tailored exercise and therapeutic plan.
Following a detailed examination of your horse including seeing him move in hand, backing up, lunged and potentially ridden I use an extensive toolbox of techniques as appropriate to give him the best possible chance of attaining and maintaining optimum physical condition.
Benefits for the horse include:-
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Increased flexibility and joint movement
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Improved coordination and stride length
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An increase in muscle elasticity
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Enhanced circulation
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Stress control
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Relaxation and comfort
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Increased rate of healing
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Decreased post-exercise muscle soreness
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Prevention of muscle strain
Maintenance of Peak Condition
and Prevention of Injuries
Keeping your horse in peak physical condition will help improve performance, reduce the occurrence of injuries and induce a feeling of well-being.
Massage Therapy on a regular basis is a beneficial contributory factor in giving your horse the optimum chance to stay fit and perform at his best.
It is an excellent barometer for muscular health and allows intervention before a minor problem escalates. Prevention is better than cure.
Massage Therapy
Whether for pre, post exercise, competition preparation, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), recovery from injury or general maintenance, massage can facilitate healing and shorten the recovery period.
By preventing muscle atrophy, joint stiffness and maintaining muscle suppleness and tone it is also of great benefit to horses on box rest.
Techniques I use include:
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Joint and muscle mobilisations
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Musculoskeletal testing
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Trigger and stress point therapy
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Rhythmic overpressure techniques
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Muscle energy techniques
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Passive and active stretches
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Advanced massage techniques
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Myofascial release techniques
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Energy techniques
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Exercise therapy
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Pilates for Horses
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Postural improvement exercises
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Core-stability and lateral stability exercises
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Manipulations
What to Expect
I take a holistic view of the horse carefully considering all the possible causes and effects of problems prior to therapy and recommendations.
The initial consultation and musculoskeletal assessment lasts approximately 2 hours. During this time I discuss concerns, take a detailed case history and assess the horse. This will include both a static and dynamic postural assessment, movement analysis, assessment of muscle recruitment patterns, back movement, joint range of movement tests, stability and flexibility tests as well as soft tissue tension and comfort analysis.
During each session I palpate and massage all superficial muscles, feeling for tension, soreness, involuntary muscle spasm, reaction, muscle tears, scar tissue, asymmetry and heat. I test joint range of movement for asymmetry, resistance or inhibited movement whilst observing the rest of the body for compensatory movements further from the site, involuntary muscle spasm and behavioural changes.
I am then in a position to pinpoint and help address strengths, weaknesses, postural and compensation issues, abnormalities, asymmetry, bruising, swelling, muscle tension, stiffness, spasm or tenderness. After treating the horse in a quiet calm atmosphere, I give comprehensive feedback and recommend exercises, therapy and management considerations as appropriate.
