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Can my horse be
massaged on the day
of a competition?
massaged on the day
of a competition?
Yes. The only time I do not perform sports massage on the
day of a competition is if the horse has never had a sports
massage before, and the horse is competing in dressage,
especially at the upper levels.
The reason for this is the sports massage, when done for the
first time, can change a horses timing for tempi changes and
transitions in the dressage test. This is quickly overcome by
horse and rider, and is fairly rare; however, I do not like to
take the chance of a horse and rider being “out of sync” on
the day of a big competition.
That being said, I have several upper level dressage horses
as clients and their riders and trainers report that the horses
are more responsive, supple, and able to perform the upper
level movements required more easily after a sports
massage.
day of a competition is if the horse has never had a sports
massage before, and the horse is competing in dressage,
especially at the upper levels.
The reason for this is the sports massage, when done for the
first time, can change a horses timing for tempi changes and
transitions in the dressage test. This is quickly overcome by
horse and rider, and is fairly rare; however, I do not like to
take the chance of a horse and rider being “out of sync” on
the day of a big competition.
That being said, I have several upper level dressage horses
as clients and their riders and trainers report that the horses
are more responsive, supple, and able to perform the upper
level movements required more easily after a sports
massage.
