Introduction

Equine Touch
Equine Touch is a non-diagnostic, non-invasive energy and muscle release discipline that works at a complete, holistic level; in other words it addresses the equine as a whole.

It is not a 'therapy' although it has been proven time after time to have a strong therapeutic effect on an eclectic multitude of equine problems.

Equine Touch is perhaps best looked upon as a holistic equine training 'discipline'. The gentle non-invasive procedures re-educate the equine body to re-balance from a cellular level, encouraging the horse toward the ideal state of homeostasis, wherein any problem can be addressed on all levels.

What is massage?
Massage is the application of hands-on techniques that are used to relieve tension, muscle spasm and improve the horse's over all performance as well as rehabilitation from trauma and injury.
Other benefits include improved flexibility, disposition, stamina, greater range of motion and reduces strain on tendons and ligaments. This is not an exhaustive list, there are many more benefits and massage can be used on the performance horse through to the aged family pony.

Some components of massage are:

Deep tissue work - this releases chronic patterns of tension held in the body through deep finger pressure on the contracted area. This focuses on the deeper layer of muscle tissue.

Effleurage - is soft gliding strokes used to relax soft tissue.

Stress Point Therapy - is used to release tension and adhesions in the muscles. Myofascial Release - Myofascia comes from the latin myo meaning muscle and fascia meaning band. The fascial system surrounds, supports, separates and protects the muscles and organs in the body. If this becomes damaged either by trauma or microtrauma (over a period of time), scar tissue is formed. This reduced elasticity in the fascia, thus restricting movement and causing the horse over time to alter his way of moving to compensate for this.

Myofascial Release Therapy - Connective tissue is strong as it supports and protects all the way down to cellular level. It makes the body strong, agile and supple all at once. All tissue has memory. If the body experiences an unpleasant memory such as an accident, the cells remember this and tighten, causing a restriction in that area. Myofascial Release is a gentle, non-invasive method used to release tension, adhesions and scar tissue in the Fascial tissue. The pressure used is always gentle stretches which assist the horse to begin to help to heal himself. When it is used to release old scar tissue (at least 6-8 months after it has healed), after a session the scar tissue is softer and more pliable so the horse has less restricted movement. It is a very gentle therapy which can show impressive results after 4 to 5 sessions. A tightening in the fascia can cause hip hikes, pelvic misalignments, neck and spinal misalignments and eventually lameness. If the horse has been compensating for years a program is given once he is straight to assist in re-training the muscles to be used in a correct manner.

Myofascial Release can also be used to assist riders who are misaligned and who may be causing the horse to go in a crooked manner. Due to the therapy being gentle, no harm can be caused by it, it either works when applied to an area that is tight, or does nothing when applied to an area that does not need it.