Chloe Leanne Equine Massage

🐴 Ever wondered what a massage session with me looks like?

Every appointment follows the same 6 steps but is tailored to your horses individual needs to help them get the most from the session.

📩 I currently still have some appointments available throughout October
Please message me to book an appointment or if you’d like any further information about how equine massage could benefit your horse.

📅 September appointments are now available to book

As we head into autumn and the start of a new season, now is the perfect time to give your horse some extra attention. 🐴🤎

Regular equine massage can help identify areas of tension, support healthy movement and maintain your horse’s overall comfort and wellbeing.

Every time the hoof meets the ground, concussive shock waves are transferred through the limbs and body. On harder surfaces, these forces are enhanced, potentially increasing the strain placed on the muscles, tendons and joints.
For horses regularly working on hard ground, this may contribute to increased muscle tension, soreness and compensatory movement patterns — particularly when combined with a high workload.

How Can You Help Your Horse?

🐴 Spend more time in walk
Walking generally creates less impact than faster work while still providing valuable movement and exercise.

🦶 Stay up to date with farrier visits
Regular farrier visits helps maintain appropriate hoof balance and symmetry, supporting healthy movement and helping distribute the forces evenly through each limb.

🚫 Avoid jumping and fast work on unsuitable ground
If the ground is excessively hard, uneven or unsuitable, consider avoiding jumping, cantering and other high-impact work until conditions improve

🏇 Consider alternative surfaces
Where possible, use a suitable arena, gallop track or other purpose-prepared surface for faster work rather than working on hard ground.

👀 Listen to your horse
Pay attention to changes in the way your horse moves or behaves. Stiffness, a shortened stride, reluctance to work, changes in performance or increased muscle tension can all be signs that your horse may not be coping well with their current workload or conditions.
If you notice a change, don't simply push through it. Adjust your plans and give your horse the time and support they need.

Remember...
Your horse doesn't have to be visibly lame for them to be uncomfortable.
Horses are incredibly good at compensating, and subtle changes in movement or muscle tension can sometimes develop before an obvious problem appears.

Regular bodywork can be a valuable part of your horse's preventative care, helping to identify areas of increased tension, soreness or compensation alongside appropriate veterinary, farriery and training care 💚

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Many horse owners think massage is something you book once a problem appears.

In reality, one of the biggest benefits of massage is what it can reveal before a problem becomes obvious.

Horses are incredibly good at hiding discomfort. They often compensate for soreness, tension, or movement restrictions long before owners notice anything is wrong.

Regular massage helps identify these subtle changes early, allowing you to address them before they develop into larger issues that could require lengthy recovery or rehabilitation.

Massage isn't just about relaxation—it's an important part of your horse's preventative care plan.

Because keeping your horse comfortable today can help prevent bigger problems tomorrow.

📩 Get in touch to book your horse's massage assessment.

Muscle Monday 💪

This week, we're focusing on the biceps femoris, an important muscle involved in hindlimb movement and propulsion. It plays a key role in extending the hip and hock, helping your horse generate power and move efficiently from behind.

Signs of Tension:
🐴 Difficulty flexing the hip and hock
🐴 Discomfort when grooming or palpating the area
🐴 Shortened strides
🐴 Difficulty engaging the hind end

Common Causes of Tension:
🐴 Compensation for weakness in other muscle groups (such as the quadriceps)
🐴 Dysfunction within the pelvic region
🐴 Fatigue from intense exercise
🐴 Unbalanced hooves

How to Help Reduce Tension:
🐴 Raised pole work
🐴 Hill work
🐴 Backing up exercises
🐴 A well-balanced strengthening programme

Improving strength and reducing tension in the biceps femoris can help support performance, comfort, and overall movement quality while reducing the risk of injury.

If you think your horse might have tension in this muscle why not send me a message to discuss it further 📩

Please message me to book an appointment or for more information ✉️

Pole Maze 🌽

This simple pole exercise is best carried out in walk and can be done either in hand or ridden. The exercise should be performed slowly and with control, ensuring your horse does not step over the poles.

Some of the benefits of this exercise include:

1. Builds Core Strength
This exercise encourages your horse to engage their hindquarters, lift through their back, and activate their core muscles.

2. Improves Proprioception & Coordination
The maze requires your horse to think carefully about where they place their feet, helping to improve spatial awareness and coordination.

3. Increases Straightness & Suppleness
Your horse must travel in straight lines while maintaining balance through the maze, helping to improve symmetry and overall suppleness.

4. Provides Mental Stimulation
The maze offers a mental challenge, helping to keep your horse focused and engaged in the task.

Pole work exercises like this can be a great addition to your horse’s routine to support strength, coordination, balance, and overall body awareness — all of which can contribute to improved movement and comfort.

If your horse finds this exercise difficult, start by increasing the distance between the poles before gradually making the exercise more challenging.