EB Equine, LLC

Body language is so important in massage.

Some of these signs are also signs of releases in horses- you need to put their body language in perspective of what you are doing and the individual horse you’re working on. Don’t forget how important the environment is and the effect that may have on your session.

Massage is more than hands to horse. It’s trust. It’s communication.

How she feels about the massage is everything.
Does she feel safe?
Does she trust me to listen to her?
Is she able to fully relax and let go?

The goals for human massage and equine massage are the same:
Does the massage practitioner listen to client feedback and body?
Has the massage practitioner created an environment where you feel safe?

Equine massage is more than hands to horse. It’s trust. It’s communication.

The neurological system is so complex. Sometimes, horses just need a few minutes to catch up to what changes massage is making within their body.
➡️releasing fascia
➡️releasing muscle tissue
➡️moving from stress to rest and digest
➡️endorphin release
➡️encouraging fluid exchange within cells and tissue
➡️relieving or reducing pain
➡️among many other biological functions

All this information and change is processed through the neurological system and sometimes our equines just need a moment to catch up to how they feel in that moment. Horses are so in tune that giving them the space to breathe and relax for a few moments without any hands on continues to promote those positive feelings. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with an hour long massage, they are ready to enjoy again.

Movement in massage can assist with processing feelings- physical and mental. This sweet girl needed to shift positions but then made sure to come right back so I could keep working on her glutes.

Releasing muscle tension isn’t just physical, it’s also chemical.

Massage assists the release of those feel good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, as well as oxytocin and endorphins. Nerve cells in the skin feel the pressure from massage, and send signals to the brain to release these chemicals.

These chemicals help with mood stabilization, pain relief, increasing feelings of joy and happiness, and desire for social bonding with others.

With working and performance horses, this change in chemicals is especially important as it also brings a decrease in cortisol, a stress hormone. Stress can refer to anything for the horse such as showing, learning a new skill under saddle, changing a routine, travel, or introducing a new horse into the barn.

I’m Erin Barbato, a nationally board certified equine massage practitioner. I hold certifications in equine massage, trigger point massage, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, red light therapy and kinesiology taping. I work in New England and travel to Wellington throughout the season.

Kinesiology tape has so many benefits. When applied to a horse, it lifts the hair which then lifts the skin, allowing for decompression of the fascia and tissue. When that happens, nutrients and blood flow in and waste flows out, reducing pain and inflammation.

Can’t picture it?

Imagine you’re stepping on a garden hose that is running. The water can’t move though because you’re stepping on the hose. Lift your foot a little and suddenly you get water. That’s kinesiology taping simplified.

I love using level 3 extra sticky on the horses after a session when they have tight muscles or any sensitivity.