Lea Brown Equine Sports Massage Therapist

05/04/2026

I’m so excited to share that this year I’ll be sponsoring a very special partnership.

I’ll be supporting Devon (aged 11) and his pony Paddy with monthly equine sports massage sessions, helping to keep Paddy comfortable, supple, and feeling his best throughout the season.

Devon, the rider behind , is a dedicated young athlete already achieving so much across Pony Club and tetrathlon with the Beaufort ( Beaufort Pony Club ). This year he’s stepping up into junior classes (90), with hopes of Central England team selection and competitions across the UK and possibly Ireland 🇮🇪

Alongside this, he’s also competing in showjumping and eventing, and has already competed and qualified internationally in biathlon and triathlon, with ambitions for further international qualifications this year, an incredible level of commitment at such a young age.

Paddy is a very special pony at the heart of it all, whether he’s out competing, hacking, or enjoying some well earned pampering (which I think his rider enjoys just as much).

I’m really looking forward to supporting them both this year and following their journey, it’s going to be an exciting one. Be sure to follow their adventures over at 🐴 🇬🇧

21/03/2026

I have so enjoyed treating this little mare this week.

There have been noticeable changes in her willingness and attitude to work. She initially presented with toe dragging, and on palpation there was clear limitation in lateral (side-to-side) spinal mobility, along with significant tension through the SI (sacroiliac) region.

I treated her yesterday focusing on releasing tension through the affected areas and encouraging improved mobility through the spine and hindquarters. Due to the level of restriction and fascial tension felt through the SI region, I chose to return today to apply kinesiology tape to further support the area and influence the fascia and underlying structures.

I did nothing else today, and the response to the taping was so immediate and really lovely to see - licking and chewing, yawning, head shaking — all classic signs of release and nervous system down regulation.

In this case, kinesiology taping was used to encourage improved circulation to the area, enhance proprioception (body awareness), and influence the fascial system by creating lift and space, helping to reduce restriction and improve glide between tissues.

You can see in the photo how the tape creates a visible lift through the skin and fascia. This decompression effect is key in allowing better fluid movement and reducing localised tension.

Every horse is different, but this was a great example of how combining hands on therapy with taping can really support instant observable change 🖤

10/03/2026

In equine rehabilitation, we can’t simply focus on the injured structure itself. Horses naturally compensate when something is painful or restricted, which means other muscles, ligaments, and fascia begin to take on extra workload. Over time, those compensating areas can become tight, fatigued, or overloaded.

That’s why I always take a holistic approach when working with horses in recovery.

The horse in this photo (our very own Manteca) sustained a check ligament injury at the beginning of last year. As part of the rehabilitation process, and now during the return-to-work phase, we’ve incorporated sports massage therapy alongside kinesiology taping to support the body structures working behind the scenes.

While the check ligament itself was the primary injury, the supporting and compensating structures through the hindquarters and surrounding musculature have played a huge role in stabilisation and movement during recovery.

Sports massage helps by:• Reducing muscular tension created through compensation• Improving circulation to support tissue recovery• Encouraging better range of motion and movement patterns• Helping the body return to more balanced biomechanics

Kinesiology tape, when applied with specific direction and tension, gently lifts the skin and stimulates sensory receptors within the skin and fascia. This provides additional feedback to the nervous system, helping the horse become more aware of how they are moving and how they are loading different parts of the body.

In cases like this, where the horse has been compensating for a forelimb injury, that feedback can help encourage more balanced muscle engagement and reduce overload on areas that have been working harder during recovery.

Rehabilitation isn’t just about healing an injury — it’s about supporting the entire musculoskeletal system so the horse can return to work stronger, more balanced, and moving well.

Every horse compensates differently, which is why each treatment plan is tailored to the individual horse and stage of recovery.

Contact me today if you’d like to discuss your own horse’s recovery or maintenance plan.

04/03/2026

Competition season is coming... are your horses ready?

Pre-season Equine Sports Massage helps to:
• Improve flexibility
• Reduce muscle tension
• Enhance performance
• Lower injury risk

ESMA L4 Qualified, covering Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, the Cotswolds & surrounding areas - with availability to travel further afield for group/yard bookings.

DM me to secure your appointment and give your horse the best start to the season

15/11/2025

Did you know gentle friction work over old scar tissue can help restore mobility, reduce sensitivity, and release deep-held tension.
And the best part … Horses love it. Watching Pirate relax into the process was pure magic.

15/11/2025

Kinesiology taping on tonight’s agenda!

By creating subtle lift in the skin, this technique helps guide lymphatic fluid toward the lymph nodes.

26/09/2025

I’m very proud to share that I’ve successfully completed the upgrade from my Level 3 to the all-new Level 4 Equine Sports Massage qualification with ESMA — the leading and highest level in our industry.

This has been a further year of in-depth study, multiple research assignments, case studies, and practical application and assessment.

Having also welcomed my little boy to our family during this time, it’s been a challenging but incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m thrilled to bring this advancement into my work.

21/07/2025

A full day of pony club coaching at Vaux Park Polo Club today. We’ve been using balance boards to get us thinking about the impact of travel on our horses. Followed by learning a few massage techniques to relieve some of that post travel tension, and support our ponies in playing their best game on the day!

Looking forward to seeing all of your ponies getting their post travel massages at Black Bears this Thursday!!

15/07/2025

Great to be part of the pony club polo training day today at Longdole.
Some fun and games exploring the impact of foot imbalance on our bodies, before perfecting a few massage techniques and stretches with our special 4 legged friends

29/10/2024

15/07/2024

A great time today delivering a full day of practical workshops at Vaux Polo Club.

Organised by the Pony Club, 40 children attended a day of mounted and unmounted training including stick and ball coaching, TopSpec feed lectures, stable management sessions, and equine sports massage demos … hands on sessions where we put ourselves in the ‘shoes’ of our horses, thinking about how various foot imbalances impact the horse’s musculature, when and how sports massage benefits the horse, and acquiring some hands on skills to take home.

Pony Club - Polo Vaux Park Polo Club

19/06/2024