A.B. Equine Massage

A.B. Equine Massage Release•Restore•Reward
Fully certified ESMT (Equine Sports Massage Therapist) covering Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex.
(2)

Also fully insured freelancer offering yard cover, clipping, teaching and exercising.

Lovely Rupert had his first treatment with me yesterday, what a character he is 🥹⭐️
11/01/2026

Lovely Rupert had his first treatment with me yesterday, what a character he is 🥹⭐️

⭐️ WEST WALES SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR NEXT WEEKEND ⭐️
09/01/2026

⭐️ WEST WALES SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR NEXT WEEKEND ⭐️

Loving my new Epiony heat pad 🔥When cold, muscles will be less elastic and feel tighter. This is due to reduced circulat...
22/12/2025

Loving my new Epiony heat pad 🔥

When cold, muscles will be less elastic and feel tighter. This is due to reduced circulation and blood flow to the superficial layers as the body works to retain its core temperature. Joints will also become affected, as the synovial fluid which lubricates the joints becomes thicker, causing stiffness and reduced range of motion.

The heat pad is going to be a valuable addition to my kit, especially this time of year! It can be used all over the body, the neck, back, hind quarters and limbs, and will be really handy to use throughout massage sessions as well as before and after exercise 💪🏼

Heat pad benefits:
⚡️Dilates blood vessels. Increasing circulation and flow of nutrients to the muscles, also helping heal damaged tissue
⚡️Decrease joint stiffness and discomfort
⚡️Relieves pain by stimulating sensory receptors in the skin thereby decreasing transmissions of pain signals to the brain
⚡️Reduces stress

Release•Restore•Reward

🌟 LAST MINUTE AVAILABILITY 🌟I have had some unexpected space open up over the next couple of weeks from MONDAY 22nd- FRI...
20/12/2025

🌟 LAST MINUTE AVAILABILITY 🌟

I have had some unexpected space open up over the next couple of weeks from MONDAY 22nd- FRIDAY 2nd.
I am offering sessions between those dates at a discounted price of ⚡️£50⚡️a session 💸

Now is prime time to treat your 4 legged friend to a sports massage session, call it a Christmas present 🎁 😋

PM me if you are interested and I can let you know available days/times!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ###

17/12/2025

Massage Therapy can down- regulate and up regulate muscle and fascial tone

The Nervous System Controls Muscle Tone — Not the Muscle Itself

Muscles don’t decide how tight or loose they are.
The brain and spinal cord constantly adjust tension based on incoming sensory information from:
• skin
• fascia
• muscle spindles
• Golgi tendon organs
• joint receptors

Massage and myofascial work change the information coming INTO the nervous system, so the brain changes the commands it sends OUT.

This is how you alter muscle tone.

HOW MASSAGE DOWN-REGULATES (RELAXES) MUSCLES

1. Activating slow, sustained mechanoreceptors

Slow compression, melting pressure, and long fascial holds activate:
• Ruffini endings (respond to stretch + sustained pressure)
• Golgi tendon organs (sense load and reduce contraction)

These receptors inhibit the sympathetic system and drop muscle tone.

2. Reducing protective guarding

When an area feels unsafe or unstable, the nervous system tightens muscles to protect it.
When you use slow, predictable touch, the body interprets this as safety → guarding drops.

3. Improving proprioceptive clarity

If the body has a “blurred map” of an area, it tightens muscles to stabilize it.
Touch improves sensory clarity → unnecessary tension melts.

4. Regulating breathing and vagal tone

Slow, rhythmic touch naturally shifts the horse (or human) into parasympathetic dominance, softening global tone.

HOW MASSAGE UP-REGULATES (ACTIVATES) MUSCLES

1. Using quicker, lighter, stimulating input

Techniques like:
• brisk strokes
• tapotement
• skin drag
• light vibration
• rapid fascial stretch

activate Pacinian corpuscles and muscle spindles, increasing tone and readiness.

2. Increasing proprioceptive awareness

If a muscle isn’t “online,” it often has poor sensory input.
Stimulation wakes up the neuromuscular connection, so the brain recruits it better.

3. Restoring reciprocal inhibition

Tight agonists shut down their antagonists.
If you release an overactive muscle, the underactive muscle naturally activates more easily.

Example:
Release the overworking brachiocephalicus → the thoracic sling activates more efficiently.

4. Improving movement organization

When fascial layers glide better, the nervous system allows more range and activation.

The Key Takeaway

Massage does not strengthen or weaken muscle fibers directly.

Massage changes what the nervous system allows the muscle to do.

You’re not altering the tissue —
✨ you are altering the sensory input so the brain changes motor output.

This is why massage therapists, bodyworkers, and skilled handlers can:
• switch off global tension
• “wake up” weak chains
• balance diagonal patterns
• restore proper neuromuscular sequencing

…and why the effects can be immediate and profound.

https://koperequine.com/25-of-the-most-important-and-interesting-properties-of-equine-muscle/

This time of year when the ground is wet and muddy, your horses hind limb adductor muscles are more prone to strain and ...
15/12/2025

This time of year when the ground is wet and muddy, your horses hind limb adductor muscles are more prone to strain and over stretching. We have all been there- sliding through the mud and ending up doing the splits 🤸🏻‍♀️unfortunately our horses experience the same thing!
One of the main hind limb adductors is Gracilis, and its job as an adductor is to bring the hind limb toward the midline (adduct= move toward) ➡️⬅️
Due to where they are located, it can be tricky to palpate and identify discomfort in the adductors, so patience and awareness of the horse you are working with is vital.
If your horse is unusually sensitive around their back end, struggling to pick up feet, has a change in their movement/gait, it may be that they are sore in this region.
Massage can help to relieve tension and inflammation caused by strain, and also increase circulation which will in turn reduce recovery time ❤️‍🩹

Release•Restore•Reward

Using the Equine FascialEdge Tool along the back muscles 💆🏻‍♀️Using this tool allows me to work deeper into the muscles ...
04/12/2025

Using the Equine FascialEdge Tool along the back muscles 💆🏻‍♀️

Using this tool allows me to work deeper into the muscles and ligaments, without putting strain on my most important tools- my hands! 🤲🏼

The fascial edge aids circulation and lymphatic drainage, and also helps to break up myofascial adhesions ❤️‍🩹

Release•Restore•Reward

Have you ever noticed patches of white hair growth?This can be a sign of trauma or damage to the cells which pigment the...
29/11/2025

Have you ever noticed patches of white hair growth?
This can be a sign of trauma or damage to the cells which pigment the hair, causing them to turn white. This is often found on horses’ backs due to ill fitting saddles, but can also be caused by poorly fitting rugs, bridles, anything which constricts the cells and limits circulation.

Massage will help to stimulate blood flow and increase circulation, as well as allowing you to identify further soreness and tension possibly caused by poor tack fit.

Release•Restore•Reward

‼️COMFIRMED DATES FOR WEST WALES 17th & 18th JANUARY ‼️Pop me message if you would like to book a session-Saturday 17th ...
29/11/2025

‼️COMFIRMED DATES FOR WEST WALES 17th & 18th JANUARY ‼️

Pop me message if you would like to book a session-
Saturday 17th morning is booked up but have availability for the afternoon.
Sunday 18th still plenty of availability 🙂

📍📍📍 PEMBROKESHIRE, CARMARTHEN & CARDIGAN 📍📍📍I am organising a weekend to cover the area, please let me know if you are i...
25/11/2025

📍📍📍 PEMBROKESHIRE, CARMARTHEN & CARDIGAN 📍📍📍

I am organising a weekend to cover the area, please let me know if you are interested in EITHER January 17th/18th OR January 24th/25th and I will piece the puzzle together based on which weekend has more of an uptake of interest ☺️🫶🏼

Address

Bordon

Telephone

+447805290586

Website

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