Woodford Equine - Sports Massage Therapist

12/08/2025

Understanding the 72-Hour Response Window 🐴

Did you know how your horse continues to respond to massage therapy for up to 72 hours after treatment? It triggers a cascade of physiological changes that continue to support your horse’s health and performance well beyond the treatment session.

This is what’s happening inside your horse’s body during that window ⬇️

🔹 Increased Circulation
Massage stimulates blood flow, helping deliver oxygen and nutrients to muscles while flushing out waste products like lactic acid. This process continues for up to 72 hours, aiding in muscle recovery and reducing inflammation.

🔹 Lymphatic Drainage
Gentle techniques support the lymphatic system, enhancing detoxification and reducing swelling. This helps maintain a healthy immune response and supports healing after exertion or injury.

🔹 Reduced Muscle Tension & Spasm
Overworked or tight muscles begin to relax and soften, reducing tension around joints and improving range of motion. This also supports better movement patterns and gait correction.

🔹 Improved Nervous System Regulation
Massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, encouraging a state of calm and aiding digestive function, rest, and repair. Horses often show signs of release such as yawning, licking, or deep sighs during and after treatment.

🔹 Mental & Emotional Reset
Just like humans, horses store tension emotionally as well as physically. Continued relaxation and improved body awareness over the next few days can enhance their confidence, focus, and willingness to work.

📅 What to Expect Post-Massage:
During the 72-hour window, horses may seem more relaxed, sleepier, or move more freely. Some may show increased urination, gastrointestinal noises, or a slight dip in energy as the body shifts into a repair state. This is all normal and part of the healing response.

✅ Top Tip: Allow your horse some gentle movement in the 1–2 days after massage such as turnout or in-hand walking to help maximise these benefits and avoid stiffness.

Massage therapy is a powerful tool when integrated as part of a regular management plan. Understanding the body’s response helps us make the most of this natural, non-invasive treatment.

Considering a Career in Equine Massage? Visit ⬇️
www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

06/08/2025

Loved this months CPD! Sometimes It can be challenging explaining to owners what is happening and why when it comes to concerns or findings within a session. I try to find a balance of explaining things in a simplified way that’s not just long complicated muscle name here and fancy word there… but at the same time giving science-informed explanations on why tension may be present, as well as the many benefits of massage therapy.

I’m definitely always learning with this and I’m super grateful to all the horses I’ve had the pleasure to work with so far on my journey. Learning every day 🐴❤️

09/07/2025

Some good tips on keeping our horses hydrated in the upcoming hot weather ☀️

With more hot weather on the horizon, be mindful that the old and the young can be particularly susceptible to heat related issues.

Foals, for example, can dehydrate rapidly on a hot summers day if they haven't been drinking enough, so will they need an extra close eye keeping on them.

An easy way to check that your foal (or any horse) is well hydrated, is to carry out the 'pinch test'. A pinch of loose skin on the shoulder should immediately spring back when you let go.

As for older horses, their aging teeth can mean that they struggle to eat well. Grazing is typically 70-80% water, so turned out 'golden oldies' can run the risk of dehydration if they are not consuming enough water in their food. In hot, dry conditions where grazing has 'burned off' the moisture content is likely to be less still - the same can be said for 'standing hay'. Making sure your horses have access to water close to where they choose to stand, can go a long way to aiding hydration.

You can help your horses further by offering plenty of soaked, easy to manage, forage feeds. PuraBeet (unmolassed beet pulp) is renowned for its ability to take on up to 5 times its volume of water - making it a great feed for hydration. Simple System's other soaked forages; Sainfoin Pellets, HayCare, Lucie Nuts and so on, are also good ways for your horse to 'eat' water. These feeds soak up to 2.5 times their volume of water.

Here are some additional suggestions to help improve fluid intake.

- Offer flavoured water buckets - water buffets can be fun to prepare, and perhaps an idea to entertain the human small folk in the summer holidays. Try flavours such as unsweetened apple juice, a handful of JustaMint (pure dried spearmint, available from Simple System), plain salt or some Organic Cider Vinegar. Just remember to always offer plenty of plain water alongside and to ensure that any 'buffet buckets' are kept clean and fresh.

- Dampen their hay - a quick dunk of the haynet in clean water (not a long soak) can be beneficial. Alternatively, consider feeding haylage instead of hay as this has a naturally higher moisture level. Just be sure that if you are adjusting your horse's forage that you do so gradually, just as you would if you were introducing a new bucket feed.

- Ensure water is kept fresh - keep troughs and buckets clean and ensure that the water is changed regularly, not just topped-up.

There are many other ways to help keep your horses hydrated. Please feel welcome to share your own 'top tips' in the comments, or send them in to the Feed Line - info@simplesystem.co.uk

08/07/2025

👀🐴 Your Bodyworker Asking About Your Horse’s Job? That’s a GREAT Sign! 🐴👀

If your equine massage therapist or bodyworker shows interest in your horse’s work role, whether that’s schooling, jumping, hacking, or competing, it’s not just curiosity… it’s a sign of a truly dedicated professional.

They may ask to see a short video of your horse being ridden, lunged, or even just moving freely. Sometimes they’ll want to watch in person if the opportunity allows.

💡 Why? Because movement gives us clues!
Seeing how your horse works helps us understand which muscles are under the most strain, where compensation might be happening, and how to tailor massage and physical therapy for the best possible results. It allows us to spot imbalances, patterns of tension, or subtle signs that aren’t always obvious during a static assessment.

By understanding your horse’s daily workload and movement style, we can:
✔️ Target treatment more effectively
✔️ Support performance goals
✔️ Prevent injury by addressing problem areas early

So if your therapist asks, “What does your horse do?” or “Could I see a short video?” know that they’re going the extra mile to give your horse the best care possible. 🙌🐎



Equine Sports Massage Diploma Opportunities www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

07/07/2025

This months CPD - DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)

A perfect time of year to learn and understand more about DOMS as the weather is better, more daylight hours, school holidays… we’re spending more time in the saddle!
Our horses work load may have increased especially as we prepare for competitions and camps.. here’s a few things to look out for which could be an indicator of DOMS

- tension through the back
- reluctant to go forward
- performance plateaus or regressions
- soreness and stiffness

24-72hours after strenuous exercise is when DOMS will occur. Equine massage is a therapeutic intervention which can shorten recovery time after intense work and prevent secondary stiffness

11/06/2025

Gorgeous Cindy today enjoyed her session so much she decided to take a nap towards the end 🥹 seems to be a common theme of mine at the moment 😆, so lovely to see ❤️
Good luck to Cindy and her lovely owners at Cheshire show next week in their lead rein class 🤞🏼🥇

29/05/2025

Giving my boy a little massage this evening and he turned around and lay down 🥹🥰 normally if I ever saw him laying down he would jump up so this was so special ❤️💤

23/05/2025

🐴 Did You Know a Sore Back Can Cause Neck Problems Too?

It’s all connected, literally!

The long back muscles, like the longissimus dorsi, don’t just stop at the back. They run from the pelvis all the way up into the neck, connecting across multiple joints and vertebrae.

👉 So when the back is sore or tight, the horse may:

🐎 Brace through the neck
🐎 Struggle to flex or bend correctly
🐎 Show resistance in the bridle or contact
🐎 Compensate with tension in the poll or jaw

💡 That’s why a full- body approach in massage is so important. Treating one area without addressing the chain won’t give lasting results.

www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

11/05/2025

A lovely weekend treating horses in the sunshine ☀️ i had to take a picture of this view after treating a lovely client in Chapel , just another perk of this job getting to travel to such lovely places
finished the weekend by giving my old boy a bath in the sunshine ❤️
Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather ☀️🕶️

14/08/2024

A lovely last minute booking the other day treating 2 section A show ponies , they were both an absolute pleasure 😍 Thankyou Alexandra Bartley for having me x

10/06/2024

The beautiful Conka last week loving his massage treatment, he was such a pleasure ❤️ really loving the deeper work leaning into me 😆, to finish the session he had a little head massage, Conka responded really well to having his ears massaged, a place we may not put our focus to during a bodywork session, however by lightly massaging this area we can help the horse release endorphins, alleviating stress and tension. A lovely way to finish the session with soft eyes and heavy breathing, so rewarding to see them feel the benefits of massage

02/06/2024

✨2024 prices ✨

Sessions will include:

- A full static and dynamic assessment of your horse
- A thorough palpation to identify any sore areas, tension within the muscles, discussion on any findings and owners concerns.
- Full massage treatment using multiple soft tissue techniques followed by stretches if deemed suitable for your horse.
- After care recommendations and suggested exercises will be given to help your horse between sessions which will maximise the benefits of regular treatments
- A written report for each session

Please message me directly or WhatsApp to book in on 07776092164 📱

Fully qualified, insured and a recognised member of the IAAMB