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Post by dannyboy on Apr 16, 2012 12:58:03 GMT
......on a horse / pony? What are your thoughts?
I was giving Casper a basic 5minute massage yesterday to help with bonding and relaxation that I had read about. He seemed to enjoy it, his muscles twitched along his back and after completing it, his back legs left him for a second or two.
What has been your experience with massage?
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Post by solomon on Apr 16, 2012 14:24:38 GMT
I think it's great. It's what many physios do in the main. Pete loves his neck being massaged. If you are interested, google Tellington touch. Lots about therapeutic massage there.
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Post by dannyboy on Apr 17, 2012 10:28:05 GMT
Thanks Sol, I'll look it up now.
Can it be dangerous if you are not properly trained to perform it?
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Apr 17, 2012 11:02:13 GMT
The mothership did a course in massage and our horses love it when she practises on them especially Sunshine - he goes to sleep whilst stretching  . |
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Post by spotti on Apr 17, 2012 14:10:11 GMT
Faithy loves massage - she too falls asleep . I think there is the potential to cause harm if you try to do too much without being properly trained, but if you stick to simple things (like equissage, t-touch and stroking) then there's not too much that can go wrong. I've got a really good massage book - can't remember the name of it but I'll have a look for it later and post the name because it's a good read and has some great picutres (and a few exercises in the back of the book to make your hands strong  ) |
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679 
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Post by bonnyben on Apr 19, 2012 15:52:32 GMT
Hmmmm, I asked a physio (recommended person) to come and give Ben a massage, I just wanted him to have a nice pamper to make him feel good and nice and relaxed. Well I could not have made a bigger mistake really. She told me what a hard life he had had, that he was sore here, there and everywhere and that I was not to ride him for two weeks but to pessoa him 4 x a week in walk and trot for 10 minutes building up to 20 mins!! She would then come back and repeat the treatment, (the pummelling).. To start with I don't have a pessoa (not very keen on gadgets, although I do use side reins for lungeing sometimes) so had to borrow one from the YM. It was very clear straight away that Ben had never been pessoaed in his life and he didn't like it. I had it on the very loosest setting and the YM came to supervise but he was trying to get his front legs over the lines and was very unhappy. Needless to say I didn't do it again. I did give him his two weeks off though but he wasn't even happy about that cos he loves his riding. She came back after the two weeks and again pummelled him, he was pawinbg the ground which I took to be discomfort and she said yes he was sore.....he had had a hard life.  I told her about the pessoa and she agreed I could lunge on side reins instead which I did and still do. But I did that before she came so not a big step forward there.... However, the one good thing that came out of her visit is that I had his saddles checked and one needed re flocked. Happily one year on he is fine and still the good sound boy I love dearly. But it wasn't at all how I'd hoped it would be, Ben luxuriating in a rub and massge much as Spotti is describing. It is not as if he was lame and needed treatment but I did feel guilty as I seemed to have made him uncomfortable for no good reason. |
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Post by spotti on Apr 19, 2012 19:09:17 GMT
BB - it seems there are different form of massage, some are for treatment of sore/tight muscles (sometimes you need to sort of 'shock' the muscle out of it's spasm, which may explain the pummeling...although whenever I've seen/had physio the 'shocking' is only done a small number of times, and then gentle rubbing/pressure-point stuff has followed; others seem to be simply for encouraging blood flow to an area which should make it feel looser and hence better. I think poor Ben could have done with the latter as his physio experience dosn't sound too pleasant! It's the latter form that Faith loves and falls asleep during. All I do (on physios instructions) is gently-but-firmly stroke her all over (obviously not where there's no muscles), then do a bit of adapted t-touch (I say adapted because I've not been officially taught how to do it, we just sort of make circles ), if there's any tight bits that aren't too sore then I might give them extra attention but generally speaking if there's anything more than slightly tight muscles then I get my physio to come and sort Faith out because she knows what she's doing. After the circleing we have another all-over stroke, this time more gently...then I tend to have to prod Faith to get off my other arm because she's fallen asleep on it and I've lost all feeling under her heavy head!!! I love giving her a massage though - I find it theraputic for me too . Not given her one in a while though...might make a point of doing one when I get a minute. |
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679
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Post by bonnyben on Apr 23, 2012 16:15:30 GMT
Thank you spotti.
The sort of massage you give Faith is exactly what I had in mind for Ben but I suppose asking a physio to come was the mistake I made. As a professional she no doubt saw scope for serious treatment.
Your gentle but firm massage sounds great.
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Post by spotti on Apr 24, 2012 19:28:10 GMT
I'm going to try and remember to find that book I think I mentioned...it's really good. Actually, I think I have 2 copies - would you like my other copy BB? You could give Ben that relaxing massage you had in mind then . |
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