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Equine sports massage is the therapeutic application of hands-on techniques long recognized for the purpose of increasing circulation and range of motion as well as improving the horse's stamina and overall performance. It also relieves muscle spasm and tension and enhances muscle tone. Overuse, over stretching and overloading muscles can cause tissue lesions which can restrict the motion and create pain. The goal of the Equinology Equine Body Worker programme is to teach the student how to locate these points and break them up by application of various therapeutic methods and techniques. The programme differs from others in that we emphasise the student's ability to effectively locate the stress points and related issues by instilling a strong background in anatomy. The student will learn to identify muscles and their functions, evaluate and observe the horse's movement and development, administer an entire sports massage and perform correct range of motion stretching and warm-up exercises. Once the Equinology Equine Body Worker Foundation course was in place we found that many students asked about ancillary skills, such as recognising saddlefitting issues, dental problems, identification of gait abnormalities and the subsequent effect on the athletic performance of the horse. This is how the programme came to include more specific modules, addressing the other factors that play an important role in the performance of the horse. Also, through being taught the correct approach and terminology of these contributory factors, the student will be able to communicate more effectively with the other professionals involved in the maintenance of the well-being of the horse. All the courses are presented in modular form, allowing the student to move up through the programme at his/her own pace. Many of our students have a full-time career, either within or outside the profession, so a full-time study might not always be a viable option.
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