Belles View

**You should be seeing the effects of a properly administered sports massage on your horse for typically a week or more, depending on his/her workload.

  Remember, though, a massage is no substitution for veterinary care, so if our work does not produce an immediate and long-lasting effect...as well as a happier animal, I hope you look to your vet/farrier/dentist for diagnostic treatment.

Recommendations:

• Horses that exhibit pain (and have been cleared by your vet for any physical ailments) should have three massages within 1-2 weeks to help ease their muscles and promote healing; then bi-weekly for maintenance
• High-Level Competition Horses should be treated as follows: 

            Week 1 - 3 massages;

            Week 2 - 2 massages;

            Weeks 3+ - 1 massage/wk

• Horses that compete regularly should have 1 massage every other week.  Pre- and post-event massages should be given at your discretion
• Horses that compete occasionally throughout the season should be massaged bi-weekly for six weeks (3 massages), then as needed
• Pleasure horses should be massaged as needed for maintenance
• Trail/lesson horses need a "thank you" massage from time to time.  They put up with a lot in terms of rider ability and stress of riding in varying conditions!