Equi Stone Ltd Therapy Centre

Sports Massage Therapy

Sports Massage Therapy techniques have kept pace with the changing methods of training, playing a very important role in prevention therapy and in recovery from injury as well entailing deeper and better communication, these techniques have lead to a much richer relationship with the horse.

Benefits:

- It manipulates the soft tissues in the body to achieve specific goals of drainage, relaxation or stimulation and releasing muscle-related problems
- It contributes to the overall economy of the body and promoting a good supply of nutrients to the muscle groups
- Its healing function has been known to speed up recovery from injury
- It increases emotional bonding with the horse especially in the young - which learns to relax and accept being touched and handled
- It can aid the improvement in horses that show signs of “Touch shyness” which in the domesticated horse gives an indication of problems or a phobia
- Massage is also a diagnostic tool, as it is possible to feel and detect much sooner than by sight any abnormalities and problems. Massage can help to avoid possible complications that could be very costly to treat

- And more...

---

Solarium

Horse solariums, as they are know as, use a combination of ultraviolet and infra-red light (IR), the ultraviolet (UV) light being particularly beneficial for stable-kept horses.

The regular use of an equine solarium has the following benefits:

- Improves blood circulation and cellular metabolism
- Improves muscle elasticity in advance of intensive work, thereby reducing the risk of sustaining injury.
- Helps reduce stiffness after work, promotes relaxation and recovery.
- Assists in the relief of pain after injury particularly back pain
- Improves general health, condition and well being of the horse/pony
- Helps dry-off a horse/pony after exercise or wash-down

The therapeutic benefits of radiant heat and sunlight (or artificial sunlight provided by UV light) are well documented in authoritative books on equine injury and therapy. Heat, being a form of energy increases metabolic activity in the cells. This increased activity causes an increase in oxygen demand locally. As a result, capillary dilation occurs to increase the amount of blood that brings oxygen and nutrients to the area. Membrane diffusion and enzymatic activity also increase enabling oxygen consumption and waste removal.

Benefits of UV and/or IR:

- UV provides particularly for stable kept horses a source of artificial sunlight to boost general health, condition and well being.
- IR the heat energy penetrates the skin into the underlying muscle tissue and helps stimulate blood circulation due to the warmth. This improves muscle elasticity therefore, helping to reduce and recovery from injury.
- IR and UV enhance all therapeutic and biological effects. The benefits of UV radiation are intensified with the application of simultaneous IR heat.
- Therapeutic results of these effects are a reduction in pain and muscle spasms, an increase in circulation, more mobile connective tissue and a general feeling of relaxation and well being.

---

Physical Exercise

With a range of programs to assist an individuals recovery, physical therapy builds up strength and muscle tone. Activities include lunging, in-hand work, ridden exercise, round pen work and pole work.

---

Schooling

Whether the horse is to be schooled for a specific discipline such as Dressage or Show Jumping.

Or needs to be schooled on after breaking or for jumping for the first time.

Or whether the horse needs to be schooled to resolve a problem on the flat or over fences.

WE CAN HELP

We specialise in helping horses with specific problems e.g. Behavioural issues.

Individual requirements can be catered for.