How often does a horse need massage?

I often get stopped while I’m working at barns by owners who will briefly describe what’s happening with their horse and then ask “Do you think massage would be helpful for them?” I always joke when I answer back “Well, I’m a massage therapist so of course I’m going to say YES!”.

But in reality, what horses benefit from massage and how often?

The answer will depend greatly on the horse, their activity level, their age, injury history, and what the goal for that horse is but there are some general guidelines to help support your decision in how often to get your horse massaged.

Let’s break it down 👇

Lightly or Moderately Ridden Horses: Bodywork Every 4-6 Weeks

This would include horses that are ridden about 4-10 days/month doing casual riding. I like to see these horses every 4-6 weeks to ensure that their body maintains a level of comfort for their light to moderate riding. A 4-6 week schedule allows for the work to be effective without going backwards and provides enough time to catch any issues before they become compensatory or begin to form negative habits.

Performance Horses or Horses in Training: Bodywork Every 2-4 Weeks

This would include horses that are being ridden 4+ days/week doing moderate to high levels of riding. Many owners and trainers of high-level performers have the misconception that because their horse is so active, fit, and doing well in competition, that they don’t need bodywork. However, I like to see these horse every 2-4 weeks as problems can creep up quickly (saddle fit, rider balance, compensatory patterns) and regular bodywork will help to prevent injury by keeping the soft tissue and joints supple and flexible. When the muscles and joints are supported in this way, it prevents strain and the snowball effect of compensation.

Retired Horses or Young Horses: Bodywork Every 4-8 Weeks

You may assume that horses who are retired or not in work wouldn’t benefit from regular bodywork, but that is not the case. Even horses who are not working benefit immensely from bodywork. If you have a young horse, they are still learning to use their body as they grow and this is the perfect time for regular bodywork! It allows them to use their body correctly and comfortably from the start. For retired horses, they likely have some level of degeneration in their body and regular bodywork gives them a higher quality of life for comfort well-into their senior years.

Horses on Stall Rest or Recovering From Injury: Bodywork Every 1-2 Weeks

Are you surprised on this one? There is a misconception that horses on stall rest “aren’t doing anything” and therefore won’t benefit from bodywork but I would argue that this is actually the group that needs bodywork the most. Studies have shown that horses on stall rest can begin losing muscle mass in as short as 1-week. Lowered muscle mass means a weaker ability to hold the body in correct posture (likely coupled with compensation from the injury itself!). Regular bodywork while on stall rest not only brings circulation to the muscles and joints but gives the horse a strong foundation through their recovery.

There is no such thing as too much bodywork. When in doubt, more often is (almost) always better than not often enough but always defer to your bodyworker’s recommendation for your horse.