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Sports massage is more than a treatment for injuries as it produces overwhelming benefits to athletes physically, physiologically, and psychologically.

Sports massage is designed to prepare the athlete for their best performance, reduce fatigue, and relieve muscle swelling and tension. Sports massage should be applied before and after athletic events, with many maintenance sessions in-between meets or competitions. Integrated into a weekly training regimen, athletes may avoid DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness), relax and revitalize muscles, and feel calmer and more focused before and after events.

Sports massage is not just for athletes. Any horse, dog or human, regardless of their age, background or breeding will have an improved disposition after receiving a massage.

The Benefits of Sports Massage are the same for People, Horses and Dogs!

• Extends the good health and the overall life of the animal's athletic "career"
• Boosts athletic performance and endurance
• Improves circulation, and as a result, promotes more rapid healing of injuries
• Enhances muscle tone and increases range of motion
• Eases muscle spasms
• Reduces inflammation and swelling in the joints so that pain is relieved
• Relieves tension
• Stimulates circulation in the lymphatic system and hastens the elimination of waste
• Lengthens connective tissue and so breaks down/prevents the formation of adhesions and reduces the danger of fibrosis
• Maintains the entire body in better physical condition
• Aids in preventing injuries and loss of mobility
• Restores mobility to injured muscle tissue

History of Equine Sports Massage Therapy

Massage has been practiced for thousand of years. It was first recorded in China during the second century BC and is considered one of the oldest forms of medical treatment for humans. It has also been practiced in India, Egypt and Rome throughout the centuries. Swedish massage was developed in the 1700s. Sports Massage was introduced in the 1950's by a Russian physician working with Olympic athletes.

An American, named Jack Meagher, published the first book on Sports Massage in 1980. Prior to that publication, in 1975, Jack developed sports massage for horses. His results were so outstanding that he worked for the United States Equestrian Team for many years.

In 1989 Mary Schreiber, a certified human massage therapist, started massaging animals, in particular horses with amazing results! She decided to take her skills to the racetrack and again the results were remarkable! Mary was besieged with requests to start teachingthe therapy to others. Trainers, owners and riders were all interested in learning this wonderful "new" therapy. Subsequently, she founded Equissage, the first Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapy program in the world. After teaching for several years she adapted the program to make it suitable for the care of dogs and the Canine Massage Therapy Certification Program was launched with great success.

Jo is currently the only fully certified Equine Massage Instructor in the world, accredited by Equissage (founded 1989.)

Jo has seen fantastic results with both dogs and horses and would love to help your animals maintain a happy and healthy lifestyles through massage.

Massage is not a substitute for veterinary medicine. It is most effective when used as a preventative measure before or after intense activity and is an essential addition to maintain good health.