Equine Sports Massage Therapy(ESMT) is the therapeutic hands-on application of professional human sports massage techniques applied to the equine. Its purpose is to maintain healthy muscle function by directly uncovering and treating the cause of muscle-related problems before they have a chance to result in injury. The professional massage therapist is trained to find painful restricted areas of muscle tissue and apply massage techniques to free up those areas resulting in optimum freedom of movement and flexibility.
History: In the United States, ESMT officially began in the 1970's with Jack Meagher, a human massage therapist. Mr. Meagher was invited by the U.S. Equestrian Team to join them for the Montreal Olympic Games to use his equine massage techniques. His method is still the classic standard against which most others are judged and referred to as 'Stress Point Muscular Therapy'. Massage therapy works because it goes beyond the symptom, directly to the cause of the problem, to help maintain healthy muscle function. It is only recently that amateur competitors are catching on that ESMT can result in a 20% increase in the horse's efficiency!
What ESMT is NOT: Equine Sports Massage Therapy is not a substitute for proper veterinary care. We do not diagnose or prescribe. If you have any doubt as to the condition of your horse, please call your veterinarian!
