A basic understanding of blood functions is important in Massage.
Massage therapy opens blood vessels and increases circulation, pushing out waste and toxins that can lead to illness.
It increases blood supply and increases the number of red blood cells therefore enhancing the delivery of oxygen to all the tissues of the body.
Massage also keeps venous blood moving, so waste products are recycled faster and do not build up in the tissues.
Equine Massage has many benefits such as:

• Relaxes muscle spasm
• Improves muscle tone
• Reduces congestion within blood and lymph vessels
• Stimulates or relaxes the nervous system
• Increases excretion of fluids
• Increases the exchange of substances between cells
• Encourages tissue repair
• Stretches connective tissue
• Helps maintain flexibility
• Reduces inflammation of tissue in joints as well as enhances nutritional aspects
• Prevents the formation of adhesions and fibrous bands in muscles, tendons and ligaments
• Increases intestinal movement
• Stimulates glands
• Helps clean pores

Equine Massage...
when?

• Horses recovering from lameness and horses with reduced performance may benefit from equine massage.
  
• It helps to return the muscles and joints to full flexibility.
  
• Equine massage is of great benefit to competition horses as part of a warm up programme.
  
• And is also of enormous benefit after competing when used as part of a warm down programme.
  

Other Benefits of Equine massage include:

• Improved movement, mobility and flexibility
• Improving the topline
• Reducing lameness
• Reducing stiffness
• Helps with relaxation & sleeping
• Increases stride length
• Reduces inflammation of soft tissues
• Helps to keep older horses active
• Improves jumping techniques
• Invaluable in rehabilitation after injury

When Not to Massage: Massage is not appropriate for an animal with:

• An elevated temperature
• Heatstroke
• A fresh injury
• Nausea
• Shock
• Fractures

When giving massage therapy to a horse which is not your own, a Massage Therapist should always seek the permission of the animal's usual Veterinary surgeon.
For more information on Equine Massage therapy including tips and techniques you can learn and perform on your own horse check out Looking After Your Horse's Back.