Questions?

Regardless of your horse’s lifestyle or workload, bodywork is an important aspect of preventative and therapeutic care. Some of the many benefits include:

-Increased Circulation: Massages improves circulation by increasing blood flow to the muscles. This helps to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and aid in muscle development.

-Relaxation: Massages can help to reduce cortisol levels and promote emotional relaxation. This manual therapy also relaxes tense muscles, leading to increased flexibility and range of motion. This can reduce the risk of injury and improve performance.

-Improved Performance: By helping to relax muscles and promoting suppleness and balance, massage can improve the overall performance of an equine athlete.

-Pain Relief: Massages can help to alleviate pain caused by sore muscles or tissue injuries. This can improve the quality of life for the horse and prevent them from taking time off from training.

-Stress Relief: Regular massages can help to reduce stress and anxiety in horses, leading to a happier, more relaxed animal.

As a non-invasive and dynamic therapy, massage can offer a myriad of benefits to nearly any client.

-The Equine Athlete: With a majority of the techniques and modalities used in equine massage having originated in the human sports and rehabilitation sphere, there is substantial evidence supporting the physiological benefits of massage for high-demand athletes. Bodywork can help release muscle tension, enhance physical performance, and promote faster recovery after intense activity.

-The Rehabing or Injured Horse: Bodywork can aid in the healing process at the cellular level by increasing circulation and improving overall tissue health and mobility.

-The Stiff or Arthritic Horse: Bodywork can help alleviate muscle tension, increase flexibility, reduce edema (swelling), and improve joint mobility allowing the horse to move more freely and comfortably.

-The Retired or Geriatric Horse: Bodywork can relieve pain associated with arthritis, muscle stiffness, and general discomfort that comes with aging, improving the quality of life for senior equines.

-The “Sour” Horse: Many behavioral problems may stem from physical discomfort. Bodywork can help locate and address underlying physical issues.

-The Unbalanced or Crooked Horse: Bodywork techniques can assist in rebalancing the horse's body, improving their overall posture and movement, and preventing future injuries.

-The Anxious Horse: Bodywork can induce relaxation, reduce tension, and promote a sense of calmness and well-being for horses dealing with stress, such as during transportation, changes in environment, or new training programs.

~The Breeding or Pregnant Horse: Bodywork can help optimize reproductive function by promoting blood flow to the reproductive organs, reducing tension in the pelvic area, and supporting overall reproductive health in mares and stallions.

-The Green Horse: When horses switch disciplines, experience changes in their routine, or undergo new training methods, bodywork can support their physical adaptation and help ease any accompanying muscle soreness or discomfort.

-Every Horse: Even in the absence of specific issues or concerns, regular bodywork sessions can help maintain the horse's overall physical well-being, improve circulation, prevent the accumulation of muscle tension, and contribute to their overall performance and longevity.

Disclaimer: Massage therapy is not a substitute for veterinary medicine. Massage should not be applied in horses with any contraindications.

The first session typically lasts about one and a half to two hours, including the initial evaluation. You are not required or expected to stay for this whole time, though you are always more than welcome to! You may choose for subsequent sessions to last 45, 60, or 90 minutes.

As a massage therapist, I recommend that equine athletes should receive massages regularly to maintain optimal health and performance. The frequency of massages depends on several factors such as age, workload, and overall health.

For example, older horses or those with medical conditions may benefit from getting massages more frequently, such as once a week.

Horses that are in heavy training or competition may benefit from massages every 2-3 weeks.

On the other hand, horses that are in light work or used for recreational purposes may only need a massage every 4-6 weeks.

It's important to note that every horse is different and may require adjustments to their massage schedule based on their individual needs. Consultation with a veterinary professional and your equine massage therapist can be helpful in determining the best schedule for your horse.

Absolutely! I value clear communication and have made it a founding principle in my practice. After your horse’s session, you will receive a digital diagram clearly illustrating areas of tension and adhesion. This evaluation form also includes gait and condition analysis, additional notes on movement and muscle tone, and mounted and unmounted exercises for aftercare. Paper copies are available upon request.

I always do a gait analysis and initial evaluation before starting your first massage so I can more accurately assess your horse’s movement and conformation. I usually do this by having you walk and trot your horse away and towards me (like the jog pattern done at three-day-events). I am more than happy to watch you work your horse under saddle, but, as this takes more time, I request that we make this arrangement prior to my coming out. Additionally, I still request to see your horse move without tack as equipment and a rider’s weight can affect your horse’s movement. Please feel free to send me any videos of your horse in motion (under saddle, on the lunge line, etc.) that might be helpful for me to assess their gait and biomechanics.

You can find me on Venmo @faithsui12, leave cash or a check made out to Faith Wang, or use my mobil app to pay with card. Payment plans are available for purchases over $85.

My favorite place to work is in a well-ventilated stall or paddock with the horse tied loosely. Cross-ties are also welcome if they are not in a high-traffic aisle. For safety reasons, I will not work on a horse without a halter or in a space with other, unrestrained equines.

Yes! I only offer non-invasive therapies that can be performed before or after exercise. Not only that but both massage and PEMF are actually great additions to your daily routine! Bodywork allows muscles to warm and stretch, increases circulation, and pumps oxygen around the body, preparing muscles for optimum movement and recovery. If you do plan to ride prior to a session, please give your horse at least 30 minutes to cool down and remove any excess sweat or water before the appointment.

At Royalty Equine, we employ various elements when conducting an equine fitness test to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the horse's physical condition. These generally include:

1. Cardiovascular Endurance Assessment

Assessing cardiovascular fitness is a critical component of equine fitness testing. The horse is subjected to a controlled exercise regime, such as trotting or cantering on a treadmill, galloping on a track, or riding on a specific endurance trail. Heart rate monitors are used to measure the horse's exertion levels throughout the exercise.

2. Strength and Muscle Tone Evaluation

Equine athletes must possess adequate strength and muscle tone to perform at their best. During the test, the horse's muscle mass and strength are assessed using various methods, such as observing muscle development and symmetry and evaluating the horse's ability to maintain balance and perform maneuvers.

3. Flexibility and Range of Motion Assessment

Maintaining proper flexibility and a wide range of motion is pivotal for any equine discipline. Fitness tests often include assessing the horse's ability to bend and extend their limbs, perform lateral movements, and stretch their neck and back. These evaluations help identify any potential issues, such as stiffness or limited joint mobility.

4. Respiratoy Fitness Evaluation

The horse's respiratory fitness is evaluated through lung capacity tests and observation of breathing patterns during exercise. These assessments provide valuable insight into the horse's overall lung health, efficiency, and oxygen supply.