Meeting with a Specialist in Equine Wellness
Anthony Boughaba Duplaix is an equine massage therapist and founder of Anthika, a company offering a range of products focused on horse well-being.
A rider for many years in the Fontainebleau region, Anthony provides horse massage services to help horses recover after competitions, but also to prepare them for effort and optimize their performance. Anthony explains here how equine massage emerges not only as a source of physical relief, but also as a way to strengthen the unique bond between riders and their horses.
The Origin of Muscle Tension in Horses
Influence of the Rider on Muscle Tension
Horse Pilot: How do the rider’s weight and position influence the horse’s muscle tension?
Anthony Boughaba Duplaix: Naturally, a horse is not designed to carry a rider. Each horse can move independently at the walk, trot, and canter, can move backward, and can jump. Horses even have the ability to move naturally in collected gaits, which is what we observe in nervous horses, for example. This is what we call innate locomotion.
When mounted, the horse must relearn to move with the rider’s weight and demands. These are precisely the imbalances induced by the rider that affect the muscular system as well as the joints, ligaments, and tendons. In horse training, we therefore aim for what La Guérinière calls "restoration of natural gaits".
Correct riding will limit the impact on the horse, while overly restrictive or disrespectful riding can be disastrous and promote musculoskeletal pathologies.
But the rider is not the only constraint for the horse. Equipment, by pressing on certain parts of the body, must also be considered. The challenge is to distribute pressure as evenly as possible so that the mounted horse can move freely.
Finally, one must not forget hoof care, which affects the entire horse’s body. Many imbalances in the feet influence the horse’s posture and can create muscle tension due to compensations.
The Impact of Effort on a Horse’s Muscles
HP: How do different types of effort affect a horse’s muscles?
A.B.D.: It is mainly the repetition of movements that stresses the same muscles and can cause trauma. We also observe that horse injuries vary by discipline. Show jumping horses are particularly prone to tendon injuries in the front limbs, while dressage horses, especially at high levels, are more prone to hind limb injuries, notably the hock joint and the fetlock suspensory ligament. It is therefore necessary to vary exercises to work the horse’s entire body.
HP: How can the first signs of muscle tension in a horse be detected?
A.B.D.: The first step is to observe your horse: how it stands in the stall, how it moves in freedom (cold or warmed up), how it reacts to grooming, and how it gives its feet during care. Riders spend a lot of time on horseback and much less on foot, yet many easily observable signs can reveal tension.
Let us not forget that before being a sport horse, a horse is a living being. This implies emotions, sensitivity, and a unique way of communicating. It is essential to listen to it.
In summary, it is essential to:
- Observe your horse.
- Regularly offer ground work sessions.
- Palpate the body to check for warmth, sensitivity, and muscle flexibility.
Although tension is not necessarily pain, it is recommended to relieve it promptly.
Optimizing Your Horse’s Recovery
HP: Are there effective active recovery methods for horses?
A.B.D.: Active recovery involves aerobic effort, meaning prolonged but low-intensity exercise. To provide good recovery for your horse, it is recommended to trot on long reins for 5 to 15 minutes, letting the horse choose its speed. Walking is not active recovery but passive recovery, which can follow active recovery.
For this recovery to be effective, it should be done immediately after effort. Waiting 10 minutes reduces its effectiveness.
During this recovery, the goal is to:
- Lower heart rate toward resting rate.
- Lower respiratory rate.
- Reduce body temperature and eliminate lactic acid accumulated during effort.
Active recovery is especially recommended after intense efforts.
Optimizing Recovery Through Horse Massage
Benefits of Horse Massage for Recovery
HP: What are the main benefits of massage for a horse’s recovery?
A.B.D.: Massage improves blood circulation, the lymphatic system, toxin elimination, muscle suppleness, and joint mobility.
The positive effects on recovery include:
- Reduced soreness
- Improved suppleness and mobility
- Preservation of range of motion
- Reduced pain from effort and pathologies
Beyond the direct physical benefits, massage also positively affects a horse’s psyche. Physical and mental well-being helps reduce injury risk and improve performance. As a rider myself, I have seen the positive effects of the preparation/recovery protocol for my horse: he could handle consecutive efforts with the freshness of the first day.
Moreover, riders generally agree that after a massage, horses are calmer, more supple, and more quickly available for work.
How Often Should a Horse Be Massaged?
HP: What frequency of massages do you recommend to optimize a horse’s recovery during regular training?
A.B.D.: It depends on the situation. My policy is always adaptation. Generally, we set up monthly follow-ups. To optimize progress, the rider or groom should participate in care between sessions. This shows great improvements.
However, be aware that a single session will not fully relieve the horse. Reducing some tension may shift the horse’s body mechanics, causing new tensions.
The Importance of Preparation to Aid Recovery
HP: How can good physical preparation influence a horse’s recovery?
A.B.D.: The first step to help a horse recover is to prepare it well. The better the horse’s muscular readiness, the less effort affects its body and the better it recovers.
HP: How should training programs be adapted to optimize recovery?
A.B.D.: Training programs should be individualized according to the horse’s profile, age, history, and discipline. As mentioned earlier, repetitive actions largely cause injuries. It is therefore important to vary activities and their intensity.
For example, a show jumping horse needs to train in its discipline but will not jump 160cm every day. High-level horses rarely do so in training, just as a marathon runner does not run 42km daily. It is also essential to work on endurance, flexibility, and mental preservation.
Including rest phases is essential. While training is important, overtraining must be avoided.
Age is also a factor. Young growing horses need protection, as do experienced horses with past injuries. Some horses need more repetition, while others progress better by preserving mental well-being with foundation work outdoors.
HP: How should a horse’s preparation be adjusted based on its response to effort?
A.B.D.: To develop and optimize performance, a horse first needs a suitable living environment. Horses are not meant to stay in stalls 23 hours a day. Sedentary behavior is the number one enemy of well-being.
Nutrition is also crucial. The horse should have unlimited hay above all.
Finally, social interaction is critical for mental health. Horses are not made to live alone and need regular contact with conspecifics. While difficult in today’s facilities, these conditions should be maximized.
Alongside this, it is essential to observe and listen to your horse. Horses may have off days, which is normal. However, if it persists, consult a professional.
Some Tips for Massaging Your Horse
HP: Are there areas to focus on or avoid during horse massage?
A.B.D.: The entire body can be massaged, from head to tail, including limbs. Focus areas depend on the horse and effort. Some need toning, others relaxation, regardless of discipline.
Contracted areas react abnormally when massaged (vibration, movement, pain). If tension persists, consult a professional. They can advise on self-massage.
Daily, focus on areas that positively respond to massage to enjoy the session and strengthen the bond.
The Importance of Consulting a Professional
HP: When is it recommended to have a professional massage your horse?
A.B.D.: There is no age limit and no competition requirement. Massage should primarily be preventive. It is best to massage before tension appears, either before or after events.
Regular care significantly impacts the horse’s progress.
HP: How does a professional identify and relieve specific muscle problems?
A.B.D.: First, the professional will listen to the horse’s history. The rider/groom provides essential information.
Next, observation in movement and a full-body palpation are necessary to assess present issues.
The professional focuses on anatomy and links between asymmetry and muscle tension to target areas and help the horse improve engagement.
Massage is part of well-being and does not replace veterinary advice.
Care Products
HP: What types of products do you recommend for horse muscle recovery?
A.B.D.: Before using products, I recommend cold therapy to reduce body temperature. A good shower in hot weather and ice boots for limbs are very helpful. Cold should be the first option.
There are many muscle recovery products. It is important to have a routine for each horse and not underestimate dietary supplements.
After effort, hydration (electrolytes) is key. In hot or cold weather, when a horse sweats, hydration is the first ally for recovery. For comfort, muscle relaxants and natural anti-inflammatory supplements can help.
There are many massage oils, cooling gels, and clays available. My policy is: match the protocol to the effort. Heavy-duty products are not needed after every session. Use an evolving protocol based on effort.
Example competition care protocol:
- Day 1: identify tension areas and massage them with oil or hands. Use gel for tendon relief.
- Day 2: repeat Day 1 actions and add clay for tension relief. Linseed poultices can be used for sensitive hooves.
- Day 3: repeat Day 2 actions, varying clay if needed. For tendon issues, and with veterinary agreement, apply zinc bandages.
For a tailored protocol, I offer competition follow-ups. All recommended products are available on the Anthika website.
Key Takeaways for Horse Recovery Massage
Massage has many benefits for horses beyond recovery. It also helps prepare horses for effort and strengthen the bond between rider and mount. Integrating massage into your well-being routine and consulting a professional ensures long-term performance for your horse.
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Discover Anthika on Instagram and their website anthika.fr.
Photo credits: Benjamin Givoz / Instagram: le_manege_noir.
