Given equine sports massage therapy is my trade, I figured this was the best place to start! I was inspired to study equine sports massage therapy after having a horse on loan who had a lot of soundness problems. I became obsessed with equine biomechanics as I tried to unravel the source of her problems. I developed an interest in equine rehabilitation, which grew to me researching what maintenance can be carried out to keep horses sounder and happier for longer.
Even a decade ago, we had nowhere near the range of different equine bodywork techniques and technologies readily available to us that we do today. However, when I began my own journey to study equine massage therapy, I realised there was a lot more to both the process of massage and becoming qualified than you would immediately think.
Girl bosses don’t gatekeep though, so here is everything I have learned since I began my massage journey!
What is equine massage therapy?
Equine massage is the practise of applying traditional massage techniques to horses. Massage therapy involve a range of motions which can be applied to both horses and humans. The five massage techniques of Swedish massage therapy are effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), friction, tapotement (percussion) and vibration which provide the foundation of the techniques used on horses.
Due to horses’ size, equine massage therapists use a range of other manipulation techniques to work with the horse. This both makes it more comfortable for the animal and puts less pressure on your body as a therapist.
Massage therapy offers numerous benefits for horses, serving as an effective maintenance therapy for those in regular, intensive work. Many of my regular clients are hardworking racehorses and eventers who frequently experience minor aches and muscle tension due to their demanding routines. Massage not only helps alleviate these issues but also enhances lymphatic drainage, promoting systemic recovery after high-intensity activity. By fostering equilibrium within the horse’s body, massage aids relaxation and helps release mental tension. For horses on box rest, it supports circulatory health, while for those recovering from injury, it accelerates the healing process. Equine massage is equally valuable for athletic horses pre-competition, preparing them for optimal performance. With so many benefits and applications, I could easily write an entire article dedicated to its advantages.
In addition to the traditional massage techniques, equine sports massage therapists also likely use a range of active and passive stretches and equine myofascial releases in a session. Each horse is different therefore will require a slightly different strategy. Equine massage therapists are trained to have a range of methods in their toolkit which they deploy as necessary to best treat the horse they have in front of them.
What is it like to work as an equine sports massage therapist?
In a word, rewarding. It is a privilege to work with horses who are sometimes in quite a lot of pain, to gain their trust, and be able to help them. It is equally rewarding to help owners understand why their horses act or respond in certain ways, and give them tools they can use to support their horses emotional and physical wellbeing.
It is also a very challenging job. It is physically quite demanding. Not all horses respect your space, some can lash out quite quickly if they are in pain, and not all owners tell you their horses kick. Although properly trained therapists know how to position themselves to avoid being injured, horses are horses and things can always go wrong. If I am at a yard, I can treat about ten horses a day, but I am exhausted (and filthy!) afterwards. I also use a vibration therapy device to support my treatments, which aids blood flow, which allows me to do this many a day. However, some days, I end up travelling between several different yards, which obviously reduces the amount of horses I can do overall.
You also need to have an awful lot of tact. In the world of animal therapy, only vets are formally allowed to offer a diagnosis, and so you have to be very careful about how you phrase certain things. Sometimes you will see a horse who has an issue that is obvious, and all you can say to an owner is “I would recommend asking the vet XYZ,” without actually telling them what the problem is. You also have to be able to accept that not every owner will take your advice. Knowing how to phrase things, and make recommendations in a ‘water off a ducks back’ manner, are essential skills as any kind of equine professional. As the old saying goes, you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.
What skills do I need to become an equine sports massage therapist?
Before studying to become an equine sports massage therapist, it’s good to check in with yourself and see how your own baseline knowledge is. I would always say that having a foundational understanding and knowledge of how the horse industry operates is essential to any kind of career within it where you are going to be self employed (as most equine bodyworkers are).
Although it’s not essential, time working on any kind of professional yard – be that a riding school, livery yard or competition yard – exposes you to a great variety of horses. This is helpful both from a knowledge perspective, but also the practical skills and confidence you develop handling different horses in a variety of circumstances. If working on a yard like that isn’t available to you, any kind of foundational equine studies qualification provides this same skill set at RQF Level 2 and 3 (SCQF Levels 4-6) provides the same kinds of variety of experience.
Having a knowledge of how different parts of the industry operates, and what it’s like working with different types of horses, prepares you well for the variety of horses you will meet as an equine bodyworker. Treating a cob is very different to treating a thoroughbred, and each type and breed have their own sets of common ailments.
A good eye for soundness (or lameness) is also essential. There’s a skill in being able to pinpoint subtle lameness and performance issues. This is something that takes time to develop, and the as you progress your massage career you will also improve at this, but it is absolutely essential to be able to do this even a little before you start.
More holistically, you also need a range of soft skills to succeed as a therapist. Although you are providing a service, you are also part of the brand yourself. You will have to stand with the owner for around an hour whilst you treat there horse, so being able to chat to people easily really helps puts everyone (including the horse) at ease. There will be times the owner asks you for advice you are perhaps not best placed to provide, or you need to deliver bad news. Being able to do both of these things well is a skill. Soft skills are part of being a professional, particularly one who is self-employed, and so if you are a bit of an introvert (like me!) it might be something that needs a bit of work.
More broadly, you need to have decent organisational and time-management skills. Being able to plan your days carefully is how you maximise your profits and productivity. It does not make sense to try to treat two horses who live at completely opposite ends of your region. Although it’s tempting in the early days of starting your business to do anything and take any client, when you are established this is not how you would operate. Setting and respecting your boundaries in the early days prepares you for longitudinal success, rather than just focussing on short term gains.
How do I become an equine sports massage therapist?
Nowadays, there are a lot of different equine massage qualifications which exist, but there are a few things to look out for:
What level is a qualification taught at?
The qualification level is a good hallmark of difficulty and level of complexity. It also indicates what qualifications you may need to already have to begin studying it. We have put together a handy guide on Understanding Qualifications which explains all of this in more detail.
Most equine massage courses are taught at RQF Level 4 and 5, which is the equivalent of undergraduate degree level difficulty. This is reflective of the level of knowledge and complexity of the content you are going to be learning about.
These courses are often offered by private educational providers rather than at universities or colleges, but there are courses taught by these larger institutions which offer equine sports massage therapy too.
How do I pick a qualification?
You should consider a range of things when choosing the right equine massage qualification for you:
- Does it allow me to become a member of a governing body? This is essential for gaining insurance. You can read more about this here.
- Is this qualification logistically viable for me? Do I have the means to travel there? Can I make the course’s requirements work around my life? How do I make this work financially?
- Is this course taught at appropriate level for my knowledge and experience? Most qualifications will not allow you to begin if you do not have the right level of knowledge, experience or required qualifications, and so it’s important to choose a course that you meet the entrance requirements of.
How long will I be studying for?
Most equine massage courses are taught on a part time basis, which means you will be studying for about 18 months to two years. Some courses may be structured to allow you to finish quicker, depending on how well you get on, but each course will differ in how they operate.
Although this feels like a really long time, trust me when I say it will fly by! Most courses will run using a mixture of residential weeks and self-guided study. You will also need to do case studies, to allow you to improve your skills whilst at home. I was able to work a full time office job around my massage studies, spending my evenings and weekends (and the occasional lunch hour!) doing my course work and case studies. It’s good practise for the time management and organisational skills you will need to succeed when you start your business.
What will I learn?
The reason it takes so long to learn how to become any kind of equine bodyworker is because you have an awful lot to learn. You need to learn the names of all the superficial and deep muscles, how they interact, as well as all about the skeleton. You will also learn about feet, which in and of themselves require a lot of time to develop an understanding of, particularly whilst developing an eye for hoof balance. You will learn about conformation and movement, and the impact of these things on the equine body.
Once you have all that down, it’s time to actually learn about massage! You will learn your toolkit of techniques and how and when to apply them. Good courses will also include a module on business development and management, because that is an essential part of success within this profession.
What does it cost?
Course prices will vary, and there may or may not be support available to you. If you have any questions about this part, you can email us to discuss your requirements. Our EQUK database includes links to funding information about individual qualifications, but sometimes there can be other sources available to you.
You should also factor in travel expenses, stationary costs, printing costs (if you need to do paperwork for your course), and accommodation if you are having to stay overnight to do the residential parts of your qualification.
Never let the cost of a qualification or educational opportunity put you off. It’s an investment in yourself and your future, and if it is your calling it is always worth finding a way to make the financial side of things work. Short term pain, long term gain!
How do I get started?
If you are ready to begin your journey to become an equine sports massage therapist, you can use the EQUK Find Your Future database to find the right qualification for you. (Coming soon!)
Remember, we are only an email away if you need support or guidance. If you have questions, concerns, or just want to chat about your future working in the horse industry, you can reach out today.