EMA Practitioner · IAAT Accredited

Hands on Horses

Kate Dowton-Smith

Equine Massage & Rehabilitation for Health & Performance

Berkshire · Hampshire · Oxfordshire

Why Massage?

Increase Performance

Get the edge on the competition with pre-event muscle preparation and mental relaxation. Increase stride length, flexibility and muscle tone.

Improve Recovery

Relieve muscle tension and stiffness caused by exercise or injury, reduce pain and spasm, remove lactic acid build-up and prevent scar tissue formation.

Prevent Injury

Prepare muscles for work to ensure optimum function and posture, improve tissue elasticity and encourage blood circulation for healthy body function.

Relieve Tension

Alleviate tension caused by tack placement and rider loading, improve posture and provide your horse with a well-deserved pampering!

Technique

My therapy involves a thorough analysis of the whole horse – from posture, conformation and movement through to exercise regime, behaviour and owner management choices – in order to select the most suitable therapeutic intervention for that individual.

A variety of techniques are brought together with the aim of increasing comfort, relaxation, range of motion and well-being. My approach is an amalgamation of sports massage, myofascial release, acupressure, trigger/stress point therapy, joint mobilisation, active/passive stretching and core strengthening, along with tailored rehabilitative exercises for owners.

I carry minimal kit, preferring my hands as my most effective tool. However, I also utilise a heat pad to ease tense muscle prior to massage, a massage gun for deep tissue loosening over large muscle groups, and kinesiology taping for longer-term support, relaxation or strengthening of specific muscles or joints.

I aim to make sessions as relaxing and therapeutic as possible – studies have shown that certain music types have a calming effect on horses, so I have a selection of appropriate music available during sessions if desired.

Services

Tailored equine therapy for every horse and goal

Remedial / Relaxation Massage

£50 Multi-horse: £45 each
  • Initial Palpation
  • Range-of-Movement Analysis
  • Full Body Massage
  • Focused Remedial Work
  • Variety of Techniques as Required
  • Mobilisation / Stretch Routines
  • Follow-up Exercise Suggestions

Video Assessment Only

£25
  • Horse Profiling
  • Conformation / Posture Analysis
  • In-Hand Motion Analysis
  • Short Palpation
  • Range-of-Movement Analysis

Competition Massage

from £35
  • Tailored to Your Requirements
  • Pre-Competition Massage
  • Post-Competition Massage
  • Travel Prep / Recovery
  • Stimulating Sports Massage
  • Relaxation for Anxious Competitors
  • At Yard or Competition Venue

Rehab Exercise Follow-Up

from £20
  • Bespoke Rehab Plan Service
  • Follow-Up Stretches
  • Core Conditioning Exercises
  • Groundwork & Pole Work
  • Long-Lining / Lungeing

Add-On Services

Kinesiology Taping

£15

Video Assessment

£20

Tack Impact Assessment

£15

Ridden Analysis

£15
Equine massage session

Massage sessions usually last upwards of an hour (guided by feedback from your horse), and will be either relaxation or remedial-focused depending on need.

Where remedial in nature, a short in-hand walk-only movement analysis and full palpation routine will precede massage. A more in-depth assessment is available when booking a 'Video Assessment' add-on.

Further add-on options include Kinesiology Taping (to support, relax or strengthen particular muscles or joints) and Tack Impact Assessment (a focus on your bit, bridle, saddle and accessories to analyse how these might influence movement and/or soreness).

Video gait analysis

Have you noticed a decrease in performance, a change in behaviour, a loss of condition or reduced flexibility?

A Video Assessment is an ideal addition to remedial massage to be fully informed about areas of concern and likely compensatory issues, and can help form a suitable rehabilitation or back-to-work programme.

I'll gather management information, take static photos to assess conformation/posture/musculature and record slow-motion video footage for gait analysis – then compile a detailed annotated slideshow to send through to you. An example video assessment is available here.

This session can be stand-alone without massage, or discounted as an add-on prior to a massage session.

Competition horse massage

Massage has been proven to improve physical performance in a variety of disciplines, and having a therapist on-hand to prepare your horse's muscles and joints could give you the edge you need.

After strenuous exercise, massage speeds recovery and reduces the likelihood of soreness. The stress of travel – both mental and physical – is often underestimated; a long journey significantly tires muscles just before they're required to perform.

Pre/post-competition session durations and structure are bespoke, depending on your horse's needs, schedule and locations. Please get in touch for more details!

Rehabilitation exercise session

Part of my service involves suggestions for maintaining or improving suppleness and muscle health between sessions – groundwork, lungeing, long-lining, polework, core-strengthening or stretching exercises tailored to your horse.

Many clients request that I attend outside of massage sessions to carry out these short prescribed routines personally, which typically take 20–30 minutes per session. These are very bespoke in both content and regularity, so please get in touch to discuss!

About Kate

Kate Dowton-Smith Equine Massage & Rehabilitation Practitioner Level 5 qualification – passed with distinction, 2018 · EMA · IAAT accredited

I embarked on this qualification having experienced first-hand the power of massage, both physically and mentally, in a veteran horse struggling through a difficult winter. Feeling helpless, I began researching basic massage and stretching techniques to make this well-loved mare more comfortable – and the results extended well beyond my expectations.

After just one hour of very rudimentary massage attempts, I was amazed to see a visible change in mood, posture, appetite and behaviour. The closeness and gratitude I felt from this usually unaffectionate mare was remarkable and very special. With regular massage interventions, she thrived through to a very happy summer and beyond – and I knew what career I was destined for.

I feel incredibly lucky to work within this industry. For over 25 years, horses have been my passion, and the more I've learned, the more driven I've felt to pass my knowledge on and help ensure that our equine partners receive the attention they wholly deserve. Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes and a trained pair of hands is all that's needed.

When not working, I enjoy time with my own beautiful Gelderlander cross mare, Jules, who I love to hack and test new techniques with!

Equine massage treatment in progress Working with a horse
EMA accredited practitioner UKRS member IAAT accredited

What Clients Say

She felt straighter, her saddle wasn't sliding to the right and she wasn't rushing and tense like she was last week. Her canter was also much stronger.

Susy – Post-maintenance massage assisting the transition from unridden to ridden work

He seemed to settle in his unfamiliar stable without the usual box-walking, and had shavings all over him this morning, so must have had a good rest! He was amazing today. Super pleased with him.

Kate – Post-relaxation massage to assist settling for enhanced performance at a stay-away event

Hacked him out today and normally he'd have a short choppy stride until he warmed up, but today he was striding out and much freer – your work is massively helping.

Emma – Post-remedial massage tackling sore muscles during rehabilitation from back injury

Managed to do clean changes and saddle not slipping. Oh and no spooking! It's made a huge difference.

Hailey – Post-maintenance massage for discipline-related soreness in dressage horse

Get in Touch

Covering Berkshire, North Hampshire & South Oxfordshire

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Email

handsonhorsesuk@gmail.com

Areas Covered

Berkshire · North Hampshire · South Oxfordshire