BENEFITS
Of the Meagher Method
With any conditioning and training program there exists some level of muscle tightening. And the tighter a muscle is - the weaker it is. You lose the ability to condition and strengthen your horse when muscles are tight. The human athlete can describe precisely any problems they may be experiencing and the horse experiences these exact same problems which can, and do, become larger problems without attention. Your horse will lose stamina and tire faster when muscles are tight because neighboring muscles have to pick up the slack and take over the job of the tight/weak muscles. This adds extra work to those muscles who have their own job to do and the issue compounds. Left untreated muscle tightening can lead to not only frustration on your part but also muscle atrophy (muscle wasting). Think of the horse with almost no top line, yet he's ridden regularly. It could be the back muscles are tight - meaning they can't contract and release properly ...therefore they can't be conditioned and over time may actually start to waste away. Tight muscles can also often be painful and lead to unwanted behavioral issues again compounding the issue. Any horse engaged in training or competition, at any level, will benefit from the Jack Meagher Method of Sportsmassage as part of their overall health maintenance program by relieving pain (associated with muscle tightening) and restoring freedom of movement.
Safety to Reduce Injury
As Jack Meagher would say - "It is easier to prevent a problem than to treat one!" This is a major objective of the Jack Meagher Method - to reduce the risk of injury. Musculoskeletal problems, primarily joint problems, are a major factor limiting a horse's athletic ability and career. Muscles move the joints so you can help protect the joints by helping the muscles that move them. The more your horse is able to freely move his body the less likely he is to injure tendons, muscles and ligaments.
Increase Your Horse's Performance
Freedom of movement and range of motion are compromised when muscles are tight and your horse will lose power and coordination. It can mean a rail down, a loss of impulsion, a fade in the final stretch.....anything short of expected results due to the loss of total and free movement. The Jack Meagher Method was designed to restore that total and free movement and help the athlete be their
very best. This can mean the difference between an ok performance and a great one, no matter what your discipline.
Optimize Your Horse's Athleticism
Muscle tightening reduces natural athletic ability and talent by creating resistance. This resistance causes the horse to have to work harder to do what is asked of him which will not only take away endurance and stamina, it will cause unnecessary wear and tear on the body. The Meagher Method of Sportsmassage helps restore ease and freedom of movement by removing resistance (tight muscle) which will extend both good health and the overall athletic career of the horse.
Massage For All Levels
So what if you only compete occasionally or not at all? Or prefer to trail ride? or your horse is retired? Even these guys get tight and can benefit from Sportsmassage. Its not only the professional athletes that have tight/sore muscles, most of us do, simply because we are bodies in motion. Same with the horse. Whatever the cause, the horse still has to put one leg in front of the other and the easier and more efficiently they can do that the better.