I have often talked about the importance of getting your horse bodywork throughout the year for a variety of reasons. The reasons change a bit depending on the season. Spring and summer, the focus is about keeping them limber and comfortable as they move into more regular work and performance, fall and winter are more focused on keeping their body fluids moving and maintaining good muscle tone.
Let’s take a look at fall and winter. As the weather changes, the days become shorter and the ground becomes more slick due to rain and snow and our horses tend to move around less. This affects every part of their body.
I will start with their feet. Every step they take helps to pump the lymph system and fluids through their body. The hoof has this amazing quality of expanding and contracting with each step. The less they move, the less this happens. This is why so many horses end up “stocking up” when in stall rest or, for some, even simply with overnight rest.
So, with the lymph system not moving as fully, their immune system can be compromised and with less movement their muscles deteriorate to some extent. This has a domino effect on the body and suddenly you can find yourself with a whole host of issues which can be so frustrating.
I would like to also mention the hard keepers. Regular bodywork helps them regulate their body which helps them stay warmer, keeps their muscles more full and supple which helps maintain their weight better through the winter months.
These are just a few of the benefits of bodywork throughout the fall and winter months. By maintaining muscle tone and a healthy immune system your horse will move into the spring and summer months with more ease and readiness for the activities ahead.
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