Beginning in the early 1990s, it has been a growing field of equine therapy, used for both day-to-day riding and post-trauma rehabilitation.
Proponents list a number of positive effects, including the improvement of movement and the reduction of pain and stress responses.
During the massage, the soft tissue is manipulated with the goal of loosening tight muscles, joints, tendons, scar tissue, and edema; increasing blood flow and lymphatic activity; and reducing stress.
Proponents say that equine massage improves movement and reduces pain and stress responses.
[3] Many schools offer certification programs in the areas of animal and companion massage.