The Glutes - The powerhouse of your horse

Lovely Molly enjoying treatment to her Gluteal (butt) muscles with The Fascial Edge Tool ♥️

The tool allows me to work deeper into the muscles than I would be able to with my fingers and thumbs 🖐

Did you know your horse’s Gluteal muscles are up to 25cm deep 😵

Your horse has 3 Gluteal muscles:

🔺The superficial gluteal
🔺The middle gluteal
🔺The deep gluteal

The middle gluteal is the largest muscle of the horse, its main movement function is the extension of the hip joint, and it assists with elevation of the forequarters ⬆️

Tension in this muscle can often be caused by compensatory action due to injury or discomfort in one or both hind limbs (in the foot, fetlock or hock) or due to injury or discomfort in the Longissimus Dorsi (the long back muscle) ☹️

If the middle gluteal muscle is compromised it may feel as if your horse has lost power and lacks impulsion 🐌

If tension in the gluteal muscles is picked up early it can easily be resolved with Equine Massage Therapy ✅

If left untreated hypertonia may build up in the muscle (increased passive stiffness or tightness ) and scar tissue and inflammation may occur 👎🏻

Adjoining muscles with then begin to compensate leading to hypertonicity over the entire hindquarters ☹️

Equine Massage Therapy can not only help to detect tension in the gluteal muscles but also:

✅Improve local and hind limb blood flow
✅Release the contracted muscle spindles
✅Restore muscle length
✅Reduce pain
✅Encourage healing

If you think your horse could benefit from Equine Massage Therapy please do get in touch to find out more or to book an appointment 📲