TUTORIAL - How to massage your horse's neck? ❤️

Summer or winter, taking care of your horse is essential — for their everyday comfort and wellbeing at work. Élodie, equine massage therapist and founder of Alodis Care, shares all her tips for massaging one of the most worked areas of your horse's body: the neck ✨

The neck is made up of several parts, each equally important. Like us, horses can experience tension caused by stress, a wrong movement, fatigue or muscle soreness. Some horses also tend to be naturally "stiff". Massage helps to warm up the muscle before exercise, relieve pain, or aid recovery after intense effort ❤️

Start by reaching for a massage oil — like the Work Récup featured here, designed to reduce cramps and muscle fatigue while also soothing potential tension. This oil provides genuine benefits for muscles and joints. It's 100% natural and non-doping, making it perfectly safe for competition use ✅

You can use it on the neck, the back, the hindquarters, and also the cervical area. The key is to target the areas that are most mobilised in your horse's daily routine or that are naturally sensitive 🥰

If you'd like to invest in a complete pack that covers a wide range of massage needs, Élodie has thought of you too! This handy trio includes an oil designed to support digestive comfort, the Fresh Oil which improves blood circulation and acts as a true drainer, as well as the Work Récup we just introduced ✨

The steps to a perfect massage ✅

To begin, shake the bottle of your chosen massage oil well, then apply a small amount into the palm of your hand and rub it gently to warm it up. You can then start the massage at the cervical area and work your way down to the shoulder. The goal is to gently warm the muscle using large circular movements, always following the direction of the coat, the blood flow and the lymphatic system 🙈

Once the muscle is warmed up, you can work deeper by making smaller, targeted circles on specific areas, focusing on any tension points without pressing too hard. This allows the product to penetrate the muscle effectively. The crest of the neck is where the mane is rooted — you can help release it by gently rubbing along it 🥰

Don't forget the brachiocephalic muscle — heavily used and closely connected to the shoulder. It feels much like the trapezius in humans: highly sensitive. You can gently vibrate it between your thumb and the rest of your hand to release it softly. Once you've worked deep into the neck muscle and fully relaxed the brachiocephalic, you can move your focus to the shoulder, following the bone with your hands from top to bottom 🔥

The last and most important step: closing the muscle. This is a crucial step you should never skip at the end of a massage. To do this, make large circular movements again, always following the direction of blood flow. For an optimal massage, allow between 10 and 15 minutes 🤩

The key is to feel where tension may lie and to become an active participant in your horse's wellbeing by truly understanding them. Massage allows us to improve our performance or adapt our sessions from one day to the next based on the physical condition we've felt. To finish, you can apply a clay poultice to continue the benefits over time and bring even deeper relaxation 🌿

We can't wait to see your little massage session videos with your beloved horses! 😍