Strapping Your Horse

[Lancashire Lass]

Hi, can anyone point me in the right direction as to information on the correct technique to perform the above.

I know that it's a great way to build up muscle tone, improve the circulation and also a lovely relaxing massage for your horse at the same time!!

If anyone out there can tell me where I can find a good "How to Strap Your Horse" on-line, I can print it out.

Thanks in advance.

[Gracie]

I have never ever heard of that...
what is it excally?

[Lancashire Lass]

Hi Gracie,

Strapping is a form of massaging your horse in specific areas, that is the neck,just below the withers either side, the shoulder and the rump! It's done with a stuffed leather pad to increase circulation and muscle tone to these areas of the horse.

However, there is a certain technique to this as damage can be done if not carried out correctly. This is the reason I'm asking for information as I don't want to damage my horse. when done properly, it's an excellent way of grooming, the horse really enjoys this massaging technique and it's a good work out for yourself as well!! If you ever see it done you might be surprised at first as to the amount of pressure put behind the strokes, but believe me it's very enjoyable for the horse, althought onlookers may not think so!!

Hope the above is clear, if not, I'll try to explain it another way.

Jx

[Miriam]

Is this a form of TTTouch?

[Sharon H]

No, it's a very old-fashioned technique that grooms used to use after they had finished the actual 'grooming'. You can either use a leather pad or you can use a wisp made of twisted hay or straw. If done correctly it can be used to build up muscles (On both horse and groom!) but I think the practice fell out of favour because it is possible to hurt the horse if you get carried away and do it too hard. I think the muscle build up was due to the horses tensing themselves up against the banging down of the pad or wisp but in my opinion there are better ways to do it than that. If you do it gently enough so that you're not causing the horse to tense against the movement thaen you won't achieve anything in the way of muscle building. To be honest, I think you'll achieve what you want if you just groom your horse thoroughly and learn some massage techniques as well.

[Miriam]

I know what you mean now. However I cannot be any help as I have not found out how to do this myself. I did borrow a book from my friend which told you how to make a whisp.


Miriam

[angel]

i am giving away my age now but we did strapping at the atables and also at the racing stables i worked at. to do it you take a stable rubber(tea cloth) or wisp made of straw. only on the neck, quarters, and shoulders do you do it, not on any bone. you use the hand nearest the horse and bring it down on the muscle the horse flinces this contracts the muscle. (not sure i like it these days) i would rather do massage. which is more kind to nervous horses and you feel any probs. hope this as helped . before we did this part we used to use the body brush and sweep it down the neck ect clean it on curry comb , again and again to get a high gloss.