Can I work my horse after a bodywork session?
Most bodyworkers will recommend a break from work following a bodywork session, but this does not mean the horse should be kept in a stall.
A gentle walk after a bodywork session is usually beneficial.
While different bodyworkers have different views on this topic, most of them will tell you to not work your horse directly after a bodywork session. Some might even suggest a few days off work, especially if there was a lot of work done in the session. And while a break is definitely recommended, this does not mean the horse should be kept in a stall.
During and after a bodywork session, a lot goes on in the horse's body. By releasing the soft tissues, especially the fascia, we are giving the nervous system a whole lot to process. By changing the balance between tension and relaxation in the tissues, we are providing new stimuli to the nerve endings, which affects the horse's posture and overall feel of his body. This reorganisation does not end when the bodywork session ends, as the body needs time to process everything that just happened. Depending on the horse and the work that was done, the reorgansisation can take a few hours or a few days.
There is a lot happening in the horse's body during a bodywork session.
During this time, the horse might seem a little »off«. Sometimes they can be a bit stiff for a day or two, or they can be a bit unsure about how and where they are placing their legs. This is particularly the case with horses that have had long standing issues and are now feeling their bodies in a completely different ways. For the bodywork to have its full effect, the horse needs to actively feel the changes in his body and movement. If we lock them in a stall for 24 hours after a bodywork session, the horse is deprived of feeling just how different movement now feels. By the time we take him out of the stall again, the nervous system has gone back to its »default settings« and some of the positive changes of the session are lost. If, on the other hand we work him too soon after a session, the horse needs to focus on the task at hand and doesn't have the opportunity to really feel the changes in his body.
Some gentle proprioceptive work might be recommended, depending on the horse's issues.
The best way to help our horses make the most of the bodywork session is to provide free movement. Directly after a session, I like to recommend a short walk, 5-10 minutes, just to get the horse thinking about the new sensations in his body. After that, free access to turnout is the best option (if the horse is used to it). Depending on the issues, some gentle work in the form of proprioceptive exercises or hand walking might be recommended in the following days. Usually, the horse can return to work after a day or two, although sometimes I will recommend that the work is kept light for another week. Every bodyworker usually has his or her own set of instructions on what to do in the days following the session and they usually have a good reason for it. By following the instructions given, you are making sure your horse gets the most out of the session.