What to Expect During an Equine Hanna Somatics Session

An Equine Hanna Somatics session typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, although this may vary depending on your horse's individual needs and willingness to participate. Each session is tailored to your horse and progresses at a pace that feels comfortable for them.

Sessions can be carried out directly with your horse, or owners, riders, and handlers can learn the techniques themselves. Online Equine Hanna Somatics lessons are also available via Zoom. Hanna Somatics for riders is available as well.

For the best results, sessions should take place in a calm and quiet environment where your horse can relax and focus on the learning process.

Following the session, you will receive simple maintenance exercises tailored to your horse's needs and your daily routine to help support improved posture, mobility, comfort, and overall wellbeing.

Why Include Complementary Healthcare for Your Horse?

Complementary equine healthcare can play an important role in supporting your horse’s physical wellbeing, movement, and overall quality of life. By taking a proactive approach to horse health, it can help:

• Improve comfort, mobility, and posture

• Reduce muscle tension and dysfunctional movement patterns

• Support nervous system regulation and relaxation

• Encourage the body’s natural healing processes

• Strengthen the horse-human partnership

Modern domesticated horses experience physical and emotional stresses that can affect their wellbeing and performance. When stress and tension build up over time, horses may become more susceptible to discomfort, injury, and reduced functionality.

Gentle, holistic approaches such as Equine Hanna Somatics, Equine Massage, and Equine Acupressure help support horse wellbeing by promoting relaxation, improving body awareness, and encouraging healthy movement. These natural equine therapeutic methods can contribute to a more comfortable, willing, and balanced horse while helping owners maintain their horse's long-term health.

Just as human athletes benefit from regular bodywork to support performance and recovery, horses can also benefit from ongoing care that promotes comfort, flexibility, and musculoskeletal health.

Please Note: LS Equine Therapy is not a veterinary service and does not replace professional veterinary care. Only a qualified veterinarian can diagnose illness or injury.

Do I Need Veterinary Consent Before Booking?

If your horse is healthy and you are seeking treatment for maintenance, wellbeing, or preventative care, veterinary consent is generally not required. Current RCVS guidance states that musculoskeletal maintenance care for healthy animals, such as equine massage and similar therapies, can be provided without prior veterinary delegation, provided the horse is registered with a veterinarian.

As part of a collaborative approach to horse health and wellbeing, it is always beneficial to keep your veterinarian informed of any complementary equine therapies your horse receives. Where appropriate, I am happy to work alongside veterinarians and other equine professionals to support your horse's overall care.

However, if your horse is lame or showing any signs of illness, injury, or underlying pathology, a veterinarian must assess your horse before any equine bodywork or complementary therapy is carried out. This includes Equine Hanna Somatics, Equine Massage, Equine Acupressure, Equine Physiotherapy, Equine Chiropractic, and other equine musculoskeletal therapies.

Please note: LS Equine Therapy does not replace veterinary care, diagnosis, or treatment. Only a qualified veterinarian can diagnose illness or injury.

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