Introducing Pennie Hooper
Equine sports massage therapy
It’s in the difficult grey area - between soundness and lameness - that Pennie Hooper, an equine sports massage therapist with 20 years experience, can make all the difference. Pennie, author of ‘Sports Massage for Horses’ (published by Kenilworth Press, 2005), trained in the U.S. with Jack Meagher, the father of equine sports massage. Her approach is based on a thorough knowledge of equine and rider bio - mechanics combined with an incredibly intuitive understanding of a horse's movement - making her an excellent diagnostician.
Race yards and owners of dressage and event horses prize Pennie’s ability to improve performance, increase mobility and range of motion and free up the horse's poll, neck, shoulders and back. Results from treatment include a happier and more supple horse, with improved engagement and more elastic paces. This can often mean the difference between first and last place. While she is based in London and predominantly treats horses in the Home Counties and south east of England, Pennie’s specialist services are in demand at stables across the UK and around the world.
Using simple massage techniques – namely compressions and cross-fibre friction – Pennie explains how to give your horse a sports massage and how to recognise problems through observing your horse on the move. Clear diagrams and photos show where and how to apply the massage techniques to aid specific problems.