Lately, the headlines have been awash with story after story, attack after attack, about the moral ethics of medicating the thoroughbred racehorse. We have owners and trainers, race officials, and vets across the board on this controversial topic. Is it really necessary to medicate a racehorse and, if so, why? Does the fact that you are athletes predispose you to chronic pain, be it body aches, leg aches, hoof problems, respiratory problems? Is it cruel to medicate them? Wouldn’t it be even more cruel to medicate them? Is it an ongoing debate?

What’s not debatable or controversial in any way is the old-school, time-tested, daily care of the racehorse, practice, actual leg rubbing, vigorous grooming to aid circulation, good nutrition , sensitive training and, most recently, the new kid on the block, equine massage. Increasingly stable people rely on equine massage to help maintain the sound of the thoroughbred racehorse. And guess what, it’s not just good for the horse, it’s good for business. It’s legal, humane, and it’s gaining popularity.

“That’s because it’s a win-win!” says Bev Brady of Equine Massage & Rehab. “It relieves pain and muscle spasms, allowing the horse to work and run much better. If they hurt anywhere on the body, they won’t give 100% during the run. Once the pain and pain are gone, They can do it and most of the time they do. I’ve had horses that had never won before the massage, finally going to the Winners Circle! “

George S. Bush, Coach Says: “Bev has helped me win many races at Turfway Park and River Downs. After each adjustment made by Dr. Mark Haverkos, I had Bev come in and massage the horses to maintain the fit for longer. affective than my percentage of money was 75%! “

Given his reputation for being very nervous, I asked him how the racehorse behaved during the massage.

Like most horses, during the first half of their first massage they may worry about what is going to happen, but most of the time afterwards they relax and enjoy themselves. A lot of horses, once they realize how good it feels, will whinny at me when they see me come work on them. “

After the massage, how soon can you exercise or run?

“I like to do at least 3 massages in 7-9 days on a horse that is in pain. Usually that is needed to alleviate all the pain, which is what you want. Usually I ask that the horse is not ridden between the first and the second massage. And if that is not possible, at least give them the days after the massage to allow the treatment to help relax the muscles. “

Does massage affect a horse’s appetite?

“I have had horses that have increased after massage therapy. Like us, if they are very sore, they do not want to eat.”

Does massage work best before or after a thoroughbred race?

“I like that the horses are massaged at least twice before a race, give another massage after the race to alleviate any pain it may have caused, and keep them on a maintenance plan of about twice a month.”

Given Bev Brady’s hands-on experience with thoroughbred racehorses, I asked her about her feelings about medications and thoroughbred racehorses.

“There are medications that are required for the race and I have no control over them. I feel like it is the vet and the trainer who should decide. My hope is that with the massage, any medication they may need for the pain can be cut back or completely removed. “