6 Reasons to use Kinesiology Tape on your Horse

Kinesiology tape is gaining popularity in both the human and equine world.  As more people are becoming exposed to it, horse owners are beginning to wonder if this tape can help their horse. One of the more common questions I am asked from a horse owner is "Why would I want to tape my horse?". 

My answer is that there are MANY reasons why you would want to use kinesiology tape on your horse.  I have listed some of those answers below

​Decrease Pain - Most horses experience some form of pain on a regular basis. This could either be due to an injury, sore muscles from training and exercise, sore back due to an ill fitting saddle, unbalanced rider or just from being ridden a lot. There are many other factors that can cause pain in your horse. Kinesiology tape can help decrease your horse's pain sensation while also improving blood flow to the area, allowing the area to heal quicker and mobilize lactic acid and other metabolic waste that is contributing to the pain sensation. Stabilize Weak Areas - A horse that has ever suffered from a soft tissue injury (ligament, muscle, etc), likely suffers from some degree of instability due to it. Kinesiology tape can provide your horse with the additional support needed to prevent any further damage without reducing normal range of motion. Decrease Swelling - Kinesiology tape can help mobilize fluid and decrease swelling due to injury, allergic reactions, stocking up, etc. ​ Increase Proprioception - Proprioception is the body's perception of where it's parts are. For example, a horse should know where all of it's hoofs are landing during exercise without having to look at them. Many horses who have suffered from injury or neurological disorders can benefit from kinesiology tape because it helps improve their body's proprioception by stimulating the proprioceptive nerves during movement. The better your horse's proprioception is working, the less chance he or she has of injuring themselves! Improve Energy Meridian Flow - Applying kinesiology tape along specific meridians can help improve energy flow along them.  Stagnant energy in a meridian can lead to health issues, behavioral problems and more. Kinesiology tape is a safe and easy way to improve your horse's energy flow. Speed Up Healing - Kinesiology tape helps to mobilize fluids (removes the inflammation and brings in oxygenated blood) to help speed up healing time.  Post surgical tapings can be used to decrease inflammation following a surgery and also decrease scar tissue formation after sutures and staples are removed.

Although there are numerous benefits for your horse when using kinesiology tape, it is crucial to undergo adequate training before applying the tape. It is essential to learn the specific techniques for cutting and applying the tape correctly to achieve the desired results. Additionally, there are instances where improper use of kinesiology tape can exacerbate a situation, so it is vital to be aware of these risks before taping your horse. Make sure to undergo proper training or consult with a qualified practitioner for guidance.

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We offer a certification course for professionals, a non-certification course for horse owners and an advanced taping course for those who are already certified in kinesiology taping!

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