The work doesn’t end when the session does. What happens in the hours and days after a bodywork session plays just as big a role in the outcome as the session itself. Here’s how to support your horse through it, and how to think about riding around an appointment.
Right after the session: let the body move
The best thing you can do for your horse immediately after their session is give them room to move. A simple 10-minute hand-walk with turnout is always my recommendation. It’s not just a formality, it gives your horse’s body the chance to actually feel what’s shifted. Tension doesn’t just disappear the moment it’s released. Movement helps it settle into something new.
If your horse needs to be ridden
Life doesn’t always allow for a full day off, and that’s okay. If your horse does need to work, keep it as easy as possible. Asking too much too soon can undo some of what the session accomplished, tension has a way of creeping back in when a horse is pushed before they’re ready.
Most horses do well with just one easy day before returning to normal work. But every horse is different, and if yours still seems uncomfortable after that, it’s a sign they need a bit more time, not a bit more pushing.
When a day off truly isn’t possible
If your schedule genuinely doesn’t allow for rest afterward, my preference is to flip the order: ride before the session rather than after. This does come with a requirement, your horse needs to be fully cooled off, dry, and relaxed before we begin. Muscles that are still warm or active don’t release tension nearly as easily as muscles that are settled and cold. Rushing straight from a ride into a session works against the very thing we’re trying to accomplish.
Planning around competitions and shows
If you have a competition, race, or show on the calendar, tell me before we schedule a full bodywork session. I like to build in a couple of days between the session and any major event, giving your horse’s body time to fully feel and integrate the changes rather than heading straight into performance mode.
The bottom line
Bodywork creates an opening. What you do in the hours after determines how much your horse’s body gets to use it. A little patience, a short walk, and some awareness around timing go a long way toward making sure the benefits actually stick.