Equine massage improves muscle tone and elongates connective tissue. This results in an expanded range of motion—longer strides, faster speeds and increased endurance, all of which enhance the athletic capability of a horse. Massage also helps to prevent muscle atrophy during long periods of inactivity resulting from illness.

By increasing the flow of nutrient-rich blood to muscles, massage helps to speed up the healing process after an injury, reduces recovery time after competition or strenuous exercise, and flushes out toxins as well as excess fluids that have accumulated in muscle tissues. Massage also stimulates the lymphatic system, which is essential for fighting disease.

Equine massage is also credited with improving learning and training, which may be due to increased blood flow to the brain as well as the mental relaxation induced by the massage