Equine Massage

bonniestetson — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:56:19 +0000

Recently I was reading a popular horse magazine and noticed an advertisement that piqued my curiosity. The advertisement offered certification for Equine Massage Therapy…in four days. Really? I visited the website to find that this four day intensive course will teach everything you need to know to be a successful equine massage therapist from the anatomy and physiology of the animal, all the variables that can affect the horses movement, how to assess the individual horse, develop your touch sensitivity for working on a non verbal being as well as plenty of hands on work on many different horses. Nowhere was it stated that there were any prerequisites for this course such as already being a massage therapist or a horseman. I am amazed by this claim.
Massage therapy for the equine requires the same basic type of knowledge and skills necessary for practicing on a human body. To become a Licensed Massage Therapist in the United States takes a minimum of one year of education and to become proficient takes a great deal of practice combined with continued advanced study and critique. Massage education consists of the study of anatomy, physiology and pathology, basic and advanced massage techniques, western and eastern modalities, consultation and note taking techniques, assessment skills, business skills and ethics. This is for working on a body that is the same as our own. In addition to this basic education there are additional qualities, knowledge and abilities a therapist needs to possess in order to give an effective equine massage. It is important if you are going to seek out massage therapy training that you know what you are looking for in a program and who to look for if you are seeking a practitioner.
Whereas working on people involves working with a body that is exactly like our own in structure, function and movement, working on a horse requires specialized knowledge. The structure and function of the human and equine body is similar biologically but the movement is different. Being oriented on four feet the horse’s movement is more interconnected and more complicated with three different basic gaits. Each gait involves a different sequence of footfall patterns and muscular coordination. The practitioner must understand and be able to see how the horse uses his body, neck, head, back and limbs in each gait with or without a rider to evaluate where there are restrictions. He must then be able to put that information together with reactions of the horse to palpation and answers to consultation questions from the rider and/or trainer regarding fitness and training level, injuries, understanding of conformational attributes and limitations and expectations of performance to assess the situation and design an individual treatment plan.
There are other variables to take into consideration for giving an effective equine massage session. How receptive is the horse to being handled and how do you handle one that is not receptive and acts out? Not all horses melt the minute a practitioner puts hands on, and horses are big, strong and unpredictable. There are certain sensibilities one develops in working with and handling horses that are needed to give a good body work session. Knowing instinctively when and how the horse will move and being able to move with him and settle him – this is a dance that is only learned through experience – lots of it. Knowing how to calmly correct acting out behavior such as kicking, nipping or pawing without upsetting the work you are doing is an essential skill.
Massage therapy is soft tissue manipulation using specific touch techniques to achieve a desired outcome in the functioning of the soft tissue and the body overall. Those techniques must be informed by a sense of touch that embodies a deep knowledge of and ability to adjust to the reactions of the body receiving. This is even more important when working with a horse where there is no possibility of verbal communication. That sense of touch informs the practitioner and communicates his intention which comes through in the form of energy and is the source of the effectiveness of the hands on techniques. How is the horse responding to the touch techniques being used? What is the intention behind those techniques and how can the work be adapted if it is not being received? In addition, a practitioner needs to know when it is advisable to refer to another professional for a different type of therapy – is a lack of response due to mental or behavioral resistance or is it the tissue itself that is unresponsive because there is an underlying issue that needs correction through chiropractic work or acupuncture, corrective shoeing, saddle fit or even surgery?
To be an effective equine massage therapist requires the knowledge and experience of a horseman combined with massage therapy education and practice. A four day course no matter how intensive can only be considered an introduction to this challenging and rewarding profession.

Horses and Humanity

bonniestetson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:05:23 +0000

I have always been fascinated by horses. That fascination grew and became stronger as I grew and had the opportunity to work with horses over a long period of time, pursuing knowledge about all aspects of their care and riding.

I think I have always been intrigued with why humans are drawn to horses. We seem to have a profound connection with these creatures that reaches back through tens of thousands of years and spans cultures worldwide. Horses have been central in our art and literature. They have helped us hunt our food, cultivate our fields, been a mode of transportation, carried us into war and cooperated with us in sport and entertainment.

I recently read an interesting article sent to me by a friend about the physiology of learning – “Organology and Physiology of Learning – Aspects of an Educational Theory of the Body” by Wolfgang Schad. The author postulates that ideas and learning have to come through the physical experience of the body in order to have practical and lasting application for the individual. Our learning and creativity are intricately linked to our physical experience and cannot occur only in our brains – essentially our minds are in our bodies. There is no better example of this than in working with and riding a horse. Since this activity requires total non verbal communication with another being the learning is coming completely through the experience of the body. The intellectual knowledge informs the physical activity but it must become embodied in order to be understood. In turn the physical experience informs the mind and contributes to further development of understanding. The physical act of working with and riding a horse is an intuitive process that engages our whole being. Engaging in long lasting non verbal communication with another animal to elicit cooperation is an invaluable experience in learning about oneself and the world.

The intuitive connection that riders have with their horses is an important connection between man and nature. In an increasingly technological world where working on computers and cell phones continues to decrease the physical activity we experience in our daily lives our link to horses helps us maintain a crucial connection to the learning of our bodies and to our humanity.

Welcome!

bonniestetson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:03:59 +0000

I’ve just begun. Check back soon for updates.

Bonnie Stetson

Equine Massage

Horses and Humanity

Welcome!