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There are many names for the work that I do. It is
called equine bodywork, deep pressure massage, equine
sports massage, therapeutic bodywork, or deep muscle
therapy. The style of bodywork that I perform is not a
soft massage; it is a deep tissue sports massage. I am
working to
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break up adhesions in the muscles,
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relieve pain,
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bring suppleness and circulation to the whole body,
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balance and bring flexibility to the skeleton,
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provide an assessment of your horse’s current condition.
I believe in a holistic approach and combine the
elements of bodywork, gait analysis, trigger point
therapies, acupressure and my intuitive abilities to
best help your horse. In every session I work on the
horse’s head, poll and neck, withers, shoulders,
forelegs (including tendons, ligaments and joints),
back, ribs, lumbar spine, pelvis and hind end, hocks,
hind legs and the tail. It’s a tip to tail session and
the horses respond very well to it.
I am certified as an Equine Body Worker (EBW), the
certification given by Equinology, Inc., a top rated
school for Equine bodywork and anatomy studies.
Every session that I do includes follow-up instructions
and stretching assignments for the owner to do in my
absence. This is the way to give the horse the most
benefit in between sessions.
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Benefits of Massage
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Balances and aligns the horse's body
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Assists the trainer and rider by removing pain related
behaviors
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Relaxes tense muscles and tense horses
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Increases range of motion in the shoulders and legs,
resulting in greater reach and willingness to stride
forward
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Provides a full hands on assessment of your horse's body
and legs, addressing issues before they result in
possible injuries
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It stimulates the lympathic and immune systems
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Restores vitality to tired, aching bodies
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Breaks down muscle adhesions, brings smoothness and
suppleness back to aching muscles
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Assesses saddle fit issues
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Improves disposition and performance
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Stimulates
blood and circulation
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Reduces tactile defensiveness
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IT FEELS GOOD!
“After you
adjusted her, the flexibility in her neck was amazing!”
Kat Herzog, trainer, Portland & Clatskanie, OR
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How do I know if my horse will benefit?
Is your horse demonstrating any of the following
behaviors or issues?
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Pinning ears when you saddle or tighten the cinch?
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Shortened stride?
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Restricted gait?
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Tripping? Limping?
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Not taking a lead or cross firing at the canter?
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Kicking out at the canter transition?
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Stiff to warm up?
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Cold backed?
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Performance inconsistent in workouts?
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Performance getting worse?
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Neck stiff to one side more than the other?
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Resistant to flexing?
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Resistant to lateral work?
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Pain from an old injury?
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Head tossing?
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Avoiding coming on to the bit?
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Difficulty bending one way more than the other?
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Loss of power or balance?
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Cranky while working?
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Possible injury that the vet cannot solve with standard
procedures?
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Miriah at Ft Bragg, California – Ricochet Ridge
Ranch |
Good bodywork benefits any horse, regardless of your
sport. My clients’ disciplines include dressage,
hunter/jumpers, eventing, roping & barrel racing,
cutting, 4-H competitors, trail riding, pleasure, show
horses, gaited horses, endurance riding, retired and
rehabilitating horses, and beloved pets.
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How long is a session?
A typical session lasts about an hour. When there
are deeper problems, the session lasts longer. The
first session, which always includes a saddle fit
assessment after the bodywork, lasts approximately an
hour and fifteen minutes.
"Solace has
been 90 percent better since you've done her.
It has
lasted months!"
Kathleen Miller, Beaverton, OR
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Why do I believe in this work?
I have seen hundreds of horses helped with just one
session. I am able to discover pain that the horse
has been living with for perhaps a very long time.
When I can bring relief to their pain, the horse’s
response is amazing. They breathe deeply, sigh,
blow their nose, touch me with their head or muzzle in
gratitude, yawn and stretch, crack their own necks, and
many other amazing signs of pain relief. Whoever
is witnessing this feels the depth of the horse’s
response – their reactions are very easy to read.
At the end of every session, I have a strong, positive
feeling that I have just delivered some great medicine.
I am grateful to every owner who asks for help for their
horse. And the horses truly express their
gratitude. I believe in it because the horses tell
me that it’s working for them.
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How is it different than
chiropractic adjustments?
When a veterinary chiropractor works on a horse, they
are concentrating on adjusting the skeleton, mostly in
the neck and pelvis. They don’t typically add
massage or saddle fit assessment to their session.
Their work will not be looking for muscle related pain
in the horse.
Massage works very well to supple the muscles which are
holding the bones in (or out of) proper alignment.
The adjustment lasts longer because the muscle issues
are addressed, and I believe very strongly (having a
skeleton myself) that many chiropractic issues can be
solved by good bodywork. I go to a very talented
licensed massage therapist for my own health, and my
body no longer needs to be adjusted by a chiropractor.
(Rick
McDaniel, LMT
located in
Oregon City, OR – I highly recommend his work. His
website is
http://www.soulfulmassagetherapy.com).
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"Thank
you sooo much for the massage.
I rode
Abu last night and he felt so much looser.
He fell
into collection much easier than normal."
Jewel Parisi, Canby, OR
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Jewel and Abu
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