Equine Massage Questions
There was a post yesterday about equine massage colleges, and I was curious about how many of you guys got your horses massages. I'm thinking of attending one of these schools and am curious about the market. So-- if you guys could take a moment and kindly answer the following questions it would be greatly appreciated. (even if you don't like
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I've had one done, and have followed up on it myself under instruction from the massage person.
2. If not would you ever consider this form of treatment?
I certainly think it can help some things: we weren't doing it to treat an injury, but I'd look at it for soft tissue stuff, and minimising scarring following surgery (once healed).
3. Was it in response to an injury, training goal, arthritis, or some other reason?(read: why?)
She was getting quite one-sided, and I thought that she was capable of more flexibility, given her conformation. She'd put in a couple of unusualy resistances to things I was asking of her (read: a rear), so we were investigating...
4. What credentials did you look for in the person giving the massage?
Well, I was lucky - our yard is affiliated with one. She's really highly trained, with lots of experience. What really swung it for me, though, was that she knew the horse already - she'd never massaged her, but knows her personality and way of going etc.
5. How much did the massage run ($) and how long was it?
£25 ($50) for an hour and a half, which overran in the end: she did her whole body, all the stretches, worked on a couple of areas for longer, and started showing me how to replicate what she'd done.
6. Did you like the results? would you do this again/ on a regular basis.
Oh yes. Since the first massage, I've been following up on what was done, under supervision and then alone: our masseuse has also been through the yard a few times, and checked up on her. We haven't had a full session again since, but are scheduling one soon.
During the massage, Polly visibly relaxed, as you'd expect, and she's been softer through her stiffer side since. I also noticed a difference when I'm riding her, if she's been massaged before I get on. As it happens, there wasn't much wrong with her - just a couple of tense areas, rather than anything active to work on, but with attention to those areas, they're improving too. Overall, she's a happier horse!
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