Page 19 - Appaloosas Now October/November 2020

Massaging the external abdominal oblique muscles
good and can be painful. Have you ever had a very sore back or other sore muscles? So sore that they’re hard. How does that feel? How would it feel if you had to do physical work and carry someone around on your back?
Sometimes a massage is contra-indicated. The horse owner should be aware of this—a horse in shock, a horse with a fever, a horse with cancer, to name just a few. Always, if you have a horse with some health issue, consult your veterinarian first. The massage therapist should also ask questions about health status the first time she meets your horse.
You might ask, how do I choose an excellent equine massage therapist? There should be credentials, such
as Certified Equine Massage Therapist (CEMT) or Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist (CESMT). There are other titles. The title has to do with the type of school they attended. In my opinion, a competent equine massage therapist should have graduated from a “hands-on” school and not just an online school. There is no substitute for having an instructor right there to guide you. Paying attention to the amount of pressure applied, seeing that you are on the correct muscle, watching that you read a horse very well, pointing out issues with individuals. While there are some bodywork modalities that can be learned effectively through online coursework, I believe that equine massage is best understood when learned at a hands-on school.
I would also see if the therapist has a base of repeat business among their clientele. Ask around and see if
Massaging the longissimus dorsi muscle of the back
you know any other people who use the therapist you might have in mind. See if the therapist can give you references who you can contact. Check for a Facebook page or a website and get a flavor for the type of business and the clients they serve. I feel that an equine massage therapist should show up looking professional, be on time, and conduct themselves as a professional should, with the attitude that the horse before them is the most important thing.
I’ll end this first installment with this message. Always consider muscle and soft tissue issues with your horse;
it may be the best thing you’ll ever do for them. In the next issue of Appaloosas Now, I will write about another equine bodywork modality that will interest readers. ~ Laurel Statz. CVT, CEMT, CEMFRP, CEKTP
About the Author
I want to begin by introducing myself—Laurel
or Laurie (I come to both) Statz. I am an equine bodyworker based in southern Wisconsin. Certified in Equine Massage, Myofascial Release, and Kinesiology Taping, I continue to learn and add more tools to my toolbox.
I will be writing a series of articles about Equine Bodywork modalities for Appaloosas Now. The
first of these articles is about Equine Massage. I am reporting on what I see as just the facts and not about any particular company or massage therapy title.
Appaloosas Now - October/November 19