I developed Equine Sports Massage (ESM) in 1993. My life experiences in the horse industry and in the world of human holistic health enable me to bring unique perspectives to my Equine Bodywork and my ESM classes. Click here to read my resume.
My high quality educational programs have been well received by horsemen from all around the world.
The intent of these programs is to empower students with relevant information and skills that make them better horsemen and give them a competitive edge in many aspects of the equine industry.
Over the years, I have shared my knowledge with thousands of horse people. The students that attend my programs arrive with different levels of equine experience and are representative of all aspects of the equine industry and equine disciplines.
My student list includes professional trainers, professional riders, professional grooms, veterinarians and future veterinarians, vet techs, farriers, human massage therapists and of course, amateur horse owners.
Most students successfully incorporate ESM information and skills into their personal equine lifestyle.
Many students learn the information and skills and go forward to build successful businesses offering equine massage therapy services. (Some has even started their own Equine Massage Certification Programs! But remember, a photocopy of an original does not have the same clarity…)
All of our students are united by their love and respect for the horse and their desire to help every horse reach it’s maximum potential.
Here are a few words of wisdom that I share with my students:
- Horses are luxury items.
- The Horse Business in one of the toughest and most unforgiving businesses IN THE WORLD.
- You are the General Contractor for your horse. At the end of the day, you and your horse must live (or die) with the decisions that you have made.
- It is unrealistic to expect performance from a horse that is in pain.
- Horses do things for a reason.
- If you are going to have horses in your life, the more real knowledge that you have, the better your experiences will be.
Equine Sports Massage is a tool for Equine Professionals as well as for Horse Owners.. Equine Sports Massage can be used for:
- Communication
- Evaluation
- Problem Solving & Prevention
Communication
Your Hands communicate the intention in your heart and mind. Any touch delivered with good intention promotes wellness.
Benefits of Touch Therapy
- Builds Trust and Confidence
- Strengthens the Human-Equine Bond
- Touch Therapy is an effective way to modify equine behaviors such as:
- Lack of Trust
- Fearful, Nervous (Both natural fear and fear from previous abuse)
- Anger
- Depression
Evaluation
Educated hands can evaluate muscle tissue. Healthy muscles feel firm and pliable. Educated hands can identify tight muscles and problem areas. Educated hands can identify the horse’s level of fitness:
Couch Potato with zero training
Lower Level of training
“Buff” and ready for competition
Overworked, stressed and problems are on the way…
Educated hands and minds will know how to resolve any muscular issues that are identified through the use of massage, proper equipment and proper training. Hopefully the issues are addressed before they become “real” problems.
Most lameness problems start with the muscular system. Left unattended, these problems make their way into the tendons, ligaments, joints and hooves. An ounce of prevention can save your horse from requiring expensive joint injections, shock wave therapy and “corrective” shoeing.
Eliminate some of the Guess Work – If you have muscle palpation skills, you can perform a baseline assessment of your horse’s fitness level. Then you can monitor how well or not, your horse is responding to his training program and equipment.
Don’t buy someone else’s problem! – If you are planning to purchase a new horse, wouldn’t you like to be able to assess the health of the horse’s muscular system? Remember, tight muscles are injuries waiting to happen! If you buy and sell horses for a living, this skill is PRICELESS!
Problem Solving and Problem Prevention
In my Equine Performance Consultation practice, I often see unrealistic parameters places on the horse by owners and trainers, who have good intentions, but who are loaded with misinformation.
All too often I am called in to deal with horses that are labeled “lazy”, “stupid” or “crazy”. What I find is that the horse has muscular issues that have not been identified. Most of the time these problems come from ill-fitting equipment and unrealistic training programs.
Horses are a labor intensive, expensive investment. Incorporating Equine Sports Massage techniques into your equine management program will save you time and money and help you get the best performance, the most enjoyment and the longest career from your horse!