Question 1

What is bodywork and how is it different than chiropractic?

Accepted Answer

Bodywork is a general term for any therapeutic technique applied to the body.  Technically chiropractic is bodywork with a focus on the skeletal system.  I offer massage, myofascial and other techniques with a focus on the muscular and fascial systems and soft tissue structures in the body.  Where a chiropractor adjusts bones & joints to free restrictions, I use different techniques to release tension, soften and supple horses.

Question 2

My horse gets chiropractic.  Should I get massage before or after their chiro appointment?

Accepted Answer

There is a theory that massage helps horses adjust & hold their adjustment better.  That being said, I have also worked on horses that were adjusted recently/that day and found their massage session went much smoother and I was able to get better than usual releases.  Whether you choose chiro or massage first comes down to your personal preference and what works best for you and your horse.

Question 3

My horse doesn't have issues and isn't off.  Do they need bodywork?

Accepted Answer

I am a firm believer *all* horses can benefit from massage and bodywork.  Instead of waiting for problems to arise, maintenance massage helps prevent these problems and can assist in early detection of any developing issues.  While getting your horse worked on is a personal choice, I believe it is a great preventative tool for the equine athlete.

Question 4

My horse doesn't like to stand still and is very cranky about getting touched.  Will they like getting massaged?

Accepted Answer

While every horse is different, I have found most horses that are cranky about grooming/touch find themselves enjoying their bodywork sessions.  I believe that usually this is a pain shut down response that causes horses to guard.  I adjust the pace, pressure and technique to find what suits them.  My goal is to stay below their threshold and help them learn to trust touch again.  It may take a few sessions to peel through their guarded layers, but most of the time, they develop enjoyment with touch.

Question 5

I'm working with my vet on healing an injury.  How can massage help, and is it safe during injury recovery?

Accepted Answer

As long as massage and bodywork have been cleared by your vet, then yes - they are a wonderful addition to your horse's rehab program and have been proven to speed up healing.  Massage strokes increase circulation, rid lactic acid and push waste through muscles, which is especially important for horses on stall rest.  Massage increases pain relieving endorphins in the brain and promotes relaxation.  Mobilizing techniques help break up adhesions and forming scar tissue which helps reduce stiffness when coming back into work.

Question 6

How can you tell if my horse is tight in an area or has pain?

Accepted Answer

There are certain things I search for and assess when working on horses that help me piece together what is going on in their soft tissue.

TEXTURE - is the muscle adhesive and stuck together? Is the tissue fibrotic/scar tissue? Are there any trigger points - how large and do they cause spasming? How does the muscle move? How does the fascia move? Is it stuck, compressed, moving one way but stuck the other? Stuck all directions?  What grade of severity are these texture imbalances? Is there any swelling or edema?  Muscle texture can feel ropy, crunchy, puffy, braced, etc.

TONE - is the muscle hypertonic or hypotonic?  Any atrophy?  Muscle tone can present as tight, weak, atrophied, flaccid, etc.

TENDERNESS - Is there any wincing or pulling away? Does the horse swish it's tail? In extreme cases, do they bite or kick?  What is the horse's pain at the area on a pain scale?

TEMPERATURE - is there any heat in the area, indicating inflammation?  Is the area cool to the touch, indicating lack of blood flow?

MOVEMENT & GAIT - is the horse moving freely and evenly? Tracking up? Does their topline move freely? Are they engaging all areas of their body evenly? Is there any hip hitch, head bob, etc.?

POSTURE - how is the horse's posture when standing at rest?  Is the horse parked out or camped under?  Uphill/downhill? Also, how are they mentally at rest?  Any tension?

Palpation and assessment NEVER offer diagnosis to the horse, but rather provides insight to what is going on with their soft tissue structures.

Question 7

How do you know what modalities and pressure amount to use?

Accepted Answer

I adjust technique based on feedback from the horse and their body.  As I work on them, I get a feel for if they need more fascial work, deep tissue work, 'flowy' work, etc.  For example, if a horse is experiencing high levels of discomfort and their whole body is braced I use more myofascial release.  The sustained pressure helps reduce pain and lengthen connective tissue while not overstimulating them.  If a horse is very 'stuck' in an area, I utilize deep tissue to break up the adhesions.  This can be uncomfortable, so I try to ease my way in.  Some horses have a strong aversion to touch, so I use IASTM quite a bit more to work them without 'touching' them.  It really is just dependent on how the horse's body feels and how they respond.

Question 8

Does my horse need time off after their bodywork session?

Accepted Answer

Unless I'm performing pre-show massage I like all horses to have the remainder of the day off.  Normal work can resume the next day.  Occasionally, for horses in high levels of discomfort, I ask they have extended time off and the amount depends on the horse and when their next session is.

Question 9

How often does my horse need a massage?

Accepted Answer

I am an advocate of consistent massage as they help prevent injury and can provide early detection of issues.  I use the following structure for follow up massage recommendations:

Extreme level of work: every 2-3 weeks
High level of work: 4 weeks
Moderate level of work: 4-6 weeks
Lower levels of work or more leisurely work: 6-8 weeks

Other factors can influence frequency - is the horse a senior or young horse?  Are they trail riding or endurance riding?  Jumping or pleasure work?  We often find a horse's 'sweet spot' for time between sessions.

I prefer horses don't go past 8 weeks for their sessions because I notice little to no progress between sessions - it feels more like starting over each time.  I understand budget constraints and am happy to work with whatever frequency of sessions you can afford.  I will never turn anyone away who can't keep their horse on a consistent schedule.

Question 10

What is causing my horse's soreness? Is riding causing it?

Accepted Answer

Muscle soreness is a SYMPTOM and there is always a reason for sore muscles.  The reasons can be as simple as increasing your horse's fitness routine causing soreness or your horse slipping in the field while playing and pulling a muscle.

Unfortunately, riding can play a role in muscle soreness.  Horses were not designed to carry a rider on their back, so without proper core strength that alone can cause soreness.  Unbalanced riders and/or overworking horses only exacerbate the issue.  Luckily, this can be offset with increasing core strength and balanced riding.

I've found that riding induced soreness, unless directly related to lack of strength, is nearly always secondary to a larger underlying issue. When there isn't a deeper issue going on (ex. kissing spine/ EPM/ arthritis) the most common culprits are:
~ poor saddle fit/ placement
~ tie downs and martingales causing bracing
~ riding behind the vertical
~ unbalanced rider
~ over training and lack of cross training
~ not enough warm up/ cool down
~ lifestyle - not enough turnout, too much confinement

Without finding the cause and remedying it, soreness will always be present.

Question 11

Can you tell me if my horse has kissing spine?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not - kissing spine should ALWAYS be properly diagnosed by a vet.  Saying a horse has kissing spine is not only working outside of my scope but is dangerous if there is another issue present that now isn't being investigated by the vet.

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Frequently asked questions

What is bodywork and how is it different than chiropractic?

My horse gets chiropractic. Should I get massage before or after their chiro appointment?

My horse doesn't have issues and isn't off. Do they need bodywork?

My horse doesn't like to stand still and is very cranky about getting touched. Will they like getting massaged?

I'm working with my vet on healing an injury. How can massage help, and is it safe during injury recovery?