Sam Ski Area Management - Index

Sam Ski Area Management - stable_management - Index

hack winner getting a little muscle
sore for various reasons” to “a hunter
that might hang one leg a little lower.
The therapist can do stretches or massage
to help this horse fold his legs
tighter over the jump. When a sore
muscle becomes weak, the horse
compensates by using other muscles
to get the job done. Next thing you
know, the whole body becomes sore.”
Shutting out excess “noise” and
really listening to your horse is the
key, she says. “Horses are like people;
every living being has its own level of
discomfort. A good therapist will
work slowly and gradually to reach
muscles that lie deeper, all the while
learning to read the horse and know
when to back off or continue working
at that same level.”
Dr. May adds, “If the horse can’t
work through the full range of
motion, you can’t expect him to do
more on show day.” Good training
builds on blocks, he says: “Exercising
in the proper way eventually gets
the job done.” For Dr. May, that
means a horse holds the proper frame
without spasms or muscle soreness.
May, a busy practitioner of both
Western and Eastern medicine, also
incorporates chiropractic and
acupuncture into his practice, and
wholly endorses massage therapy for
painful spasms or sore muscles.
Although he doesn’t do it himself, he
refers to massage therapists he
respects and finds massage beneficial
in effectively “loosening up” a horse
so its muscles may develop correctly
during work.
UNDERSTANDING
THE PROCESS
“When I underwent chiropractic
training, I had to learn functional
anatomy versus surgical anatomy,”
says Henneman. In other words, she
had to learn how animals really move
to do her job.
Now when she performs chiropractic
treatments on a horse, she
incorporates massage and soft tissue
work; she doesn’t advertise as a “massage
therapist” per se, since her
emphasis remains chiropractic. “I
work on the knots,” she says. “It just
makes the horses feel better when
endorphins are released.” At the very
least, massage promotes improved
circulation, makes the horse more
supple and thus improves performance.
Any downsides to massage? “For
the most part, if you have a bad massage
therapist, nothing is really
accomplished,” she says. “Maybe the
horse feels like he has had a longer
grooming session, but knots aren't
really worked out and no lasting suppleness
is achieved. Worst case:
someone too zealous or who doesn't
have good ‘feel’ could cause some
real muscle damage and make the
horse sore.”
Be aware of types of massages
and timing, she advises. Deep tissue
massages that are relaxing are probably
not appropriate right before competition
unless the horse has already
had deep massages at home (and the
body knows how to rebalance
quickly). Energetic, stimulatory massages
might be better for the horse
about to enter the show ring or when
done the night before cross-country.
Dr. Kimberly Henneman is a believer
in the benefits of massage therapy.
As a trainer, you’re usually thrust
into the role of the horse’s caregiver,
and massage can help if you use it
wisely. “It’s difficult to wear so many
hats,” Lopardo knows, but by consulting
with vets and other professionals
such as massage therapists, you can
prevent minor problems from becoming
unmanageable later—when they
cause more pain and cost more. [sm]
A Question of Qualification
So how do you determine if an equine massage therapist is properly educated
and qualified? “This business tends to attract fairly ethical people to
begin with,” says Dr. Henneman. Still, no national organization of accredited
equine massage therapists exists in this country.
A number of equine practitioners also work on humans, and yes, the
“people massage” industry is regulated by states and varies by city or
county, while the equine practice generally is not. Some states are now
regulating massage therapists who choose to work on animals, and they
specify a minimum number of training hours for competency. Contact your
state with questions.
Even so, most equine massage therapists have undergone “some kind of
state or other association-approved training specifically for animals,” says
Dr. Henneman. And some human schools add elective animal courses. “If
the person took a weekend course, it’s doubtful they’re qualified,” she
warns. As a consumer, you should learn where your therapist received
training and ideally, the number of hours completed in anatomy, physiology,
biomechanics and animal behavior. Just beware of do-it-yourselfers. Seek a
recommendation from your veterinarian or other barns in your area.
“Basic horsemanship knowledge is good to have in addition to massage
knowledge,” Dr. Henneman says. Known for producing quality graduates
are Darcy Lane School of Equine Massage, Equissage and EquiTouch. Are
you near a veterinary teaching hospital? Inquire whether alternative medicine
is part of the curriculum; take the horse to the clinic or ask whether
graduates practice in your area. —SS
31 / October 2008