Everything Horse magazine Everything Horse Magazine, December 2015 | Page 44

HORSE HEALTH AND THERAPIST FOCUS Barbara Dreyer Equine Massage Therapist By now, equine massage therapy is far from a new concept of treatment available to the equine. The name can umbrella a variety of processes which together, form the treatment programme offered after the initial consultation with your chosen therapist. Here, Cheshire based equine massage therapist, Barbara Dreyer, gives us the ‘full lowdown’ of what’s involved, how it can help and the treatment programmes that follow to ensure the horse is well on it’s way to a full recovery. E quine Massage Therapy is a generic and collective term that refers to the intellectual manipulation of the varied layers of so ft tissue structures that lay beneath the horse's skin. Different massage techniques are used for detection, resolution and healing of various malfunctions present within specific body tissues and structures. There are several benefits of Equine Massage Therapy, both physiological and psychological. Physiological benefits Equine Massage Therapy plays an active role in helping to maintain the working and retired horse, both young and old. As well as serving to enhance and maintain the tone, flexibility, strength and power of the horse's neuro-muscular system, the body organs and working systems also benefit from enhanced levels of working ability, performance and stamina. Psychological benefits Selected equine healing massage techniques, applications and routines are particularly effective in treating the emotional needs of the horse, actively working to address and rebalance emotional distress. The Different Types of Massage Therapy Equine Remedial Massage Equine Remedial Massage (ERM) therapy is used to detect and treat deep layered muscular malfunctions. Remedial = Intent to rectify and/ or Improve the restoration of health. ERM therapy works with superficial muscular structures, deep muscular structures, superficial and deep tendon attachments as well as superficial and deep ligament structures. Sports Massage Sports massage (SM) is used to detect immediate, referred, suspected and/ or compensatory muscular, tendon and/ or ligament malfunctions. It creates immediate treatment and offers relief. SM works with the superficial muscle layer, superficial tendon attachments and superficial ligament structures. Healing Equine Massage Healing Equine Massage Therapy (HEM) provides immediate and progressive healing in both Physiological and emotional form. It works with the superficial muscle structures, the nervous system, Chakras and Meridians. Barbara Dreyer I'm an Equine Massage Therapist based in Cheshire, providing services through-out Cheshire and North Wales. I am a fully qualified (and insured) Equine Massage Therapist and am a member of N.A.R.E.M.T (National Association of Registered Equine Massage Therapists). I have worked with and around horses all my life, and have enjoyed competing in dressage and showjumping. My areas of speciality include mobile Equine Massage Therapy consultations and treatments, and I am fully qualified to perform Sports Massages, Remedial Equine Massage, Myofascial Release Therapy, Cranial Sacral Therapy and Meridian Massage Therapy. Why book a massage? Equine Massage Therapy is a gentle, but effective treatment, which will benefit all types of horses. The intellectual application of Equine Massage Therapy seeks out areas of muscular malfunction to eradicate their negative influences; helping to restore the horse back to physiological health and well-being. First Visit, Consultation and Assessment Before the massage can start, a complete history of your horse will be taken including previous treatments, injuries, lifestyle and working disciplines. I would like to see the horse in walk and trot up, this can be done either in hand, ridden or lunged. This will help the conformation assessment and gait analysis. A tack assessment will also 44 Everything Horse UK • Issue 27• December 2015 December 2015 • Issue 27 • Everything Horse UK 45