ENGLISH TEXTS
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HERVÉ GALLORINI
MASSEUR OF BOTH FOOTBALLERS AND HORSES
by Serge Okey
In France , equine massage remains a very confidential profession . So when one of these rare specialists is also the masseur for the Paris FC football team ( Ligue 2 ), Hervé Gallorini is truly an exception . All the more so as this former jockey from a great horse racing family does not hesitate to provide “ horse remedies ” to professional football players .
Galorama . Equine massage is not a common profession in stables ...
Hervé Gallorini . There are very few of us in France . And you shouldn ’ t practice in Corrèze ! ( laughs ) I am based in Chantilly . I have three different contracts . I work on Mondays , Thursdays and Fridays . Pia Brandt has trusted me for more than ten years , I take care of about forty of her horses . Plus around twenty at Nicolas Clément ’ s and about ten at Tim Donworth ’ s -I see 70 horses per month . I have also worked a lot with my sister , Isabelle Gallorini .
G . Is it a very different profession from osteopathy ?
H . G . The osteopath takes care of the bone structure , the masseur of the muscle tissue : stretching , flexibility , detection of potential muscle injuries , contractures , discomfort ... Galorama : What are the main differences with the massages you provide to the Paris FC football players ? Hervé Gallorini : Humans have 639 muscles , horses have 469 . But overall , it is quite similar . The only difference is that players are lying down while horses stand when I massage them . For the players , I use camphor oil or neutral oil . For the horses , only arnica gel . It is less abrasive , more pleasant for them . The lumbar area , at the thoracic trapezius level , must be handled with great care . It consists of around thirty muscles .
G . It is also a difference in culture , isn ’ t it ?
H . G . A difference in culture and means . Athletes have all the equipment at their disposal and do not have to manage additional costs . If a player needs an ultrasound , there is no debate . Massages are much more widespread and frequent . Even for referees . Each home team is required to provide a masseur . At a racetrack , you are not allowed to touch a horse or put a massage blanket on it … We talk about equine well-being , but there are things we should do for a horse that we don ’ t because they are too expensive . I have also massaged jockeys . In winter at 8 PM in 0 ° C , it is not a luxury . There is a big difference in infrastructure . I advocate for hot and cold baths . The football world is much better equipped .
G . Do you see similarities between high-level athletes and racehorses ?
H . G . Mainly comparisons between the positions players occupy . Central defenders are more prone to neck , trapezius , and lower back problems because they engage in more duels and body-tobody contact . Their running patterns are very different from midfielders or fullbacks , who are constantly moving back and forth . For horses , just like on an athletics track , you can recognize sprinters and long-distance runners by their morphology . I don ’ t see much difference between flat racing and NH racing . More than the impact upon landing , it depends on the horse ’ s weight . I am not sure there are more tendon injuries in jumping than in flat racing . However , sprinters stiffen up faster in the shoulders , just like horses running on synthetic tracks .
G . Is back pain also the “ illness of the century ” for horses ?
H . G . Yes . It mainly depends on the equipment and the rider ’ s position . A horse is naturally built to pull , not to carry . The problem is the weight , including the pressure from the girth . Many issues come from small material details . For example , morning saddlecloths . Once washed and
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