Frequently Asked Questions

How often should my horse have bodywork done?

It is important to discuss your goals with your horse and make a bodywork schedule to help support those goals. Every horse is different and requires a different amount of bodywork to feel their best.

When working with a horse with severe symptoms I recommend seeing that horse 3 weeks in a row to really get the major issues cleared up and the muscles healthy again. After the initial 3 weeks we can then go to once every other week then once a month.

The normal maintenance for a horse in moderate work is once a month or every 6 weeks.

For a horse that is intense work, maintenance is every 3 weeks.

You will see the best results from bodywork by having your horse on a consistent schedule that keeps their muscles healthy and flexible.

Where should a bodywork session take place?

A bodywork session should take place somewhere that your horse is comfortable and can relax. This can be cross ties, in their stall or with a handler holding them in quiet place.

If you do not have a barn or cross ties where you are located, that is not a problem we just need to be somewhere out of the elements, which can be as simple as under a tree in the heat of the summer.

It’s important to consider your horse’s schedule when scheduling a session, nothing kills the mood of a massage more than dinner being served in the barn and your horse missing out on it.

What should I expect during a bodywork session?

I start sessions by doing a body scan/evaluation of your horse to find the major trouble areas and have an overall picture of your horse/ how they have changed from the previous session if you are a repeat client. After the evaluation I begin the sports massage and incorporate electro acupressure, red light therapy and stretching where it’s needed.

What do I need to do to prepare for the session?

It’s helpful for you to have your horse in from the pasture and groomed when I arrive.

Do I need to be present for the session?

You do not need to present for the entire session but it’s helpful for you to be there in the beginning to answer any questions. You are also welcome to watch the entire session.

Does it matter what discipline or level of riding my horse and I do?

I have experience working with a full range of disciplines at all levels including: Dressage, Hunters, Jumpers, Eventers, Cutting horses, Barrel Racers, and Pasture Puffs. Bodywork is benifical to horses at any riding level.

What is Red Light Therapy and what tools do you use?

Red light therapy is really a way to help the body heal itself using LED lights. Using specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed by a photo acceptor, cytochrome c oxidase within the mitochondria of the cell. The energy (photons) from the lights increases the energy within the cell and that speeds up the healing process. The lights must be specific wavelengths and must be delivered at a specific dosage. The key is to use two wavelengths, a visible red and a near infrared wavelength, the use of both red and near infrared lights is beneficial because the wavelengths are absorbed by different depths of tissue.

In my practice I use a larger red light therapeutic pad and a smaller pen like tool, the use depends on the area that is being treated.