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Through my many experiences with horses, either as a groom, during lessons with a riding instructor or simply as a trail rider, I have had the opportunity to carefully observe these noble creatures, and have noticed just how easily and clearly they express themselves… unlike us humans. They are forthright in telling us about their state of mind and their state of health. By being attuned to their needs, we can, in most situations, ask them to do almost anything and they will happily oblige.

However, stress, illness, injury and the intense effort required in certain disciplines can cause muscle tension that affects their performance. These observations, coupled with my love for these magnificent animals, sparked a desire to promote the well-being of horses through the practice of massage therapy, particularly since I am a Reiki Level 2 Practitioner.

I wanted to start working in this area as soon as possible, and began searching for an intensive massage therapy course that provided thorough, high-quality training. I chose a well-known school that believes that respect for the horse is of the utmost importance, and that integrates intuition and listening as part of their approach. Some of the older massage masters do not follow this approach.

The school I chose was Equitouch Systems Inc., located in Loveland, Colorado. In February 2007, their 150-hour massage certification program was approved for college credits by Salem-Teikyo University, Rocky Mountain College, and the External Degree Completion Program at Colorado State University. The program includes lectures on a broad range of topics, such as shoeing and the assessment and adjustment of English and Western saddles, as well as the opportunity to practice massage therapy on horses boarded at the school.

At all times, my ultimate goal is to improve the physical and emotional health of the horse. A horse that feels good is a happy and confident horse – a mount that will give his all to the rider.