Why Bodywork?

I don’t get a massage myself. Why would I get it for my horse? (Some ask)

Well, first off, you should get one for yourself and your horse. Bodywork is a useful tool, for both humans and equine. Is it necessary for survival for a horse? Absolutely not. Food, water and shelter are far more crucial. Generally if those are covered the next is to cover the “3 F’s”: Friends, Forage and Freedom. Bodywork to some may seem like and additional and perhaps unnecessary expense, but I like to think of it as a tool to assure that the primary needs are met, and help decipher what other equine professionals are needed. Bodywork won’t “fix” primary issues, (like injury, teeth issues, structural injuries) but it can help uncover them and figure out how to address underlying causes of facial and muscular tension. For equine athletes and working animals, it may be a sport or job using repetitive motion to specific muscle groups that is causing imbalance or tension that can be relieved with bodywork when used as a maintenance tool. In addition to physical imbalances, bodywork can also release tension caused from a nervous system that’s been activated and stuck in the sympathetic “fight or flight” state for a long time. For example, in large herds, more submissive animals are going to spend a great deal of time activated in a defensive “fight or flight” state just for their survival and well-being in the herd. These lower pecking order animals may not get many opportunities to let their guard down, which in turn builds substantial tension in their bodies. Bodywork can help with this tension and bring relief, along with reassurance that humans are here to help, bringing them out of a defensive and reactive state of mind. This also builds additional trust between horse and human—be it their practitioner, or their rider later. This can help them be less reactive under saddle by increasing their time intentionally spent in parasympathetic state during a bodywork session.

Bodywork can help aging animals feel good. It won’t take away the process of arthritis, aging and joint degradation, but it can help with compensation buildup in other areas, as well as monitor an animal’s progression to determine what is best for that animal, ie. retirement, less competing, etc.

How often is it needed to be effective?

This entirely depends on the animal and the goal of the owner. Some examples:

-Rodeo/performance horses: I have “regulars” I work on about every 3 weeks during their competitive season. This helps shed tension from trailering and competition, and helps keep tabs on areas that may be getting sore, so the owner can adjust and rotate horses as needed. During the winter and off-season, some of these clients don’t use bodywork at all, and just let them “be horses” out on winter pasture. In the spring when we start up again, they always remember what it’s about. They may not recognize a face, but they recognize a feeling.

-Senior Horses: I have a couple senior horses very arthritic and I work on them monthly, year-round. They will not improve or change, and the mobility work is very minimal. It’s mostly “feel-good” sessions, and also a way to check in and catch other things going on (infections, scrapes body weight monitoring, etc) as they come up.

-Large Herds: I have several large herds (ranging from 20-45 animals) that I work on 1-3 times a season. We (myself and the herd managers) use this as a “check-in” to go through everyone and determine any issues that may have been missed on a day-to-day and also as a way to shed tension and track changes over time. They enjoy it, they remember it, and those that have had it usually “ask” for their turn.

Do they like it? How do you know?

Yes they do. I’ve had a mule jump a fence as I pulled in to be the “first in line”. I’ve had animals whinny from across the pasture, get a skip in their step once they realize where they’re headed, or push their way into the round pen where the work is being done. They drop their heads, they fall asleep, they nuzzle for more. They lick, chew, yawn, showing signs that they have entered their parasympathetic state. They are often free to leave but usually choose to come back for more. When I first started training in Masterson Method, one of my instructors spoke of such things (nickering as she walked through the barn, whinnying, etc), and I didn’t believe it at first. But it’s true. And it’s not a testament to me, it’s a testament to this work, the Masterson Method.