Equine Sports Massage & Acupressure

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I am most often called to assist with a rehabilitation program after a veterinarian diagnosis. Creating a rehab work out regimen, reviewing nutritional needs, and scheduling the appropriate amount of bodywork to assist in getting the equine athlete back into the show ring are my common responsibilities. On occasion, I am called to consult with other alternative therapists (chiropractors & acupuncturists) on horse's with sensitivity issues or histories of abuse, as touch and bodywork, in these cases, sometimes works better than needles or adjustments.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. It is important to interview your equine alternative practitioner on their education, experience, and opinions. You will be working closely with this person if your horse is rehabilitating and you have to feel as though you can trust them. I always recommend that my clients interview one or two of my references to insure that I am the right practitioner for them. In addition, it is extremely important that your alternative practitioner's are able to work along with your veterinarians. If they are unwilling or unable to do so, I would question if they are the right fit for your rehabilitation program.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Where did you go to school?
How many years have you been practicing?
Would you call my veterinarian and get the medical details from them?
Would you be willing to work with my current therapy team? Or would you be able to help me assemble a rehab team for my performance horse?
What kind of information do you need before arriving regarding my horse's history? Injury? Job?
Do you have any references I could call before booking an appointment?
Do you have a website where I could learn more about the work that you do?
Are you certified? Through what organization? Where can I find more information on that group?

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Striving to maintain the most up-to-date information for my clients, I participate in continuing education annually. I work closely with veterinarians, farriers, chiropractors, and acupuncturists to form an informed, interdisciplinary team. Maintaining these professional relationships is extremely important to the work that I do as well as the clients a assist. And it eases the mind of the owner to know we are all striving towards the same goal with our different areas of expertise instead of stepping on one another. The goal, in all cases, is helping the horse, regardless of which therapy seems to help the most.