world.

Graduates work As the horses are pushed

Popularity and
for top owners and harder to be successful
History of Equine trainers in racing and at whichever discipline
Massage Therapy show circuits, and some or sport they are in, the

I n 1989, Mary A. have been selected to injuries increase. The

Schreiber a certified work with the US system that was
Massage Therapist Equestrian team at the developed for human
and active pleasure show Olympics. The first athletes carries over to
competitor in Bucks program of its kind in the horse, as they are
County, PA., founded the world, Equissage is athletes too().
the IEquissage now a nationally and By Cristie Ionita
Certificate Program in internationally
Equine Sports Massage recognized program().
Therapy. After It’s the Right Time to
Jack Meagher Go Back to School
witnessing the effects was the first person to
massage therapy had on

h
formalize a technique at does one do with
her human clients, Mary still in use on horses
decided to incorporate his/her time off?
with his book: “Beating The current
massage as part of her Muscle Injuries for
show horse’s health care recession has brought
Horses” published in much opportunity for
program. Equissage 1985. Jack worked on
began when other horse those seeking continuing
many human NFL education. A lot of the
riders, owners and athletes and popularized
trainers caught onto the opportunity depends on
“Sports Massage where you are currently
health promoting Therapy” then translated
qualities and curative residing. If you're a
a new technique to work farmer, rider, or just
properties horse for horses. Mary
massage had to offer. have a general interest
Schreiber was trained by in helping animals; why
The results were Jack, and then took 7
remarkable! When she not choose "Equinology"
years to develop her (Equine Body Works
decided to market her technique for horses.
equine massage at local Inc.)?
Nowadays, owners are
racetracks and shows at seeking ways to keep
which she competed, Definition of
their investment going Equinology: the
Massage therapy and many are finding
provided the competitive study of or like
that detection and horses
edge to horses that had prevention are less
been given up on, and expensive than the cure
injuries were healing An American
to injury. As riders based company was
faster than owners expect more of their
believed possible. Since opened as a certification
horses, jumps get program in 1999; in an
1992, Equissage has higher, races get faster,
produced more than attempt to provide the
and tests more technical, public with an
8,000 Equine Sports the demand to keep the
Massage Technicians educational program
equine athlete sound has that was of good quality
from 19 different increased dramatically.
countries around the and continuously up -to-
Page 1
 date. These courses, Worker,and Specialized as their performance is
"...are approved and Equine Body Worker. most important through
recognized by the These certification levels their life. Equine
International Equine are geared towards massage has been
Body Worker continuing education for
Association Chiropractors, RMT's, proven to be most
(www.iebwa.com), UK Physiotherapists etc. beneficial for horses that
McTimoney Chiropractic Each course has a race, compete and are in
Association, and the different cost and need for rehabilitation.
Society of Osteopaths in duration ranging from
Animal Practice". Once $1000-$3000, and 8-10 Many of the
you have completed the days. If you feel you benefits involve
correct number of hours, have already met some enhancing the horse’s
the required qualifications, there is a ability to perform 100%.
prerequisites, and $100 testing fee for all By improving the range
reading, you are then courses presented.
of motion, the horse can
recognized as an Equine Body Works
"Equine Body Worker", States that, “Continuing continue working in a
(Equine Body Works Education is one of the more efficient manner; a
Inc.). You are also main concepts to why horse that can move
eligible to join the Equinology was better performs better.
IEBWA and then have developed" (). There are
the opportunity to apply also courses offered for A horse that
for professional liability you if you're interested competes uses a major
insurance. in learning more about amount of muscles to
horses, dogs, and how to jump and land; if the
Unlike Massage maintain their health horse is agile it will do a
Therapy, Equissage has and performance as
better job. Like Massage
“A longernot
and yet
more been placed
efficient stride in a animals.
under a regulatory Therapy, improving
well conditioned sound race horse can By Jessica Field
circulation is very
make thecollege. However,
difference in lengthsit atisthe
noticed in Ontario as an important to remove
finish line. The dressage horse that is
approved provider of metabolic wastes. This is
flexible looks better,education
continuing and feels better”().
by especially effective for
the National horses that are injured
Certification Board for
Therapeutic Massage Why Your Horse and can’t exercise to
and Bodywork Should Have increase circulation on
(NCBTMB). Massage Therapy their own. Stimulating

K
the injured muscles can
There are four eeping track of reduce scar tissue and
different levels of your animal’s return proper function.
certification offered for health is vital for Equissage can also asses
"Equinology" studies: optimum performance.
Equine Body Worker the condition of the
Horses especially need horse through palpation,
(EBW), EBW Level II,
Master Equine Body this maintenance being which also can improve
Page 2
the relationship between therapeutic Contrast Bath
you and give you a better hydrotherapy that can
1. Dissolve in a 5 gallon bucket 1
idea how your training is be used on horses. Our
cup of Epsom salts in COLD
progressing. body is constantly
water(add ice if possible) and
pumping blood to bring
Certain dissolve in a 5 gallon bucket 1
oxygen
cup ofand nutrients
sea salt in HOT towater.
techniques bring about
the needed cells to help
2. Dunk a large beach towel into
specific outcomes in
repair, and until
each bucket preserve
well saturated.
Equissage. Taking an
3.strength. You from
Remove towel can the
usecold
Epsom salt bath after a
thisbucket
technique up the
first, squeeze to excess
difficult day at work is out times
three and wrap the towel
a week and itaround a
very effective in drawing leg. Leave on forwith
30 seconds then
must be done a
out unwanted toxins, remove and repeat process using
warm-up routine and
relaxing the muscles, the towel from the hot bucket.
then ended with a cool-
and increasing blood Repeat process three times on
down routine.
flow. What most people each leg.
don’t know is that this is By Jessica Field
a common form of

Alexis Kacho-Sinke Alexis provides a full

Certified Equine body or targeted
Massage Therapist therapeutic equine

A
massage. She also
lexis has been
utilizes hydrotherapy
practicing equine
and stretches in her
massage therapy
treatments. She has
for four years. She is also
been involved with
trained in
horses for 28 years and She will also be willing
Hydrotherapy,
has three horses of her to work with your
Osteology and Gait
own. She will do pre- veterinarian and
Analysis. She is
event massages to help chiropractor to
currently taking the
loosen the muscles, customize a wellness
Equine Science
increase circulation, and plan for your horse.
Certificate at Guelph
post event massages to Alexis is also teaching
University.
relax overworked workshops that are
muscles. hands-on and will
introduce the benefits of
equine massage for the
equine athlete. She
teaches the horse and
rider to receive targeted
massage techniques to
Page 3
assist in achieving total believes that a happy By Melissa Irwin
muscle health. She horse is a successful
Cost for Equine
teaches the importance horse (). Alexis Kacho-Sinke Certified
Massage
of proper saddle fit, Equine Massage Therapist
rider balance, warm up Cost is subject to
Phone: 905-892-4360
and cool down. Riders change due to:
Cell: 905-329-7101
will learn how to "read" Email:  Area (state,
their horse and be able country,
info@totalequinemassage.com
to pick up on the subtle county/town)
clues their partners give
 Reasons for
them about their massage
muscular health. Alexis
 Therapists
expertise
Alexis Kacho-Sinke:
CEMT (Certified
Equine Massage
Therapist) located in
Niagara region()
Maintenance Rehabilitation Not a
Massage Massage traditional  $40 out
of school

S
Swedish
imilar to a human Aids in the massage.
reason to have a recovery of injuries, Firm and  $60
massage; it traumas to the body, and direct local, $75
releases stress and holds illnesses; supports the pressure on out-of-
the horse at its current immune system, one area town
level of performance. increases circulation and lets the
Having this massage blood flow, reduces  Average
therapist
once a month would be swelling and see the horse’s reaction
effective. inflammation, eases from the ears, and
pain and tension, movement if the spot is
Performance restores range of tender (similar to
Massage motion, encourages human reaction).
lymphatic flow,
Improves
promotes proper  Bowen &
breathing capacity,
formation of scar tissue, Kellington
cardiovascular system,
and removes toxins. To
muscle tone, joint Most common in equine,
have a maximum result
flexibility, speed, overall canine, and feline
this massage should be
athletic ability, and massage; very carefully
performed from once a
helps to prevent injury. make sure not to
day to once a week.
This massage is damage tissue; use a
recommended once a Common Techniques softer/ lighter pressure.
week to reach maximum
effect.  Point & touch
Page 4
 Deep muscle
superficial
By Jessie Cooper-Barnes
Very similar to
Swedish massage
techniques used on
humans.

Bibliography
Equine Massage Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved 03 01, 2009, from
http://www.witsendfarms.com/home/images/archives/Massage%20Therapy%20articl
e%20for%20HorseCare%20Mag.pdf
Equine Sports Massage Therapy Certification Program. (2000). Retrieved 03 10,
2009, from Equissage: http://www.equissage.com/request_equine.htm
Equinology Inc ®. (1994-2004). The Benefits of Massage. Retrieved 02 12, 2009, from
Equinology: http://www.equinology.com
Kacho-Sinke, A. (n.d.). About Alexis Kacho-Sinke Certified Equine Massage Therapist.
Retrieved 03 14, 2009, from Total Equine Massage:
http://www.totalequinemassage.com/aboutus.html

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