Q: How Does Sports Massage Therapy differ from other forms of massage?
A: Sports Massage therapy focuses on the cause of the muscle injury.  The intent is to not only relieve the muscular pain, but also PREVENT future injures to this muscle.

Q:  Does Sports Massage Therapy benefit all disciplines?
A:  Yes, different disciplines put more or less stress on certain muscles, but all can greatly benefit from the massage therapy. A Sports Massage is always a FULL body massage, but certain areas may need special attention.  For example, a hunter/jumper athlete tends to be more reactive in the poll, shoulder and T1 areas and a Dressage athlete tends to be more reactive in the neck, shoulder and point of hip.

Q: What is Equine Massage Therapy?
A: Equine Sports Massage Therapy is a deep tissue massage which addresses over 25 muscle groups during the sequence. The massage takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the horse.

Q: Where did you learn to massage horses?
A: I was certified at Equissage, located in Leesburg, VA. Equissage is one of the few college accredited courses available and was the first program to begin offering equine massage training back in 1992. They offer an intense program with hands on training. I highly recommend the program to anyone else interested in becoming a massage therapist.

Q: Why did you decide to become an equine massage therapist?
A: My career has been in marketing and advertising for the past 13 years and I really needed a change for the corporate world. I was born horse-obsessed and as I moved up in my corporate career, I realized I wanted to contribute something more. So, I did a search on the Internet one Sunday for equine careers and thankfully found Equissage!

Q: How long have you been in the business/certified?
A: I was certified in February 2006 and began my business right away. I was eager to get started and become an expert in the equine massage arena. Every client/horse I massage, the more I learn and the better I become.

Q: How did you wind up in North Carolina?
A: My husband and I are both born and raised in Maryland and last year we decided we wanted to make a change. He wanted land and I wanted horses and here we are in North Carolina where I can pursue my equine career.

Q: Do the horses enjoy being massaged?
A: Every horse is different and more/less reactive to massage. This is why focusing on the horse is so important. Modifying and perfecting the pressure to the specific horse during the massage is key to keeping them comfortable, but also addressing and working out their stress points. Most horses really enjoy being massaged.

Q: How long does the massage take?
A: A sports massage takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the horse. It is very important to massage the entire horse rather than "spot treatments" because everything is connected.

Q: Why do horse's muscles need to be massaged?
A: 60% of a horse's body is made up of muscle. Muscle issues are cumulative in nature. If one set of muscles is tight, the horse, just like us, will learn to compensate by tensing up other muscles. My job is to locate these damaged areas and restore them through a prescribed program of equine sports massage therapy.

Q: What are the benefits of massage therapy?
A: So many healthy benefits come from sports massage therapy, especially when coupled with regular veterinarian care. Enhanced muscle tone and increased range of motion, improved circulation which promotes a quicker healing of injuries, reduces inflammation and swelling of joints and helps keep your horse in better physical condition and provides them with a better quality of life!

Q: If horse owners are interested in a FREE EVALUATION or scheduling an equine massage, how do they reach you?
A: Anyone interested can learn more by visiting my web site, www.healthyhorsesmassage.com or email me at healthyhorsesmassage@yahoo.com. I offer FREE evaluations and would be happy to discuss questions or concerns regarding equine massage. They can also contact me at home at 336.824.4923.

Q: Do you offer any other services besides equine massage therapy?
A: Actually, yes. I just added Equine Sitting to my services. If folks need a barn sitter while they are on vacation or just can't be home to take care of their horses, I can customize a care package specifically for them. Or, I can also keep their horse at my farm while they are away.