Equine Massage Course

Description

This weekend course is designed to teach the basic principles of Equine Massage so you can massage your horses or friends and family’s horses. The techniques taught are very simple and effective which are massage techniques, pressure release, and mobilization of the spine.

No prior massage experience is needed, just a love of helping horses.

Venue Address:  To Be Confirmed.

Course Times: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided.
Course Cost: $450.00 for the weekend and a $100.00 deposit to secure a place. To reserve a space please book through the product page shopping cart.

Course Deposit: To secure a place a deposit is required. Deposits are non-refundable if cancellation is 24 hours before the start of the course. If more notice of cancellation is given you can transfer your deposit to another course date.

Can I bring a Horse for the Day? You can bring a horse for the day at no charge. Please confirm with Rachel via email or text if you are bringing one.

Do I need to bring a Horse for the Course? It is not necessary to bring a horse especially if you are traveling. Horses will be provided.

Can I stay overnight at the venue with my horse? Yes, you are welcome to stay overnight. There are undercover stables or small paddocks for $20 per night.

Will I receive an Attendance Certificate at the end of the course? Yes everyone that completes the course will receive a Certificate.

Every horse suffers from some degree of muscular pain and stress. Not all of us are aware of this or have the specific training to determine between the horse playing up and whether they are in pain. It can be frustrating at times when something’s wrong and you have to wait days or weeks for the therapist to come and treat your horse. With a few skills learned in the course, you will be able to help your horse and others.
This is a very practical course. Each day will start with a theory session and after morning tea practical sessions in the stable block. Everyone will work in pairs for the massage practice. Rachel will demonstrate the different massage strokes and techniques one step at a time. Each pair practicing will practice and Rachel will spend one on one time with each person.

Day One

• Benefits of massage therapy.
• Treating a horse safely.
• Anatomy of spine and limbs.
• Palpation assessment, identifying and feeling tight spots, recognizing atrophy of muscles and muscle spasms.
• Bony Land Mark palpation finding the feeling of the bones and drawing them on the horse with chalk.
• When not to massage a horse.
• Understanding the horse’s facial expressions and body language.
• Understand visual signs of relief and discomfort when working on the horse.
• Massage of the hindquarter muscles and back muscles.

Day Two

• Understand basic movements of the back and how it functions
• Back lifting and strengthening exercises.
• How to identify muscle soreness and muscle imbalances.
• We will discuss how the horse compensates and builds muscles in the wrong places.
• What order to massage muscles so they release effectively?
• Massage zones and areas to massage.
• Massage of the internal oblique, ribs, back, and withers.
• Back problems and kissing spine.
• Some of the things that cause muscular problems.
• When a horse may have a problem.
• Massage of the neck, chest, and shoulders.
• How nutrition and supplements relate to the health and wellbeing of your horse.

A 70-page course manual will be provided in color which includes

• Full list of muscles and their functions.
• Anatomy pictures.
• Pictures of massage strokes and directions.
• All theory content contained in the course.