When I have finished working on a horse, I give the owner recommendations for how to ensure that they and their horse get the most from the session. These tips invariably include stretching exercises for the horse (and the rider should be stretching too!)
Here is an article from The Horse.com, the AAEP's on-line magazine. It details, quite nicely, why stretching is such a good idea for your horse--and it only takes a couple of minutes a session! No reason NOT to, and plenty of reasons to take the time to help your horse be more limber. Enjoy!
http://www.thehorse.com//ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16107&eID=298283
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
New!!! Good "Neigh"-bor Discount!
To celebrate my three-year anniversary as a certified Equine Sports Massage Practitioner, and my excitement at having been on Vermont Public Radio this week talking about equine massage, and most importantly, to say a big THANK YOU!!!!! to all my clients and their horses, I am very pleased to announce my Good "Neigh"-bor discount!
If you and a neighbor--someone from across the barn aisle or across town--book back-to-back massages, you will BOTH receive a discount! The same discount will apply when you book back-to-back massages for two of your own horses.
The less time I spend driving, the more time I have to work on your horses!
Thanks for helping me make your horses happier, more comfortable, and more willing partners.
If you and a neighbor--someone from across the barn aisle or across town--book back-to-back massages, you will BOTH receive a discount! The same discount will apply when you book back-to-back massages for two of your own horses.
The less time I spend driving, the more time I have to work on your horses!
Thanks for helping me make your horses happier, more comfortable, and more willing partners.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Horses in the moonlight; or, night turnout
What a pretty picture! Horses in and out of shadows, as the moon hides and reappears behind the clouds. Grazing peacefully.
What's missing? Foot stomping, agitated tails swishing, sweating while just standing around. Ah yes, the joys of night turnout.
Night turnout is one of my favorite ways to bring added comfort to my horses during the hot, humid days of summer. The benefits include relief from flies and heat, easier access to your horses during the day when you want to ride, but for me, it has been the best way I have found to get rid of horse flies and deer flies, those fierce little bloodsuckers that are active only during the day. I have repeatedly found that just a few days of night turnout is enough to confuse the flies, and send them off to easier feeding grounds. To which I say, good riddance!
It typically take my horses no more than a day to get used to the idea of night turnout, so I switch their schedule around on a day when they won't be working.
As a massage practitioner, there are benefits too. That foot stomping leads to tighter shoulders, along with the possibility of hoof and leg concussion injuries. The tail wringing leads to tighter, fatigued muscles in the hindquarters, and if the horses are stressed by being hassled by flies all day, they will be tighter all over. Night turnout can be an easy thing to do to give your horses a higher level of comfort.
Do yourself and your horses a favor. Try night turnout when the biting flies get bad!
What's missing? Foot stomping, agitated tails swishing, sweating while just standing around. Ah yes, the joys of night turnout.
Night turnout is one of my favorite ways to bring added comfort to my horses during the hot, humid days of summer. The benefits include relief from flies and heat, easier access to your horses during the day when you want to ride, but for me, it has been the best way I have found to get rid of horse flies and deer flies, those fierce little bloodsuckers that are active only during the day. I have repeatedly found that just a few days of night turnout is enough to confuse the flies, and send them off to easier feeding grounds. To which I say, good riddance!
It typically take my horses no more than a day to get used to the idea of night turnout, so I switch their schedule around on a day when they won't be working.
As a massage practitioner, there are benefits too. That foot stomping leads to tighter shoulders, along with the possibility of hoof and leg concussion injuries. The tail wringing leads to tighter, fatigued muscles in the hindquarters, and if the horses are stressed by being hassled by flies all day, they will be tighter all over. Night turnout can be an easy thing to do to give your horses a higher level of comfort.
Do yourself and your horses a favor. Try night turnout when the biting flies get bad!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The joy of fly sheets.
Fly sheets! Possibly the number-one thing you can do to protect your horse from the nasty biting flies--deer flies, horse flies, and big ol' green-headed flies. And you don't have to spend a ton of money on them! Last year, I bought 3 new, soft and silky fly sheets for my guys, and spent less than $100--TOTAL! Now, you do have to watch for the deals, and try to buy in the off-season when possible, but good deals come up from the major suppliers all the time. (Think Dover Saddlery, State Line Tack, and TackoftheDay.com.)
You want soft fabric, not the stuff that feels like lawn chair fabric, so that it doesn't chafe your sensitive pony. A belly wrap style is great, and that way, you won't have to fly-spray your horse's belly. Neck covers are great too--as long as your horse has some shade to get into, as even the lightest fabric can cause your pony to be uncomfortably warm on those hot, steamy summer days.
For my money, NOTHING beats looking out at my horses on a hot summer day, and knowing that they are totally unconcerned with the flies buzzing around.
Next week: Night turn-out.
You want soft fabric, not the stuff that feels like lawn chair fabric, so that it doesn't chafe your sensitive pony. A belly wrap style is great, and that way, you won't have to fly-spray your horse's belly. Neck covers are great too--as long as your horse has some shade to get into, as even the lightest fabric can cause your pony to be uncomfortably warm on those hot, steamy summer days.
For my money, NOTHING beats looking out at my horses on a hot summer day, and knowing that they are totally unconcerned with the flies buzzing around.
Next week: Night turn-out.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Summer fly control
As an Equine Massage Practitioner, I am all about making horses more comfortable. Here are my three favorite strategies to fight flies: Fly predators, fly sheets, and night turnout. In this post, I'll talk about fly predators
Fly predators are tiny wasps that feed on the larvae of nuisance flies, such as stable and house flies. I have been using them for five years, and every year I am amazed at the results. I will hang fly-paper in my barn, just to see how well the fly predators are working, and it is not unusual for me to not find a SINGLE fly on the fly paper--all summer long. Cheap (under $30 a month for five horses) and really effective. Next week: Fly sheets.
Fly predators are tiny wasps that feed on the larvae of nuisance flies, such as stable and house flies. I have been using them for five years, and every year I am amazed at the results. I will hang fly-paper in my barn, just to see how well the fly predators are working, and it is not unusual for me to not find a SINGLE fly on the fly paper--all summer long. Cheap (under $30 a month for five horses) and really effective. Next week: Fly sheets.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
liniment usage
This is an interesting article on the benefits of using liniment, particularly Absorbine, when your horse is massaged. Personally, I am a big fan of Sore No More, which contains arnica, among other beneficial herbs. I am cautious about using other liniments, as they can burn if not used judiciously.
http://www.equestrianmag.com/article/absorbine-veterinary-liniment-equine-massage-02-09.html
http://www.equestrianmag.com/article/absorbine-veterinary-liniment-equine-massage-02-09.html
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