Question 1

How Should I Prepare for a Session With You?

Accepted Answer

• When preparing for a session or consult, it's important that my client is caught and groomed prior to my arrival. By having this small step done it helps move the sessions along faster and helps me be able to palpate properly and be able to give accurate assessments.  If there are clumps of dirt or hair it makes it hard for me to tell if there is a bump from soft tissue issues or if its just clumps of loose hair.  It not only helps me with palpations but also to keep my equipment as clean as possible so that I am able to avoid tracking dirt and hair from one barn to the next.
		Grooming consists of:
		- Brushing my clients out 
		- Picking their feet
		- Insuring they are dry
**Please don't shave your horse the day of the appointment

• It's important that I have a quiet, clean space to work in, whether that's inside a stall or out in a paddock or arena. I am happy to work wherever my client is comfortable as long as it meets the requirements stated.
 • Make sure your horse is hydrated and fed. Please avoid booking your service at my clients regular feeding times.
 • If it is not an initial consult, have my client exercised for 10-15 minutes prior to my arrival if they are an energetic or busy horse. This will help settle their brains and make it easier on the both of us for getting into the relaxed state necessary in our sessions.

Question 2

What should I do as an Owner While You Massage/do Realignments?

Accepted Answer

This is a great and important question!! As an owner you will most likely have questions and want to understand what is happening during my session with your horse.  I am happy to answer questions and explain everything to you; however, I will do so ONLY at the very beginning and end of the session.
During the session I am focused on listening to what my clients body and movements are telling me. Its very important that I am not interrupted during this as it can lead to me missing cues or changing rhythms which create relaxation and calm within my client. A flow and focused state of mind is important in assuring my client has the best experience possible. 
I recommend owners go for coffee or chat with friends somewhere else, as I take about 90 minutes massaging my clients.   You are welcome to go do your own thing once I complete my health check with you.  If you do wish to stay during the session, just know that I require you to be observational and at least 6 feet away from my client and I. 
My services include a completion report and allocated time to answer questions after the session.

Question 3

Will You do work on a Sedated Horse?

Accepted Answer

Under no circumstance will I work on a horse that has been sedated.  This is a safety risk for not only me but also my client.  
A horse under sedation does not have the faculties to tell me if a pressure is too hard or causing pain which may lead to tissue damage and/or worsening injury.  Not only can it cause soft tissue damage but it also poses a risk to my safety as the horse may fall.
It's best to avoid having any services such as farrier or vet work come out prior to my session. If you are wanting to have everything the same day, please have me be your first appointment to avoid potential issues.

Question 4

What's Your Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy?

Accepted Answer

It's pretty simple if you cancel or want to reschedule PRIOR to 24 hours you will get a full refund of your deposit; however, if you do not giving me notice and instead give me LESS THAN 24hours notice, you will lose your full deposit.
If for some reason I come out and your horse fails the health check, you didn't get vet clearance as asked or your horse has become a safety hazard, the treatment will not proceed and the full amount of the session will charged.
If for some reason the weather doesn't cooperate and it's not in the best interest of the horse to do a session, we will discuss and reschedule if necessary without penalty. I would ask that you contact me as soon as possible, prior to my arrival.

Question 5

What Does Massage Even Do?

Accepted Answer

The simple answer to this question is that equine massage promotes relaxation and circulation while relieving muscle tension and pain. My number one goal when massaging is to to get full and painless contraction of the muscle, by doing this I can help a horse get fluid movement and full range of motion.

Question 6

How Does Massage Affect the Horses Body?

Accepted Answer

Massage affects 5 distinct systems of the horses body:
- Muscle
	Massage increases nutrients and waste products movement within the muscle which in turn helps recovery times after fatigue or muscle injury. It also restores elasticity and range of motion to the muscles affected and surrounding the affected area through the breakdown of scar tissue, adhesions and creating full contractions of the muscle.
- Cardiovascular
	Massage increases circulation within the body which both strengthens and slows the heart rate as well as decreases blood pressure.  Increased circulation means oxygen moves faster through the body, this aids with cellular health as oxygen is food. If oxygen uptake is faster, so is waste product removal (carbon dioxide) which creates a healthier cellular environment.
-Lymphatic
	This system is responsible for swelling and stocking up (the swelling of tissue fluid). Massage drastically increases the flow of lymph and helps with lymphatic drainage which in turn helps with decreasing swelling. Massage also assists with creating a strong immune system through this process.
-Respiratory
	As stated above, massage helps with the movement of oxygen, when oxygen moves faster to cells, its metabolized faster and increases the demand for it!! Horses get oxygen from the air they breath; therefore, they have to make bigger and potentially more frequent breathes leading to increased vital capacity and increased mobility of their thorax.
-Nervous
	Through pressure and release, massage stimulates the brain's parasympathetic system creating a relaxing effect.  This helps with stimulating the gut and glands for increased hormonal release.  Being in a state of relaxation also helps with pain management and less tension within the muscles.  Less tension allows for deeper muscle massage that allows for better stimulation of all the systems and a higher likelihood of fixing the problem area giving more relief and overall better results.

Important Information