Hands-on equine experience

CHESTER - Her small hands move in a direct and authoritative way over Treat’s back. The 23-year-old brown and white quarter horse stands obediently and quietly inside the private Chester stable where he’s boarded, more than willing to allow Sarah Couper to care for his muscles in the same way a masseuse would care for a human client. This practice, known as equine massage, is gaining popularity in Orange County as more professional and recreational horse owners become aware of its benefits. Massage is used to improve the animal’s athletic performance and competitive edge, increase mobility, range of motion, or treat inflammation or scar tissue. It can also loosen up muscles in a horse’s neck, shoulder and lower back to improve jumping, bending, turning and stopping. “It’s really not uncommon,” said Couper, a 44-year-old Chester resident who acknowledged that people who’ve never heard of this practice might think of it as odd. “We ask horses to do a lot of things, and as a result, a lot of stress is put on their large bodies. The same way that professional athletes get massages as part of their training, so do horses. And, if you’ve ever had a massage, you know it can help.” Animal massage dates back to the world’s earliest cultures, according to the Web site for Equissage, a provider of equine/animal training and certification programs in Virginia. The earliest veterinary medicine books also addressed the use, benefits and techniques of equine massage. Brian McNamara, D.V.M., of the Warwick Equine Clinic, a practice with approximately 4,000 clients, said the few referrals he makes for massage are for those horses with muscle injuries. “By far, massage is requested by owners, not vets,” he said. “There’s little downside to massage. And those who request massage feel it helps their horses.” But Rosemary Ganser, V.M.D., of Danbury, Conn., who sees patients monthly in Orange County, said she often makes referrals to, and receives referrals from, equine massage therapists. “It’s a multi-faceted approach to their care,” said Ganser, who is certified in veterinary acupuncture and animal chiropractic care. “They‘re part of the health care team.” For Couper, a third generation horsewoman, becoming a certified equine body worker and doing massage is getting back to her roots. As a child growing up in Virginia, Couper rode horses and trained competitively. As an adult, Couper’s training and career is in psychotherapy. While she still sees human clients, her new interest is in the large, four-footed clientele. She’s hoping to find a professional balance between both fields. About two years ago, her horse suffered a tendon injury. The animal had minimal exercise during his recovery and Couper couldn’t ride him for several months. Massage was suggested as a way she could help get the animal back into shape for regular exercise and riding. “I could see a difference,” she said. Later, that same horse suffered a life-threatening illness requiring jaw surgery. He remained in his stall for three months during his recovery. Again, Couper felt massage could help him. “I said, ‘Hey, I could do this,’” she explained, as she watched the animal get massages. Like the first time, she saw positive results. After extensive research, Couper attended a program offered by California-based Equinology because she felt it offered the most comprehensive curriculum. “That was 10 of the most rigorous days I’ve ever spent,” she said. “It was the hardest course I’ve ever taken, and I’ve taken Ph.D. statistics. They put you through a lot.” The course concluded with an externship that required Couper to submit a paper and videotapes of numerous massages, gait analyses on several horses as well as photos of a live horse showing markings of its superficial and deep muscles along with detailed descriptions of their functions. An Equinology faculty member reviewed these materials, and Couper was later certified as an equine body worker. One of her horse clients is Chloe, an 8-year-old Dutch warm blood cross, owned by trainer Annette Mohr. “Massage is new concept for me, but it has been around for a long time,” said Mohr, who has five horses regularly receiving massages. “I see a big difference in Chloe when I ride her after a massage. She’s more ‘supple,’ or relaxed, and not as stiff. And, we’re all a little stiff at times, aren’t we?” Mohr, owner of the Willow Horse Farm in Montgomery, recommends massage to her boarding and training clients but knows it can be an expense. That’s why she suggests owners look at what they’re using their horses for and prioritize which may most benefit from massage. “You might be showing or training your horse, or having them do certain kinds of work,” she said. “Those could be the ones who benefit most, as opposed to pleasure horses.” Fees vary within the Orange County area. Couper charges $75 per session, with no time limit per visit, and offers discounts for repeat customers. She also teaches owners basic massage techniques during her sessions. Ganser feels that the horse owners have a greater financial investment in their animals than, for example, cat owners do. “It’s the nature of owning that type of animal,” the vet said. “The horse is going to be asked to do a lot of things that a cat isn’t. Horses don’t have to be Olympic quality to warrant massage. Athletes like Lance Armstrong and Michael Jordan have a team of people helping them with their training, why shouldn’t a horse?” At the Chester stable, Couper demonstrated different techniques she uses during a massage, much to the pleasure of Treat, the quarter horse. “You have to know where muscles are, in what direction the fibers in the muscles are oriented toward, and how much pressure to apply,” she said, citing specific muscular terminology. “There’s a lot of anatomy and physiology to know.” She stressed that massage does not replace veterinary care, and she requires owners to get clearance from their veterinarians prior to beginning work. Couper, a member of the International Equine Body Worker’s Association, sees how massage helps her animal clients, but knows it’s also helped her in her own life as well. “I’ve become a better listener to body language, I trust my own judgment skills even more, I’ve learned to be even more patient, I’m more conscience of the mind/body connection and I’m being my best self,” she said. “And if we’re all our best selves, then that’s a good thing.” For information on equine massage, contact Couper at 782-0844. Web sites offering information include: www.equinology.com www.equissage.com