Animal Massage
By Darlene Horne, ESMT, CMT

Massage therapy for horses? For dogs? A frivolous notion indeed. The fact is, animals can benefit both physically and psychologically from massage.

As a horse trainer and competitor in equine events, I see first hand the mental and physical demands that we put on our partners in competition. We are striving to get the maximum potential out of our horses. We ask them to jump higher, to run faster, or execute technically difficult maneuvers to perfection. As a result, we see more pain and more injuries. Sports massage therapy has played an important role in both my horses' and my dogs' health care programs. It is an exceptional preventive therapy and a great diagnostic tool, as well as an aid for the body to help heal itself.

Any animal that is active or competes can benefit from massage. Massage will relax your animal when excitable and give him strength and flexibility when tired. Muscle spasms and tension can be relieved with massage, enabling your animal to perform to the best of its' ability.

I recently worked on a pony that had suffered from a mild case of laminitis (a condition characterized by a decrease in the amount of blood circulation in the hoof; causing inflammation, swelling, and pain). She had recovered from the laminitis yet she was not moving freely and was barely raising her knees high enough to clear jumps. The proper veterinary treatment had been applied but the pony had failed to recover her full capabilities. The treatment stopped short by healing of the condition but neglecting the secondary effects upon motion. The muscles in her shoulders, back and hind legs had become sore and tense from bearing the weight of compensation, taking the weight off of her painful front feet. I gave the pony two full body massages and immediately she was moving with the grace and ease she had exhibited before the laminitis. Massage had relieved the tension and spasms, allowing the muscles to return to their normal function.

Animals that have conditions such as OCD, hip dysplasia, or back problems can greatly benefit from massage. Older animals suffering from arthritis can also find relief with massage therapy.

My five year old miniature dachshund, Mustard, has suffered from back problems because of her active lifestyle. Mustard chases squirrels, runs and jumps on things, and patrols and guards what she regards as "her" territory. Thankfully, I have always detected her discomfort early and have gotten her to the veterinarian for treatment before it could progress to a more serious problem. I was becoming concerned with the frequency of the episodes and I wanted to find a way to help prevent them without restricting the lifestyle that she so enjoyed. Massage was the answer. Mustard now receives regular massages. The frequency of the back problems has been greatly reduced and the severity of the pain she experiences has also lessened. Massage did not cure the problem but it has served as a preventative measure.

It must be noted here that if your pet is sick or injured, you should always have it examined by a veterinarian. Massage therapy is not a substitute for veterinary care.

Over time massage will also help soften sharp character traits. Cindy, a thoroughbred mare, is a wonderful example of this. She was the horse that got me started in touch therapy. She came to me a few years ago for training. Cindy was always in motion. When turned out in the pasture she would walk or run the fence line. When tied for grooming, she would fidget and kick out with her hind legs. She did not even enjoy being groomed. Riding her was no better. Cindy was a female Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. One day she would ride beautifully and then for the next week she would buck, run away with me after jumping a jump, and would never settle down or relax. An examination by a vet determined that nothing physically was causing her pain. Maybe she had a bad case of PMS. So, I put her on a daily hormone regiment to no avail.

Then, as a birthday present, a friend gave me a massage session with a woman in Greensboro. This woman mentioned a touch therapy developed by Linda Tellington-Jones called T Touch. I read one of her books and started using T Touch on Cindy. The first improvement was that Cindy would stand tied without fidgeting and kicking and she was actually enjoying being groomed. Then she settled down in the pasture. You could catch her grazing and taking a snooze under the shade tree. Lastly, she became consistent in her riding. No more bucking, no more rushing a jump or running away after. Cindy had relaxed so much that she had become a bit lazy. I would like to think that my superb training talents were responsible for Cindy's transformation, but I must give the credit to T Touch.

Massage can be a results-oriented complimentary therapy, as you have seen from the previous examples. Massage can also be a rewarding experience for the owner as well as the animal. Touch can serve as a bridge for love. It can enhance the bond that you share with your pet. And through regular massage sessions, you will be able to detect problems with your pet sooner hopefully saving your pet much undue suffering.

If one learns the basic rules of massage and how and where to apply the strokes, the healing touch can be used to "awaken the physician within the patient." Massage will increase the feeling of well being in any animal. Aren't our animals deserving of a massage just for the pleasure, love, and loyalty that they bring into our lives?

Darlene Horne, ESMT, CMT, is certified in both equine and canine massage. She has over 30 years of equine experience and provides training services at Ocaso Stables. Reach Darlene at 336.812.8153.