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Testimonials

Dear Sabrina,

I would like to express my gratitude to you and your wonderful school!  Learning equine sports massage has been nothing less than amazing!  I am so glad I attended your school in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.

From your warm, professional indoor classroom to the breathtaking view by the stalls I felt like I was on a retreat rather than taking a class!  Your extensive knowledge of horses ranging from behavior to anatomy and equine sports was not only educational but entertaining.  I could not have asked for a better teacher!

Upon completion of your course, I could not wait to work on these magnificent animals.  To date, I have found equine sports massage to be nothing less than fulfilling and enjoyable!  

Thank you for extending your knowledge and passion through a classroom setting for all to enjoy!

J. Williams


Our vet gave us Sabrina’s name and number. As my trust level in my vet is very high and he does not often offer such resounding endorsements, I knew she had to be great. Little did I know how great.

Within one treatment my horses changed. I was stunned. There was a  dramatic change in their muscles and disappearance of many of the ‘bunchings’ and striations. My geldings neck ‘filled out’.
All of my horses are moving so much easier. I had her work on our little two year old filly as well and it is had an incredibly positive effect on her responsiveness and comfort level with people.
We have just started on a regular program and my connection and communication with my horses has benefited greatly from it.

Thank you Sabrina!

Lisa Dee
CEO
Vista Caballo

 

Vets Speak Out


I have enjoyed the newsletters throughout the year and keep meaning to jot down an article for submission, never seem to find the time. I was a student a class, specifically one taught by your assistant Carol of Equi-Knead.

Since my certification, I have changed from a career in the pharmaceutical industry to a full-time massage therapist with a busy Seattle practice. I work with a group of nearly 20 veterinarians, as well as equine chiropractors and acupuncturists here, and can barely find time to tend to my own horses. The therapy has opened so many doors for me, and my life is filled with the loving energy these animals send my way each time I offer them a tactile road to better wellness. (Never mind that I have nearly doubled my former income).

Thank you again for the service you provide. There are a good number of therapists in the Northwest who have come through your program, and I am proud to be one of the busiest. This month I have been asked to speak at a veterinarian conference in the area by one of my referring doctors. I will be speaking before a group of 50 professionals, and it is very encouraging to see the growing acceptance of our modality as an adjunctive tool in veterinarian treatment. I hope to find the time to jot down some of my more interesting cases for your review.

L.M., ESMT
Seattle

 

At the Races


First, you must know about Ambro Cinnabarr...She was written up in the Ohio Standardbred Article you read, shortly after she began Sports Massage Therapy with me. She is now the fastest 2 year old pacing filly on a 5/8 mile track in the nation!! She set a record of 1:56.4 last week at Scioto Downs, as she captured the Tompkins-Geer Grand Circuit Stake. What excitement! Even her primary veterinarian, after her second start and second win, shook my hand and congratulated me for "doing it."

Another favorite, named Rut Ro set a new lifetime mark after one, I repeat...one massage...just prior to hooking up to race and warm up. It was her second win ever and her time dropped by 4/5 of a second. She was so much different after the race, that it was almost scary to do the post event evaluation and feel the change.

J. T.
Dublin, Ohio

 


 

A groom at the racetrack where I work asked if I would take a look at her horse. The horse was a five year old grandson of Secretariat. She indicated that the horse is walking "like an old man...he can barely move! His gaits are short and choppy, and he lifts his legs real high, rather than extending them...and he never changes his leads."

I massaged the horse that same day (Wednesday), and when the groom walked him around the shedrow following the massage, she said: "I can't believe this! He's actually jogging.....he never does that! And look at his legs- he's extending them for the first time!" I massaged the horse again on Friday, the day of his race. This time when the groom walked him, he immediately broke into a jog, and literally dragged the groom around the shedrow.

When he raced that night, he was dead last, 12 lengths behind the leader...halfway down the stretch. The groom told me that she and her dad (the trainer) could not believe what happened at this point. She said it was if Tony turned on his after-burners. She said, "He was smoking!" He not only won the race, but he had the fastest time of the night, and it was the fastest time that Tony had ever had, as well. The groom added that it was the first time that he had ever run with his head down. Even the trainer from the next barn came over shook my hand and said, "Congratulations, you did a great job on Tony! I've never seen him run like that! He burned up the track!"

With Much Thanks,
C. E. M.
Lewistown, PA


 

I can't believe that more than a year has passed since I was at Equissage! But let me tell you how you have changed my life.

When I returned to Brazil in January, I started working hard on my pamphlet, business cards, etc. I knew I had to look professional to be given a chance on something so new (Equine Massage) in this country. Then, I "hit the road" traveling three times a week to the "hipicas" (stables) and talking with the veterinarians. This seemed to go on forever. They were receptive and positive, but there was no big break until March.

I was visiting one of the big stables during an inter-club show, ...talking to the Vets again, who now knew me by name. On the way back to my car, a vet came running up, calling my name and asking if I could come back with him. There was a horse that maybe I could help!

The horse had completely locked up...from withers to the hocks. I began massaging, with the vet, the owner and five others looking on. I could not have asked for a better client...or a better audience. The horse began to stretch and groan. His muscles went into visible spasms, and then loosened. He cracked his neck, then his back, and walked out of his stall with what actually appeared to be a smile on his face.

To make a long story short: That day I walked out of the stable with three new clients, and a week later, I received a call from the very top Vet in San Paulo. He had a client- horse with a host of problems that he believed I might be able to help. I did!!

I now enjoy a great relationship with this top vet, who now refers as many as five horses a week to me.

...now I am "hot on the tracks" of the politically correct people to help me travel with the Brazilian Olympic Jumping and/or eventing teams.

C. B. S.
Sao Paulo, Brazil

 

Amazing News!

I just wanted to share some exciting news with you. I massage the USEF (United State Equestrian Federation) newly named Horse of the Year! (Well one of them!) When I got back to NH, after my exciting week of boot-camp Equissage style, my very first client was my daughters riding instructor. She is a wonderful woman with tons of knowledge and is really open to lots of alternative treatments and ideas (even though her husband is a Vet!) Anyway, I started massaging 4 horses for her horses my first week back from Equissage, in August and worked into a monthly maintenance schedule with them. We have an excellent working relationship - she can tell me if their work schedules have changed or if she's noticed anything - and I give her feed back on how they react to the massages - what muscles seem to be the most reactive, if they're symmetrical, etc. So it has been very beneficial to both her & I and the horses.

She just found out that 3 of the 4 horses I massage monthly have won top awards with the USEF! One horse, "Khemalowa," won the zone ward for Arabian class Horse of the Year in Dressage. "Eureka" came in 4th in a western half-Arabian class. And last but not least her stallion, Nations Psyche, (that totally LOVES his massages) came in third in his class. She is headed down to Louisville, KY this coming weekend for the awards ceremony. That is really big news for this little part of NH!! I just had to let you know that you are continuing to massage all the horses in the world - a little at a time...thanks for sharing your knowledge!

K.S., New Hampshire

 

Equissage Really Works!

Dear friends,

Thanks again for the wonderful week that I spent with you.

The massages are going very well. I am now doing 3 massages per week. I do not worry anymore about the sequence at all. It has become something that just comes out of my hands.

The horses benefit from the massage very well. So far they all have won, even the one with the very sore gluteus muscle. This horse gave me a very hard time massaging him, because he would stand in a very awkward position when I treated his gluteus muscles. However, I managed, and yesterday he won. He was faster than ever...

I do make money with the massages. That is something I already arranged before I would go to the Equissage program. However, at the moment I am very happy with my job as a secretary. Also I have a 4 days working week, so I have the Friday to massage horses. I do not have to explain to you, that I feel very gifted when I can feel and see, that a horse really wants you to help him.

You have a very special program. It is not only about learning about muscles. I also learned a lot about me.

Thank you so much.

Manuela

  

The Power of Massage

Thank you for your reply. I am very happy to hear that. I really miss working with my horse and now that she is pregnant I thought I might not be able to massage her. When I got this course I really didn't believe in the power of the massage for horses. I just thought it would be something I could do to bond with my horse. I was riding her one day and she tripped after trotting. I continue to have problems with her tripping and thought it was the way I was riding her. The farrier told me it was the rider. I gave her a full massage and she stopped tripping. Now I do believe in the power of massage. Thanks again and you will be hearing from me in the near future for my certification.

 

First Massage!

Hi Mary, I just had to write you to tell you about my friends horse that I actually trained on as well as my own. He is a 19 year old quarter horse that sadly is riddled with arthritis. He couldn't put his head down to eat and just kind of shuffled along. She called a chiropractor and they said to get a massage therapist out to him. I was doing the home study course and she said I could work on him while I was learning. We saw such a major difference in him so quickly, he could move and put his head up and down. It was so wonderful to see so much improvement in a short time of massaging him. He now lopes, bucks, kicks and sees what kind of mischief he can get into. I have been doing him for almost a year now and we have seen another difference in him, his mane and forelock are growing which they never have. She has owned him since he was 4 years old and they just have never grown, what an unexpected affect. I also wanted to tell you that I have Fibromyalgia and it is incredible the energy the horses give to me. Horses are such giving beings and you just have to be open to receiving. Thank you for all you have taught me, I know that what I learned from you has changed my friends horses life.

Chris M.

 

Great Opportunity

Dear Mary, First of all I want to thank you for all that you taught me (I was in a November 2006 class). I happened to catch a break when one of the DJs on the radio station that I listen to was talking about her horse being injured. I decided to take a chance and email her about massages. She was very excited about it and I ended up massaging her horse one weekend. She was amazed while I was working on him. He had an injury to his suspensory ligament and was on stall rest for quite a while. He's not the most polite horse anyway, but being cooped up had made him worse. He actually stood still while I worked on him and she could see the relief in him. She emailed me back a few days later to thank me. She said it was amazing, he was in a coma for 2 days (Don't worry that was a good thing). Apparently he had calmed down and felt a lot better, more relaxed. That was the best email I've ever gotten. Thank you. Thanks, E.B., UT

 

Your Course

I would like to request some information for the Equine Sports Massage Therapy Cert. Program. I am very interested in becoming certified in this field and your program and facility seems to be of the higher standards of all of the other massage therapy cert. programs I have looked at. I am 24 and have been riding horses for about 12 years now and have owned my own horse in the past. I have seen and heard of a few cases where horses either had massage therapy done routinely for benefits or had it done because of problems that the horse and rider were having. I have seen the benefits of this awesome gift and I would like to be able to help benefit horse and rider myself. Sincerely, L.E., PA

 

Post-Op Colic Scare


How are you? Just thought I would let you know about an experience I had yesterday. One of the horses on the yard had a colic op 8 weeks ago and I have been massaging him twice a week since then. Yesterday afternoon he cast again and showed further colic symptoms. The vet said he could reoperate or destroy him. He gave Lancelot some painkillers and muscle relaxants and then waited for the horse box. I asked whether I could do the colic sequence on him and it was agreed. Within 2 hrs he was marching round trying to bite everyone and desperate to be off. This morning he is fine. Obviously I am not claiming it was anything I did but it seems likely to me that it must have helped.

Mary I am so grateful for all you taught us.

H.W., TX

  

Colic Relief Success


I just had to write to tell you about a client of the equine veterinarian I work for. This 20 year old ex-ranch horse, who had been in abdominal distress (Colic) since early morning had a left side small intestine impaction, determined deadly without surgery being performed. The Vet administered medications, even performed chiropractic & acupuncture techniques, she was at a loss. I asked the owners if I could try some massage on him, they said "what the hell", anything at this point. I went to work and also incorporated my Reiki, healing energy (Sweating). After 2 sessions and an hour in between, the horse let out a big sigh and relief was his at that moment. I had tears in my eyes, what a wonderful feeling, the owners were very thankful and the Vet gave me all the credit. Sorry so long, wanted to share my experience with you and thank you for everything you've done for me. A.J., MD

 

Colic Relief!


I have been amazed and impressed with the "colic sequence." Each time I massage a horse, when I come to the back rub and back circles the gut begins to make enormous audible rumblings....very impressive. And I used the colic sequence the other day on one of our weanlings who was down and groaning with a tummy ache and I also used it the other day on one of my playing horses who had very faint gut sounds. Both showed amazingly quick improvement and were fine. It is something I wish I could show to everyone..... I plan to video one of my horses for you....she was my very first horse. She is 30 years old and blind. I want to video her as she is being massaged so that you might show to everyone the true amazing power that touch really does have. It is so dramatic how this old girl responds to each stroke. I think it might be a powerful image especially for the people who come to you who have had absolutely no prior horse experience. Thanks, Sincerely, A.A., CT

 

Thank You!


I am totally LOVING massaging! The more I do, the more I learn!! I massaged my mare that I trail ride, and teach lessons on, 1st thing when I got home from VA. I could see a 100% change in her. She appeared to be in a coma like state when I was massaging her, I then took her on a trail ride. This mare would always start off with her head high, and wanting to trot the first 10 minutes or so when you first get on her, well after her massage, her nose was to the ground, and she WALKED nice, and big, and relaxed!! She stayed that way on whole ride, up, and down hills, dogs and our goat (yes, the goat goes on the trail rides also) running around her legs. It was so awesome. She gets her massages regularly, and is not so goosey anymore. She thanks you for teaching me how to make her feel better!!

My gelding also has gotten more relaxed, and I see his gates improve since his massages, but I think he also needs a BRAIN massage!! I am volunteering at a horse rescue called Last Chance Corral. It is so heart breaking to hear their stories, and to see what has been done to theses horses. I am amazed they let people near them. They have been the most appreciative of any horses I have massaged so far. Not only do they appreciate, but I ALWAYS get a massage back from them!!! I just wanted to keep in touch, and to thank you again for being such a great teacher!!!!

S.L.,OH

 

A New Lease on Life

Just had to tell you about my horse who was helped by one of your graduates.

In December of 2002, I rescued a 34 year old horse who had been left to starve to death. She suffered from severe malnutrition and crippling arthritis... she could barely walk, and often stumbled and fell those first few weeks. But over the course of the next year, she really blossomed.... gained over 250 lbs, and with the help of every joint/ arthritis supplement known to mankind, her old joints really healed. She could walk smoothly, get down and roll, even trotted around a bit with her new best friend, our donkey.

But this past winter was hard on her arthritis and despite my best efforts to make sure she was getting everything I could think of to help her joints, she became fairly stiff again. So when the opportunity was presented to offer her a therapeutic massage, I jumped on it... not knowing if it would help at all, but figuring it couldn't hurt! But her reaction to the massage went beyond any expectations....

At first she didn't react much.... walked away calmly, and went back to grazing. But about an hour later, I glanced out in the pasture and stared in shock: my 35 year old horse was TROTTING around after the goats, nipping at them, tossing her head, flicking her tail!!!! Her eyes were bright, her ears were pricked, and she carried on like a youngster!!! When I went to feed her, she trotted behind me, then once in the pen where we feed her, she proceeded to trot in circles around the pen!! I could barely stop bawling long enough to call my husband out, and then ran to the phone to let Jay know the results of his work. To see Pearl so bright, so chipper, feeling so good.... no-one could have given me a better gift. The next day Pearl was pretty sore... something we attributed to all her carying on the night before! But over the course of the next week, there was still a dramatic change in her... she was nowhere near as stiff, and was much more confident as she walked around the pasture... I saw no stumbling. She seemed more upbeat, and overall more alert. Not bad.... not bad at all for a 35 year old horse just a year and a few months over her terrible ordeal!!

L.P. VA

 

My New Career


I just wanted to write and let you know how my new business is going! After I got back from the training (Aug 4-8) I got laid off from my hated corporate job. I decided that this was my opportunity to start my horse massage business. After asking around, I found out that a friend of mine had a client who is an exercise rider at the nearby racetrack. My friend introduced me to someone who has turned out to be a guardian angel. This person also owns two racehorses, and I did them as free demos in order to use Sue as a reference. It turns out that Sue is thrilled with the results of the massages and she's been recommending me to others she knows at the track. Yesterday, I had my first paying client. The horse was a handful, which I expected actually. I figured, as the new person on the backside, I would get the tough cases. Actually, the filly is a beautiful girl but very sensitive. But she released a lot and really relaxed. Both the trainer and the assistant trainer were impressed and they have asked me back for tomorrow! According to them, if the filly didn't like the massage, she wouldn't have allowed me to stay in her stall very long. They had previously had acupuncture done on her, but they didn't have good results because she wouldn't relax and the vet couldn't get a good reading on her. The trainer held her for me for the first part of the massage because he thought she would give me a hard time. Although I prefer to be alone in the stall, it was probably good that he was there. She fought the evaluation but then instantly started chewing and yawning during the altas move and especially on the "online" compressions. I showed the trainer how to do the compressions for her since she liked them so much. She fought me again when I started on her back, and then settled in and was fine for the rest of the massage. It was really a treat to see her respond to the treatment, especially after all the grooms in the barn came by to tell me how "mean" she normally is. Incidentally, I think the fact that they are scared of her and aggressive towards her is part of her problem - a vicious cycle. I tried to stay safe, quiet and focused when I worked on her, and I think that helped. I just wanted to thank you all so much for this gift and for my new life. I feel so blessed to be able to go into a horse's stall and watch the transformation in his body and mind as I work on him. I've always wanted to make a difference in this world, and I really feel like that is what I'm doing when I work on a horse and see his eye soften and his body relax. I am grateful to you all at Equissage for changing my life in such a positive way.

Thank you again, L.L., PA

 

Massage worked before medicine


Had to write and let you know about an incredible massage story.

Yesterday morning, I got a call from a lady not too far from where I live. She has a mare that had been trotting along, and stepped in about a foot deep hole in the ground. The next morning, the horse was laying down and was cast in her stall. By this time, the horse's muscles were shaking. The vet came out and got the horse up and gave her bute. The vet said that the shaking was from severely straining her back muscles when stepping in the hole. The owner asked the vet if massage would help, and the vet told her to wait a couple days and see how the bute helps her. Well, the next day, the horse was still the same and kept losing her balance and falling down.

Knowing that the horse wasn't in shock (since the vet didn't think so), I agreed to massage this little mare. This mare's back was so tight that you could actually see how tight the muscle in her back was. I massaged her right side and then moved on to her left side. About halfway through her left side, we noticed that she was no longer shaking on her right side and was standing a lot better. When I left, the horse was still a little shaky, but there was a noticeable difference even in her attitude. I felt great being able to help a horse and to immediately see the results. Not to mention how great it felt to know that the massage worked, even when the vet couldn't help as quickly.

Her owner has even set up another appointment for her in a couple of days! I am looking forward to her next massage to see how she is doing then and how she will do afterwards!

Thanks for teaching us how to help the animals we love!

S.F, OH
 


 

Massage Brings Out the Best


Yesterday I was asked to massage a pregnant mare. They said she was not a personable horse, hated to be brushed, and was more witchy since she'd been bred. This is their "prize" bucksin pleasure champion. She is a pleasure to ride, but not to work with. However, about three minutes into the massage, she was licking and chewing, her head was just hanging there and her ears were forward.

The owner came into the barn halfway through the massage and Kiddo nickered to her. She said she never does that! Afterwards, during the walkout, she was very happy. The owner said "you're a miracle worker!" That was great to hear. It really gave me confidence and I was so pleased that I could make that horse feel so good!

A.B., ME
 


 

Quick Results


A client wrote a little reference note for me today, and I thought you might like to hear what she has to say:

"Janis does an excellent job with equine massage. I'm impressed with her technique and ability to stay grounded when doing her massage work. At Dreamcatchers Therapeutic Riding Center we have a mare that is very nervous, and Janis has helped relax her and relieve pain for her. Janis has done a very nice job with the mare."

P. Fear-Green CHA Clinic Instructor Centered Riding Level II Instructor

Imagine that...and I only graduated about a month ago! I certainly owe it all to my instructor at Equissage! Pam also said that Shea's movement flows smoothly now when the instructors ride her and that she finally looks like a balanced horse.

Sincerely,
J.C.
 


 

True Benefits of Massage


Wow! What a whirlwind of activity these past few weeks! My world is opening and expanding and I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE you guys and the EQUISSAGE program...it is amazing that I remember SOOOO MUCH and currently I'm taking an A&P course for human massage work and because of how well you teach anatomy and muscles I am finding this to be a piece of cake...okay, not quite a piece of cake but pretty darn easy for an old fart:)

Have been talking and educating people about massage and telling those who are looking for a program about EQUISSAGE. People are impressed, apparently with my dedication and how their horses are after I work on them.

In Arizona and California things are "fads" and now the "fad" is chiropractic, lasers, magnets and "tens" machines...many "massage therapists" are doing these things and the horses are paying the price...so far I've worked on 3 that were messed up by these "professionals".

I hear comments of..."if you are a massage therapist, then you can "adjust" my horse too". I must get a pained look in my face because they usually say "oh, well the other therapist do"...guess that's why they aren't having the other therapists back...dah.

It distresses me that there are seemingly alot of people who claim to be healers that are hurting the animals and charging alot of money. I try to stay focused on what I learned with you and my convictions in my heart and then I try to teach people to understand the reason and meaning behind massage...

One lovely story was today...a ranch who trains and sells cutting horses (don't show) asked me to come to visit with them, they asked me to work on a "problem" mare. I worked on her, she had some minor issues, but was toxic to her core. Hand walked her afterwards, she came back into her stall and fell into this deep standing sleep with the lip hanging down and drooling. The trainers were shocked, they said she NEVER relaxes in her stall...10 minutes later she's laying down sleeping...they saw this and said that I am the FIRST person who has touched this mare and got her to LAY DOWN and SLEEP.

Sadly they have a "holistic" vet who is treating her with bovine hormones, herbs and talked them into putting shoes with MAGNETS on her...but I held my tongue...tough as it was. My job was done and they were impressed. When the main trainer got talking to me later he mentioned all they give this horse and he said, "you know, you are the first person that got immediate result...I may pull her shoes and throw the other crap out".

That is about it, oh I forgot, a local (PHOENIX)AM radio station has asked me to be on two talk programs to talk about equine massage!!!!!! We met yesterday and they were so impressed, they are going to see if they can get me on monthly to talk about nothing but equine massage and everything involved with it!!!! Mary, if it works out you HAVE to join us one weekend!!!

So that is it, I love this, I love my life, thank you for all you have done and the fact that I know you are both behind me even now as I branch out and grow. You are both a blessing.

Be well.

B.S.
AZ

 


I was called to massage a quarter horse to help prepare him for a 2-day event. When I arrived to give him his first massage, I asked what his history was. This is what I was told: At 5 years of age, he was in a barn fire and was burned pretty badly on his withers, back and rump. Then at 11 years old, he was loaned out for a 3-day trail ride with the assumption that the rider would use a saddle that fit. Unfortunately, that was not the case - when the horse's hair grew back in after being shaved, it was white. I was then told that in the previous year, he was contested in one event, but he couldn't make it for the next day's event. Now at the age of 14, he was showing signs of arthritis in his shoulders and point of hip. My client's vet told them that the horse could be contested if he received 2-3 grams of bute each day and thought that massage would help as well.

The horse had some scar tissue from the burns he received, which could not be seen but was tender to the touch. During his first massage, the horse did not like having percussion done on the areas where he was burned and allowed limited friction. When I massaged him again two days later, I could only do light percussion on the back, but was okay elsewhere. Then two days after that, I massaged him again. This time I was able to use all the strokes at all pressure levels. He was acting much better and did not need to receive the bute.

After the 2-day event was over, he received 2nd, 7th, and 8th places out of 37. This is a wonderful testimony for the amazing benefits of sports massage therapy. Thanks again, Mary for your training and encouragement!

F.C., ESMT
Ohio

 

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