Anyone having it done for their horse(s)? If so, how frequently and what kind of benefits have you seen?
Reason I’m asking is a EMFR therapist is working with my BO’s horses and volunteered to work with my horse, also. Lord knows my mare has some issues that this bodywork may effectively address.
I am a licensed human massage therapist and work on my horses ALOT, I do think that MFR techniques(with some minor adaptations) can be used on and beneficial to horses…that said, having your fascia released is a feeling that well umm can not really be put into works but YOWZA and some obscenities are usually released from my mouth when my fascia is released.
I thought it was BS until I watched a session with a horse.
Her entire silhouette changed, with no “obvious” input from the therapist, and she walked away a whole lot more freely than she walked in.
I also thought it was total BS until I had it done. (on me)
And ho-ly crap does it make a HUGE difference, at least in this human.
It can hurt…but afterwards you can move and use things you weren’t able to before. And the hurt is a “good” hurt, whatever that phrase means. I had no idea how fakakta I was until I had that done and all my parts were able to slide back to where they belong, LOL!
If it wasn’t for having it done once annually, in a series or visits for about 3-6 weeks, I’d be on countless pills and crap. And probably disabled. I’d go more often if any insurance company didn’t have fits over paying for physical therapy instead of prescription painkillers.
I never realized they do it for animals, but makes sense. Especially for really big animals toting humans around on them. If the person doing is good, I’d say give it a try maybe. My worry would be the experience of the person doing it, I’d imagine you can cause some damage if it’s not done correctly. I’d just make sure this isn’t someone who took one of those short courses of a few sessions to become an MT.
I’m liking what I’m seeing so far. I watched a session, and it does look like the therapist isn’t really doing much, but watching my horse told me different. My mare is very emotionally expressive, and she was expressing very clearly that whatever the therapist was doing, it felt pretty good. I’ll see if I notice any difference when I ride tomorrow.
Has been amazing for my horse. Worth every penny
The gal who does my horses’ bodywork uses a lot of myofascial release in her work. It has done wonders for my horses. As far as frequency, mine are seen every 2-8 weeks depending on what they do.
I have been so impressed with what it has done with the horses (including one horrendously sad train wreck OTTB I took on out of pity and as a kind of study of bodywork and chiropractic) that I have started having monthly bodywork including myofascial release myself. Worth every penny.
Since posting, my horse has had 12 sessions (every third day or so) with a couple of weeks break (while PT was out of town). We started back again and will continue with a session every other week.
This has made a major difference in my horse’s posture and way of going. Before we started this work, she had some limitations in her range of movement in pretty much all her joints, but especially through her neck and hind legs. She habitually moved with her left side contracted and her right hip a little higher than the left.
I rode her both before and after her session this morning, and the difference was profound. All I can say is during the after ride, she was floaty, springy and sharp.
This is definitely a therapy I’m going to continue with.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
