Initial Appointment Information
An initial appointment will last approximately an hour and a half. I will undertake a static and dynamic assessment of your horse and ask about their history, recent work and any issues. The static assessment is a visual assessment where I observe your horse standing in their 'preferred posture' and I will be looking at their conformation, looking for signs of tension and any muscle atrophy. The dynamic assessment is where I will ask you to walk and (if safe to do so) trot up your horse while I observe their movement, muscle symmetry and footfall.
I will then palpate your horse, this is just a gentle running of my hands over your horse to get them used to the idea of bodywork and to feel for any soreness, tension and possible stress points. I will be observing your horses reaction as I do this as this can be a good guide to areas of discomfort
Following palpation, I will complete the massage treatment (as long as no contraindications have arisen), pointing out any areas of tension and informing you of any findings as I go along.
Follow Up Appointment Information
A follow up appointment will last approximately one hour. I will ask how your horse has been since I last saw them, if there has been any changes or anything you want to mention to me before I start their treatment.
I will do another static assessment of your horse and see if there are any noticeable differences since last time I observed them. I will start with palpation again, gently moving my hands over your horse to feel for any tension or stress points and then I will move on to the massage treatment.
Signs of release and relaxation while your horse is having their treatment can include blinking, licking and chewing, yawning, looking sleepy, lowering the head and big sighs. These are all signs your horse is benefiting from their treatment.
