To achieve your Certification many colleges with a big equine program offer equine massage therapy classes or you can take a certification course outside of college. There are MANY people that offer "certification" courses so be sure to check them out thoroughly and look into their credentials. Ask questions like "are you a licensed massage therapist?" "How long have to been massaging horses?"

To become a registered equine massage therapist (currently you have to attend D'al School of Equine Massage because no other schools meet the International Federation of Registered Equine Massage Therapists (IFREMT) standards. We're working to change that!). At D'al you study Physiology, Equine anatomy, equine pathology, equine behaviour along with your massage courses. You can find a full list of courses at D'als website.

Feel free to ask anything!
Kate Meyers REMT
"Not Just Horse Massage"
topnotchhands@hotmail.com

thank u so much! im 16 and so far this is what i see as the best creer choice 4 me i love to work with horses and have been reading alot into it i find it amazing some of the small things that matter and i think its an awesome creer choice so im trying to learn as much as possible

If you click ON the slide show you can get my commentary and more tips on how to preform each stretch! Oh... and they'll be in order! I'm not sure what happened....

Might want to put on this that te hip & tail stretches are best left to a prof.'s Some people may go hog willed and pull this joint out! It's been done... So just be for warned. FreeMotion Equine, MI

Any joint can be dislocated if you pull past the tension. It is best if a professional teaches you how to properly perform stretches before attempting yourself.

Welcome to the group Mira! I'm so glad that you took the initiative to develop your own equine massage curriculum!!

Hi I am new myself and I have a question for you Mira. I live in Eastern Canada and I am wondering is there much business in Massage Therapy for horses. I am thinking of going to school for it but, am afraid the market is not yet big enough to live off of.

There is quite a big market for equine massage in canada! Nearly all of my canadian REMT friends are in business! Those that aren't are mearly taking some time off. As too living full time off of a massage business... well... most of us do not. I have a friend that works for olympian riders and she still is unable to live off of it without supplimental income (but she does work at a massage school that trains equine massage therapists). I suggest contacting the IFREMT and ask to shadow one of the REMT's near you to see if you like it before continuting onto school!

In addition to Swiss Mass. there is Sports Massage (my field). It is founded close to Swiss however goes much deeper to acctually release spasms and stress points. I use primarrily SM and incorpurate the Swiss as a "tie together" movement. FreeMotion Equine, MI

The statement above was made not to exclude any other forms of massage. But bear in mind that all forms of massage are based off of Swiss massage.

Traditional Swiss Massage and Sports Massage mostly differ in their goals. Many swiss massage therapists trend toward more relaxational works while sports massage therapist intend to "fix" something. Most traditional swiss massage practitioners also incorporate trigger point releases along with O&I therapy. Most sports massage therapists also incorporate all of the above techniques along with shiatsu.

I see no one has replied to your request.
After warming up walk /trott for apx. 5 min. hop off and begin your streatches. A great one to start with is a head down( relax cue), then go into a head streatched up and chin out. Now with his head low (below wither hight) as him to back up about 5-7 steps. Then walk him out of it and beging on his leg streatches. ALL four Never. streatch th back legs out away from his body! They are not sesigned to do this. You can x them over under his body. Be care full and make sure you have a person with you wen you so these as some horses will react poorly. Also, when finfishig your ride streatch again! Don't over streatch yuor horse however. I would recomend not more than 3-4 x's a week or only with exercise. You don't want to make the ligaments and tendons too soft! FreeMotion Equine, MI