Equine Massage

Materials

• Text - 197 pages
• Multiple-choice test
• Certificate upon completion

Description

This course presents equine anatomy and physiology, assessment strategies, safety issues for both the horse and the therapist, the theory behind appropriate massage techniques, a discussion of how the author applies techniques in various situations, how he uses stretches to benefit the horse, and how to he uses attention when touching horses.

The easy to use format of the course text provides margins on each page for note taking, at a glance tables in the applications and anatomy sections and clearly understood photos. A guide for the professional as well as a starting point for the layperson or aspiring therapist, the methods described in the course text are safe for both the horse and owner.

In this course, you will learn:

• how horses respond to massage
• to manage muscle soreness and exertion in horses
• recommendations for common injuries and lameness
• important equine anatomical structures and muscles
• to read a horse's movements to determine the best way to approach massage
• how to use compression, direct pressure, friction, fascial stretching, strain/counterstrain and percussion/tapotement techniques on a horse

Note: Check with your state massage board regarding animal massage regulations and scope of practice in your state.

Course Objectives

1. Recognize how horses often respond to massage and what the author recommends doing with the horse after the massage session.
2. Identify how the author recommends managing muscle soreness and exertion in horses.
3. Identify how the author recommends managing common injuries and lameness.
4. Identify at least 5 of the important equine anatomical structures and/or muscles.
5. Describe how the author observes a horse's movement to inform his approaches to its massage.
6. Identify how the author performs each of the following massage techniques on a horse: compression, direct pressure, friction, fascial stretching, strain/counterstrain and percussion/tapotement.
7. Describe and/or list the author's most important points in performing 7 different types of stretching.
8. Identify the most important points in observing how a saddle fits a horse; how to exercise a horse, and at least 2 integrative/adjunctive therapies.  

Course Reviews

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Instructors

Sharon Burch, MSN, RN, NCTMB

Sharon Burch holds a Masters Degree in Nursing and has been practicing as a nurse since 1974. She is currently a Registered Nurse in the state of Arkansas. Additionally, Ms. Burch studied under many of today's leaders in massage therapy and bodywork during the 1980s, became Nationally Certified through the NCBTMB in 1993 and holds a professional membership with the AMTA.

As founder of Health Positive!, Ms. Burch has created over 60 home study nursing and massage continuing education programs, performed over 65 public, live educational presentations, has written two published books, served as a member on the NCBTMB Continuing Education committee and was a founding member of the National Association of Nurse Massage Therapists.

Sharon is an instructor on many of the Institute's programs and has authored and co-authored various ethics courses and additional titles such as Touch for the Seriously Ill, Stress Reduction Through Bodywork, Staying Well – Naturally, Cardiopulmonary Health and Illness, Chronic Pain Management, Marketing Massage in Four Easy Steps, Preventing Medical Errors, HIV Update for Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers, Understanding HIV, Massage for Edema and more.