Monday
Easy flat work session, except for working on counter canter a little bit at the end. Hey, guess what helps at the counter canter? Using your seat correctly instead of perching. Ugh, so basic I can’t believe I only just remembered to do that. Magically, Eli could hold a counter canter much better once I figured that out. Also, neat-o that I CAN sit (lightly) on him without him freaking out.
Tuesday
Another flat work session, but with more of a marching walk at the beginning and a few pony kicks with my right leg to get Eli moving off it. Cantered after walking, then the trot work, changing direction frequently and working on circles.
Wednesday
Eli gets a massage! We went on a leisurely walk around the fields afterward. More on the massage therapy below.
Thursday
Light hack mostly on the buckle, no bending today per massage therapist. Wow, he felt absolutely fantastic, actually–freer shoulder movement, crisply on the aids.
Friday
Back to regular work. Plan to jump a few jumps.
On Wednesday, Eli got his first massage therapy session. I had reservations about ever doing this with him because of his general attitude toward people, but luckily a good friend of mine who has also been my horse trainer and barn manager in the past recently got her certification as an equine massage therapist. She actually WANTED to work on Eli. I scheduled her right away. Her reasoning was that if she can work on Eli, she can work on anybody.
Eli knows her mostly as the cookie lady who doesn’t ride him, so he already likes her. Eli dislikes grooming sometimes and communicates his malcontent by kicking out and biting. I worried that he would try that with the massage therapist, but as it turns out, cookie lady who doesn’t ride him is apparently allowed to mush on him anywhere without much of an issue. He LOVED his session and he’ll be having plenty more in his future. The massage therapist found more tightness, soreness, and tension on his right side, particularly in the right hind, but this isn’t news (I know he has a right stifle issue that we are already addressing and his sinus surgeries were on the right side of his face. He also has an old scar and knottiness on the right side of his neck. Now I feel bad about the pony kicks on Tuesday.). His left side didn’t really have any issues, and his back didn’t have any soreness anywhere.
By the end of the session, Eli had basically melted like butter. If you are in the Austin, TX area and interested in equine massage therapy, I highly recommend Kelly G., The 3 6 Equestrian. You can email her at The36equestrian@yahoo.com for more information.
That’s SO AWESOME that your friend is an equine massage therapist! Getting my cert is definitely on my bucket list, but that’s so convenient for you, and I’m glad that Eli loved her! Roger is due this spring for bodywork, hopefully our results will be as good as yours were 🙂
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So cool that your friend is a massage therapist. I’m glad that Eli enjoyed his appointment. I’ve had good results with chiro but for some reason I’m reluctant to try massage. Did you notice a difference when you rode?
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He felt like he had better movement through his shoulders, and any dullness to the aids he had was gone.
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Cosmo gets quarterly chrio adjustments that really help, but I wonder if he’d benefit from massage as well. Might have to look into something out here.
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Eli definitely enjoyed the massage. With chiro he’s much more suspicious of it and reactive. I am interested to see how his lead changes are today.
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I’m not sure if we have a massage therapist locally, but I’d definitely be interested in trying it for Dex. I’m glad Eli enjoyed his appointment!
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oh man he looks like he’s in heaven! my mare can be touchy but definitely loves her chiro / massage / acupuncture whatever.
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He liked this A LOT more than chiro!
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Once I have more expendable income for maintenance, semi-regular massage appointments are definitely on the list for Mr. Val! They really do seem to help a lot with any horse, in a manner that is different from chiro adjustments.
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Horses loveeeee massages 🙂 !! So nice to read you are taking good care of your horse!
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I love doing massage therapy on Sydney, and I love how more people are realizing that horses are athletes too and need all the care their human counter parts get.
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Yes, they do need it!
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I wish I got as many massages as my horse hahahah glad Eli liked it!
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Right? I should go get one …
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