Shea Center Blog

Equine Massage at The Shea Center

May 3, 2020

At The Shea Center, we take pride in our horses and make sure they have top quality care. In their line of work, it is crucial that our horses have the maximum amount of mobility so our clients receive the best movement their horse has to offer. Sue Kellogg Graf is The Shea Center’s equine masseuse and ensures that our horses are feeling their absolute best for our clients. Sue has 25 years of experience working as a hunter/jumper trainer, which gives her a unique ability to communicate how a horse’s stiffness or discomfort may feel to the rider. Sue received her certification through Equinology® and continues to attend workshops and conferences to increase her knowledge. Sue comments, “I love it when my ‘regulars’ recognize me and nicker. It tells me I am of service to them and they appreciate it. I like making a noticeable difference in a horse that was uncomfortable and now has gotten relief.”

Equine massage has proven to help expand a horse’s movement and decrease the stiffness and discomfort throughout a horse’s body. Equine massage has similar benefits for horses as a regular massage does for human beings. The massage is designed to increase the horse’s flexibility and circulation, while also diminishing the chances of future injury. Not all riders are evenly balanced on the horse’s back. More pressure on one side of a horse’s back can create tension and cause muscle fatigue and eventually muscle spasms. This can lead to inflammation, unbalanced muscle structure, and compensation patterns.

By using this minimally invasive technique, equine massage therapists are able to loosen up a horse’s connective tissue, which enables the horse to have a better range of motion and mobility. When the horse is comfortable and not focused on any pain or discomfort, it will be more attentive to a rider’s cues and more mentally focused on the ride as a whole.

Maintaining our horses’ health is a vital part of ensuring our clients are getting the most benefit from their therapy.

Sue massaging therapy program horse Hope.