How to Become an Equine Massage Therapist

Massage therapy has been used on humans to relieve tension and soothe aching muscles for decades, but probably few realize massage benefits horses, too. Equine massage therapy is traced back to ancient times, used in Greece, Chinese and Roman cultures. It does everything from improving circulation to increasing range of motion. If you love animals and would like a hands-on job working with horses, become an equine massage therapist.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Study everything you can about horses. Be familiar not just with their physical structure but their behavior, equipment such as saddles and bridles and riding safety.

2. Enroll in an equine massage therapy certification program at an accredited school. There are several schools devoted to teaching this healing art, such as the Praire Winds Equine Massage School, Equissage and EquiTouch Systems, Inc.

3. Learn about massage therapy on humans before moving on to horses. Knowing the fundamentals of human massage therapy will help you to better understand and adapt to massaging horses.

4. Graduate from the certification program. This is generally an intensive week-long study combining classroom work as well as practice of massage techniques. Become certified in EquiTouch©, Equissage© or Equine Massage Therapy©, depending on the type of program the school you attend offers.

5. Seek employment in veterinarian practices, race tracks, stables or show barns. Though used extensively on race horses, massage therapy is becoming popular with average horse owners as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Becoming familiar with human massage therapy can help make the transition to massaging horses, but being a massage therapist for humans is not a requirement to becoming an equine massage therapist.
• There is currently no set state or federal standards regarding the licensing of equine massage therapists. Check your city to see if an occupational license is required.
• Join the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists (IAAMT) to receive such benefits as client referrals, discounts on travel and lodging and quarterly newsletters.
• Become a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and enjoy membership benefits such as continuing education, job postings, seminars and the latest news in the world of equine massage therapy.

Resources

• Find the nearest Equissage certification program here.
• Find out about EquiTouch Systems, Inc. here.
• Find information about Praire Winds Equine Massage Schools here.

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