The reason why I became an equine massage therapist may surprise you
I was pulled into this career for an all too familiar reason. My horse Westley and I were struggling with our partnership. He was my best friend, but I felt like we just couldn’t get on the same page, no matter how much I wanted to. He was cranky to groom, tough to ride, and got eliminated at every competition we went to. I felt hopeless. I looked high and low for an answer to what was bothering him, with numerous vets and professionals weighing in.
Some told me he was fine, and that it was a training issue. Some recommended a new bit, a new supplement, or a new saddle. Some told me he was broken, and I should retire him- one professional even told me to put him down. Then, I figured out how to massage him. It was like a veil was lifted. He was finally comfortable enough in his body to work how I knew he always could. As I was able to work on him, and he became more comfortable, our relationship improved. He understood I wanted to help him, not hurt him. That I saw him as a partner, not a vehicle by which to reach my goals.
I was his advocate and his massage therapist, and he rewarded me with achieving goals I never could have dreamed of. The little OTTB that everyone told me to give up on took me up to fourth-level dressage and helped me earn the first two scores toward my USDF silver medal. Westley was never “perfect.” Massage wasn’t a magic wand that made him perform perfectly on every single ride, nor did it totally fix the physical challenges he faced after years on the track. But it gave me my horse back. It gave me a fighting chance to set and meet the goals I had always dreamed of. It changed both of our lives for the better.
I’ve been in your shoes. I’ve seen my horse:
Deteriorate in their performance, when they should be improving
Have behavioral issues
Buck, bolt, and bronc
Struggle to maintain the canter
Be very crooked
Be very “one-sided” in their body
This is why I created EM101. I wanted to teach horse owners how to take their horse’s performance into their own hands. I wanted to help myself 5 years ago when I loved my horse but his issues were making us both miserable. It’s a common misconception that you have to have hours and thousands of dollars of education to be able to help your horse. You don’t have to be a professional to have incredible results!
If someone has ever told you that you aren’t good or knowledgeable enough to advocate and improve your horse, that’s a load of BS. Horse owners should be empowered to help their horses, not discouraged from playing a role in their care.
I am so grateful to do what I do.
-Maija Luttinger, LMT
Equine Massage 101
Want more content like this? Equine Massage 101, the online equine massage course from Freely Forward Bodywork, is packed with valuable information, from massage techniques to stretches to ways to check for pain in your horse’s body and much more. Sign up to get started today!
