CG Equine Massage Therapy

When you have the best friend and mentor…words cannot describe the relief this is giving!!!
Now I know, the horses have it GOOD! 😍
Thank you . I can personally vouch for . Amazing. I knew was good but selfishly might need a human set now too 😜.
Seriously, if you’ve been thinking of adding something like this to your wellness routine I can say, it’s totally worth it. My hand is in heaven!

If you’d like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to message me! I’m blown away.

I just love visiting Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. The volunteers and ponies are just wonderful. Of course Okie had to have Hope colored tape!

Yes! Horses are so much more sensitive to the touch than people realize.

“Horses Have Thick Skin!”

…Is a phrase we often hear, to be able to withstand the whack of a crop or the jab of a pointy spur without pain. The truth is, the epidermis (outermost layer) of skin on a horse is thinner than that of a human, at 0.05mm for equines compared to 0.08mm for humans*. What this means is that they have fewer skin cells between the environment and sensitive nerve endings. They do not have the “padding” from pain that people assume.

So when perpetuating the myth of thick skin, what it really boils down to is an excuse for rougher, harsher interactions with the horse, as well as less consideration to things such as tack under the misguided belief that it doesn’t hurt them, or at least as much.

Just because an animal is presumed to have thick skin doesn’t excuse the relentless prodding of spurs, cracking of the whip or willfull ignorance on the importance of suitable equipment and training methods.

Beyond spurring and whipping, a cracked girth, lumpy sheepskin, wrinkled leather will also cause severe discomfort and pain to your equine partner. The partner you are solely responsible for ensuring is comfortable and safe.

Even something like the placement of the buckle of the girth can cause injury to the skin, delicate fascia, nerves and muscles, which will cause the horse to react to that pain by being girthy along with a slew of other behavioral symptoms.

Yet too often, the riders and owners try to tackle the symptom without ever considering that there is an underlying cause. Misinformation is abundant in the horse world, from thickness of skin to the importance of fitting equipment and postural correctness. It is our DUTY as horse men and women to challenge these myths and inaccuracies for the welfare of the horse.

*Disclaimer: The image used for this post was published by Dr. Lydia Tong as part of a research study completed in 2015, investigating the use of whips in race horses.

Dr. Lydia Tong has since completed a second study that revealed different results, finding no significant difference between the epidermal nerve counts of humans and horses and no significant differences between epidermal thickness of humans and horses for left side samples, meaning there is conflicting information regarding the difference in thickness of the epidermis between equines and humans.

However, the findings do support the original hypothesis, that the superficial pain-sensitive epidermal layer of horse skin is as richly innervated as human skin, demonstrating that humans and horses have the equivalent key anatomical structures to detect cutaneous pain. Thus, these observations must refresh old assumptions made about the capacity of the “thick-skinned” horse to experience pain.

This subject is like many other areas of the equine industry that require additional research. What we can learn from this however, is that horses do not have thick skin and have the same natomical structures to detect cutaneous pain.

The most recent study can be found under the title 'A Comparative Neuro-Histological Assessment of Gluteal Skin Thickness and Cutaneous Nociceptor Distribution in Horses and Humans' by L. Tong et. al

One of my favorite places to visit 🥰

BEMER is having a Cyber Weeks Sale until Dec 6, the Horse Set is an especially good deal.
For my lovely horse friends, you know I love a good sale!

BEMER

Massage releases: some yawn, some stretch, Levi does both but also…sticks his tongue out! He is a character and so much fun!
It’s a treat to see horses in their forever homes 💜

Andre is the sweetest, most handsome, and sensitive guy at Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.. He is truly so special.
Andre arrived at Hope in the Valley with this “posture” where he preferred his front legs planted way out in front of where they should ideally be.
After his very first massage, he was willing to stand with his front legs underneath his shoulder, it was a truly magical moment. The photos show the difference after completing just one side. (His handler and I may have high fived and definitely did a little happy dance together when this happened!)
I received a text from her a few days later that he trotted across the field for the first time and was so proud of himself!
It was an absolute pleasure to massage this massive sweetheart.
Please give Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary a follow, and consider a donation if you are able. They are a phenomenal non profit with really special volunteers who are so devoted to their rescues.

How Hot is Too Hot?

Summer is upon us, and some of us are experiencing quite the heatwave.

It’s important to remember our horses don’t go home to A/C like many of us do after exercise & the temperature can greatly affect their ability to cool themselves.

A good rule of thumb is to add temperature + humidity.
Less than 130= good to go!
130-150 = ability to cool themselves is decreased.
130-150 = ability to cool themselves is greatly reduced.
Above 180 = can be fatal if horse is stressed.

Watch those numbers, take it easy, and make sure to hose your horse off after it’s workout.

Other ways to help keep your horse cool:
Offer shade, fans, electrolytes, and plenty of fresh water.

What is your go-to to keep your horse cool?

This mare had an incredible breakthrough today! She’s been receiving massages for several months now and has struggled to relax during them. We’ve had to take lots of breaks, go slowly, and listen. Today was the first day she truly enjoyed it! She was so incredibly relaxed and content. These are the days I’m so grateful for the best clients who are devoted to their horses for the long haul. No quick fixes, just patience and dedication.
She even followed my recommendations after and got a nice long drink of water 🥰

This little mare is just the cutest, sweetest little thing. Someone please sn**ch her up! She’s a doll!
Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.

Well Miss Scarlett could not be outdone and insisted that she also spend quality time with her favorite massage therapist today!! Thank you Carrie of CG Equine Massage Therapy!

Miss Scarlett had patella surgery late last year and the massages have helped her breakup the lesions and scar tissue. She is doing well and enjoyed a lovely trail ride yesterday in the back pasture.

Here’s to taking the time to listen to the horses and help them heal.💜

It’s always a pleasure visiting Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. and spoiling their ponies! I love these ginger mares!

Okie spending quality time with her favorite massage therapist!! Thank you Carrie CG Equine Massage Therapy for taking care of the Hope herd❤️.

Okie had been telling us for some time that she was hurting when under saddle. She was given several months of rest and several massage sessions to address her pain. Okie has just begun light rides again and we have seen great improvement in how she moves and responds.

Mission has officially declared, it’s tongue out Tuesday! 🤣

Happy Mother’s Day!
To all the moms out there, have a happy day, I hope you get lots of love from the kids, both two legged and four legged!

The sweetest gingers yesterday at Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.
Okie & Scarlett 🥰

This little mare is the absolute sweetest. please keep Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. in mind if you’re looking for a horse, donations can be made on their website as well!

Miss Scarlett was the recipient of a massage today! What a lucky mare! Thank you Carrie CG Equine Massage Therapy for taking such great care of Scarlett and Okie today.

I’m going to miss a lot of things about summer, but this super spotty Appy nose is near the top of the list!
The flies though, they can all go straight back to hell where they belong.

Let’s talk Relaxation!
In the first photo we can see so much stress and tension, less than ten minutes of bodywork later, we have the results shown in the second photo. The tight muscles have relaxed, the spasms have been relieved, and this guy must be feeling SO much better!
I get asked about the benefits of equine massage often and usually reply with the more clinical points, but simply put, the end result is the horse FEELS GOOD afterwards!
Side note: I am determined to convince this guy to relax and enjoy his massages. He fought a yawn 18378374 times during this session!

I am constantly in awe of horses and their ability to trust. This amazing fellow has been through so much and was unsure and a little stressed during his first massage last week. Yesterday, he relaxed completely into it, stretched, and yawned, and looked at me like, “Wait, what? You’re done already? More please!” when I had finished. 🤣❤️
Iskra, you are a special guy and I am looking forward to seeing you fully recover and find your forever home.
Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. and After the Finish Line he’s a gem!

One reason I never complain about going to work…my clients are so cute!!!

Jetta, I hope you know something I don’t know, because the weatherman says it’s supposed to snow the rest of the week 😩🤣

Happy New Year!
Wishing everyone a year of health, love, happiness, and pony snuggles. 🐴 🎉

When Boo isn’t busy posing for the camera he spends his time making a million faces! He’s one that has no issues letting me know what he does and does not enjoy. Thanks for the laughs, Boo, you are such a silly guy! 💜

Happy Thanksgiving!🦃🍁🍽
Today I am thankful for Friends, Family, and my wonderful clients. May you all have a fantastic day!

My goal is to help your horse feel as good as possible!
Equine Massage in the form of a full body massage treats the entire horse, as apposed to the spot we "think" is bothering them. Benefits of Equine Massage include but are definitely not limited to: releasing endorphins, eliminating toxins, enhancing muscle tone, increasing range of motion, assisting in healing, and generally improving your horse's disposition.

CG Equine Massage Therapy updated their phone number.