The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

While I was reading the news and drinking a bit of coffee this morning, my phone rang. 8am. Rarely does my phone ring at 8. Rarely does it ring. My associate was calling me to let me know that she had a call asking about my equestrian massage services. I don't advertise that anywhere, so it had to have been a referral. I called and found that it was indeed a referral. Sweet.

I quoted her my prices and we set an appointment for 10 am. Hmmm.. My shorts, hawaiian shirt, and sandles weren't going to cut it with the horse. So I'm now wearing jeans, denim shirt, and boots. I should mention that it is 8am and 107 outside. It's gonna be a hot one. I bring the change of clothes.

10am and I am standing next to a 10 year old, painted mare standing 15 hands high. She was newly purchased. It seems that the current owner had regularly ridden this horse some 7 years earlier. Mariah was used for amature barrel racing and had the scars to prove it. For the last year, she pretty much was confined to a small stall. She was a mess. But even though her discomfort was obvious, she was extremely well tempered.

I always build a trust with the animal I am working with. I thought the best way to gain her trust was to relieve her obvious headache. I was working out the constrictions in her neck when she rested her head on my shoulder. The owner, who was sitting behind me, laughed and said, "She's drooling!" That's one of the best things when working with animals. They let you know when you did it right.

Working my way to her hindquarters, Mariah was very nervous about me being close to such a painful area. The muscles were constricted so tightly her hips were uneven by six inches or so. I looked like her ass had a hump. and rock hard.

I found several tender spots and nearly earned a kick or two. She never followed through, but her meaning was quite clear. However, with patience and many reassuring head and neck rubs Mariah allowed me to work those muscles. In about twenty minutes, we were able to really get in nice and deep. The muscles relaxed nicely and when we were completely finished, her hips were nearly even. Her head was up and alert. Her eyes were beautiful and bright, far from the pain filled eyes I looked into an hour earlier.

She wasn't ready to prance, but she didn't hurt.

That was how I got to start my day.

I teach practical application of Massage Therapy. I have 4 women in my class this quarter. They have been my best group of students to date. Today we were practicing the neck and shoulders part of a basic swedish massage and I noticed one of the students could only turn her head a short way before it became painful. After the student working with her finished her exersize, I asked the 'client' student why she had such limited range of motion in her neck. She told me she had injured it 15 years prior and it had been like that since. I asked her if it was alright if I used her as an example and she was good with that. So I gathered the other students around and using the same basic techniques that they were just practicing, I restored full range of motion to her neck and relieved all signs of pain. The students were quite impressed and motivated.

:)



"Ray, when someone asks if you're a god, you say YES!!!!" ~Ghostbusters



Update: July 14

The student still has full range of motion and no pain. Headaches are gone and a full nights sleep is common now.