Equine Massage Test Questions

Massaging horses for a living can be a rewarding career, or can be practiced by horse owners on their own horses. Whether you take at-home study courses, or participate in a clinic or class, future equine massage therapists can benefit from taking tests at the end of a study period or lesson.

  1. What is the Relaxation Response?

    • Massaging horses involves two movements: ones that affect a horse's muscle tissue and those that affect a horse's nervous system. Oftentimes you affect both at the same time. Equine massage therapy not only affects a horse's body, but also its emotional state. As you work with the horse, you bring the horse from a stressed, or sympathetic, state to a relaxed, or para-sympathetic, state. This state has been called the "Relaxation Response" by many equine massage therapists.

    How Do You Perform an Equine Evaluation?

    • Before an equine massage therapist begins working on a horse, he may conduct an evaluation of the horse's physical condition. First, the therapist interviews the horse's owner, asking questions like why the owner feels the horse needs therapy, what kind of problems does the horse has and if the horse's tack fits properly. Once the interview has been completed, the therapist may ask an owner to ride or lunge the horse so he can evaluate the animal's gaits and identify pain the horse may be experiencing. Next, the therapist has the horse stand as he checks the animal for any conformation, or structural, faults such as drooped hips or bowed legs. The last step involves performing a palpation, where he feels the horse's body over for tension, knots, tender spots and hot and cold areas before performing the massage session.

    What Are Some Safety Tips?

    • Safety to both the horse and therapist provides the best outcome during the massage session. You can keep yourself safe by being aware of your surroundings and the horse's body language at all times. Always be aware of the blind spots -- areas a horse cannot see -- while massaging the animal, and talk in a soothing voice. Keep the horse safe by tying the horse in some cross-ties, which are two ropes anchored to the walls of a walk in stall. Always perform the session with another experienced horse handler present at all times.

    What is Effleurage?

    • One of the most used strokes in horse massage, therapists use effleurage to open the horse's muscle tissues. To perform effleurage, a therapist will take her open hands, arms, fingers or even palms and glide them over a spot, usually three times. Sometimes called the opening movement, therapists typically start a massage session off with effleurage and follow up with other movements. A therapist often starts with a light-pressure effleurage, then uses firmer pressure if the horse allows.