Leverage and Leaning
One of the most important things to remember when performing massage techniques on your horse is to use your body as
leverage. You accomplish this by
leaning.
By leaning against the horse's body as you perform the massage techniques, you
use your body weight to apply the pressure. You
NEVER want to push into a muscle. Pushing not only will fatigue your own body, it can also cause damage to the horse's muscles by applying too much force.
The proper way to lean can be accomplished by putting the majority of your weight onto one foot - which will be your
"back foot". You will need to stand facing your horse with your spine straight and your feet shoulder width apart with your legs slightly bent at the knee. Place one foot slightly behind and one foot slightly in front of the other. It is important to put your weight onto the
"back foot" and use the front foot for balance and stability.
Using the arm
opposite of your "back foot" to apply the massage techniques will help keep your
spine straight and provide the leverage you will need. Using proper leaning technique will also help keep you from applying too much pressure by "pushing" into a muscle instead of leaning and allowing the muscle to relax. If you use the arm on the same side as the "back foot" you will probably find yourself pushing into the muscles by using strength instead of leverage. And, you will most likely be twisting your spine.
So, if your left foot is your "back foot", you will use your right arm to apply the massage technique and vice versa. Be sure to tuck your pelvis under by tightening your abdominal muscles so that you will flatten your back. This is very important. If your back is arched, you will cause strain to the muscles and pressure on your lower spine.
I realize this can be a little hard to follow. Hopefully, the photo will give you a good idea of how to "lean" properly. If you are a visual person, I will also be discussing body mechanics during the video demonstrations of the techniques. (Videos coming soon - if you would like to be notified when the videos are available, please join the
email list ).
You can practice leaning on the wall before practicing on your horse. It will help you to get the hang of it before trying it on your horse. That way you can concentrate on learning this technique correctly without having to worry about getting stepped on or kicked by your horse.
Once you have mastered the proper way to stand, there are some things you will want to keep in mind about the proper way to use your body.
So, onto the next section -
Body Mechanic Tips to Use During an Equine Massage Therapy Session
