Equine Bodywork
“The needs of the horse come before wanting to win championships, wanting to make money, wanting to be successful internally. It is a partnership” ~ Monty Roberts
My Approach to Equine Massage
Before the massage, I will get to know your horse, ask questions and perform an evaluation to determine the specific needs of your horse. This normally involves a consultation with you and/or your trainer, observation of the horse at rest and while walking or trotting, and a physical examination of the horse. We will discuss your intention for the session and goals.
During the equine massage I use variety of modalities massage techniques, strokes and stretching to stimulate blood flow to different areas of the body, acupressure, infrared and red light therapy, tuning forks and sound healing frequencies. The combined modalities cultivate a holistic approach to relaxation, release and facilitate the horse’s innate healing. They know the way to peace we just light the path. The techniques encourage blood flow and bring oxygen along with other nutrients to the muscles while creating a safe space for your horse to drop into the parasympathetic nervous system, bringing restoration and relaxation. When your horse feels safe and relaxed its body will begin to heal.
My goal is to bring your horse relaxation, a feeling of support, safety, peace and trust. It is my heart felt desire to see you and your horse thrive together.
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Myofascial release (MFR) therapy, is a specialized manual therapy that targets fascia, the continuous, web-like connective tissue wrapping around your muscles, bones, nerves, and organs
Equine cupping is a non-invasive therapy that uses suction cups on a horse's body to increase blood flow, release muscle tension, and promote healing. It adapts traditional human cupping therapy for veterinary sports medicine.
How It Works
Decompression: Traditional massage presses down on tissue. Cupping pulls skin and fascia upward.
Negative Pressure: Specialized silicone or plastic cups create a vacuum on the skin.
Tissue Lift: This vacuum separates layers of skin, fascia, and muscle underneath. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Benefits
Boosts Circulation: Draws fresh, oxygen-rich blood to tight or injured areas.
Relieves Fascia: Stretches the connective tissue layer to eliminate painful restrictions.
Targets Trigger Points: Softens hard muscle knots, particularly along the topline and hindquarters.
Drains Lymphatics: Flushes out metabolic waste and lactic acid buildup after heavy workouts.
Improves Flexibility: Increases the horse's overall range of motion and stride length
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Infrared light therapy facilitates the body’s healing, the light therapy delivers an energy boost to the cells, which provides wide-ranging health benefits for your horses. The wavelengths from the light are absorbed by a photo acceptor, cytochrome c oxidase within the mitochondria of the cell. The energy (photons) from the lights increases the energy within the cell and that speeds up the healing process. The lights must be specific wavelengths and must be delivered at a specific dosage. Using both red and infrared lights is beneficial because the wavelengths are absorbed by different depths of tissue which increases the rate of healing. The two wavelengths are in the visible red and near infrared spectrums. The visible red is effective for stimulating acupuncture points, releasing trigger points, treating wounds and infections. The infrared wavelength (not visible), which penetrates deeper, has been shown to be effective in helping heal soft tissue injuries, joints and muscles.
Infrared light can penetrate tissue, muscles, tendons and even bone to naturally heal the body. It increases the blood circulation to further promote and boost the healing process. It promotes collagen production, which is vital to the healing process, by stimulating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is often referred to as the molecular unit of currency due to its function in cellular energy transfer. ATP interacts with the mitochondria in the cells to stimulate oxidative metabolism, which is essentially the conversion of oxygen and carbohydrates to energy.
This is all a scientific way of saying that red light gives the body's cells increased energy. Because of this, cells can perform their normal functions faster and more efficiently.
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Targeted Vibrational & Vibroacoustic Therapy. This evidence-based modality utilizes calibrated, weighted tuning forks (128 Hz) and resonant metal alloy bowls to introduce precise mechanical oscillations directly into the neuromuscular system.
By leveraging the thixotropic property of connective tissue, these specific acoustic frequencies shift rigid, restricted fascia from a dense gel to a fluid state. The kinetic energy stimulates cellular piezoelectricity, triggers localized nitric oxide release to maximize microcirculation, and down-regulates the sympathetic nervous system.
Clinical Indicators: Chronic myofascial restrictions, localized scar tissue, structural asymmetry, or elevated baseline cortisol (anxiety).
Physiological Responses: Immediate fascial elongation, increased joint range of motion, and parasympathetic nervous system dominance (marked by active licking, chewing, and myofascial unwinding).
Benefits of Equine Bodywork
Holistic equine bodywork that blends therapeutic myofascial release with sacred sound, aiming to restore structural balance, increase flexibility, and regulate the nervous system. By integrating compassionate touch with vibrational sound healing, these sessions address both physical tension and emotional stress, fostering deep trust between the human and horse.
Pain Relief / Relief From Restlessness / Improved Proprioception / Stress Relief / Efficient healthy Biomechanics / Improved Posture, Circulation, Coat and Muscle Tone
Increased Flexibility and Range Of Motion / Immune System Support / Injury Prevention
Why to choose this method?
Where Biological Science Meets Sacred Medicine
Most equine therapies force you to choose between mechanical bodywork or purely energetic healing. At Maitriveda, we bridge these worlds. We combine advanced structural biomechanics with profound intuitive medicine to treat the whole horse—mind, body, and spirit.
Deep Tissue Release Without the Force
Traditional massage only scratches the surface, and forcing a tight muscle can trigger a prey animal's defensive bracing mechanism. By blending Myofascial Release (MFR) with Vibroacoustic Sound Therapy, we use gentle, sustained pressure and precise acoustic frequencies to liquefy rigid fascia from the inside out. This unlocks deep-seated structural restrictions that manual pressure alone cannot reach.
Nervous System Regulation First
A horse cannot physically heal while trapped in a sympathetic "fight-or-flight" state. Our unique use of sound waves down-regulates your horse’s nervous system, melting away baseline anxiety, lowering cortisol, and inviting a profound parasympathetic rest state. This creates a safe sanctuary where your horse can actively participate in their own healing.
Clearing Somatic and Emotional Trauma
Horses store memories of past injuries, fear, and environmental stress directly within their cellular matrix. While traditional bodywork often overlooks this emotional weight, our integration of shamanic sound frequencies gently unburdens the tissues. We clear stagnant energy to resolve the emotional root causes behind behavioral shifts, spookiness, and saddle sourness.
A Sacred Healing Ceremony for Peak Performance
The name Maitriveda unites unconditional loving-kindness (Maitri) with the science of sacred knowledge (Veda). When you partner with me, you are not just booking a standard barn appointment. You are investing in a tailored structural transformation and an elevated energetic ceremony that allows your horse to move, perform, and live with fluid grace.