Case Studies

Clients always ask, “How do we know if the horse or dog is stressed or has tension in that area?” “How do they tell us?” We have to listen and pay attention. Every movement, reflected in their body language, breathing, facial expressions and postures tells us something. Animals are very direct and truthful. They will tell you if they like you, whether they like the massage or not, and when they need attention in a particular area.

It is most satisfying to see horses looking forward to that 1hr-1.5-hour of undivided attention, to see dogs running out of their houses to greet you elatedly. Their pleasure is apparent to their owners too when the animals become relaxed and tension free. Their performance level will increase as well. Of course, the greatest reward of all is the owners and trainers’ positive feedback on their animals’ performances.

Below are a few case studies and testimonials.

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Colic is a pain in the digestive tract and horses have low tolerance to abdominal pain. They are prone to colic as their digestive tract has many twists and constrictions where food gets stuck. Horses, unlike humans, can’t vomit. A horse showing signs of colic will turn its head and look at its flank, kick at its belly and stretch out in an attempt to urinate although little urine is passed. As pain intensifies, the horse will go down and roll; temperature and pulse rate starts increasing, and sweating begin.

In Virginia, we worked in one of the top Arabian show barns to gain experience in handling horses. Due to their rigorous training and show schedules, many experience high stress and tension both physically and emotionally. Stress and poor appetite caused them to colic at times.Many a times, we managed to catch the onset of colic and stopped it from becoming a full blown, serious case. While waiting for the vet to arrive, we started doing light massage on the poll to release endorphins, nature’s painkiller. We also stroke the ears to keep the horse out of shock.After which, we will do light circling strokes of the entire flank, abdomen and loin area to ease its discomfort.

When the horse calmed down, we would do a few sets of belly lifts. Belly lifts do not harm the horse in any way, it releases gas and relieve pain and discomfort. By the time the vet arrived, the horse would have relaxed and settled down significantly for him to examine him safely.

As feedback by Ms Virginia Godwin, Chesapeake Training Centre, “I am a believer of massage. Massage increases my horses’ performance level by unbelievable amount and, identify problems before they got big. … Massage helps the problem horses get through stress of sickness and colic, to the extent that sometimes, we don’t have to call vet because the stress and discomfort was reduced to a minimum level.”

Therapeutic Riding Horses - Old Age
We volunteered at a therapeutic riding centre once a week. The geriatric horses suffer from arthritis in their hocks and backs as well as rheumatism. They go through a comprehensive re-training program no matter what their previous backgrounds were.

They must be able to tolerate having 3 or 4 people around them all the time, at least 5 different leaders during a week, students with balancing and coordination problems, behaviour problems, balls bouncing off them, water guns squirting them and a myriad of things an average horse will not experience in their entire life. It is thus a stressful job for them.

Because of their age, western medicine does not offer much as all that are offered are supplements for their joints. Massages were incorporated to keep these horses healthy and sound to do their job.

They get sore in the back; stiff in the neck; tend not to track under at the walk. After an hour of pampering, they are relaxed, stress-free without sore backs or stiff necks. They also moved easier, tracked under and were more flexible.

Massage was incorporated into the management program to keep these horses employed till their late 20s.

Extracted from Ms Cyndi Raiford video clip

Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol – chronic back, hind end and leg problems
The Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol use horses to patrol the streets at the beach throughout the year except during winter. Their horses suffers chronic back problems, hind end and legs problems due to long periods of walking on concrete and being under the saddle.

Staff Sergeant Diane Lowman commented that their horses enjoy massages just as a person would. They are now easier to be around and more easily trained because they are much more comfortable. She said that routine use of massage makes horses more serviceable and will recommend to other police units to use some sort of massage therapy to keep their horses more comfortable.

Another officer, Master Police Officer, Ms Vicky Scheidt, who had been with the force for the past 8 years said that her horse, Taxman, had needed a special pad under the saddle to lessen the pain for its chronic sore back. He wasn’t responding to other treatments. After a couple of massages, he became very relaxed. He does not need special pads anymore and have a sound back now. Taxman responds well to his training now.

MPO Scheidt said that she will make use of the recommended strokes and techniques shared at the clinic to keep her horse more supple and further strengthen his back.

Riding Problems, back and leg injury
We were called in to help massage a 13-year-old Arabian mare. The owner had problems riding her partly because of her tender back and back leg injury. She was kicked real badly a couple of years back when the owner boarded the horse at another barn. As a result, she has a fear of people touching her left hind leg, and she does not like to turn circles because of this problem.

As a result of these problems, Mrs Thornton, her owner, had problems riding her at trails. After 4 massages, Deelilah, the horse, was less reluctant to go out on trails and on rides. She’s no longer as protective of her hind leg and Mrs Thornton can even pick her foot. She rides well too.
Mrs Thornton feels that massage benefits horses greatly.

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Rico: the Persian cat who jumped out of his 5th storey apartment

Rico was rendered immobile when he jumped out of his 5th storey apartment one fateful day in September 2004. He injured part of his spine, could not move majority of his body and vets were not very positive of his condition. Putting Rico down was on the cards if he did not show any improvement after a month.As a last resort, the owner tried Kreature Care’s sports massage therapy and rehab program daily for 2 weeks. Within 5 days, there was marked improvement and Rico was able to move and stretch his body. He was still weak and unable to stand on his feet.On the 7th day, he actually walked 10 steps unassisted and was able to crawl and rest under the chair. Signs were very encouraging indeed.On day 13, we actually witnessed him jumping up to catch a grasshopper that was in the room. That was proof that Rico was on his way to full recovery.It was another one of those miraculous recovery and we thank God for that.Benji: 12 year old min Poodle with hip problemsThe owner of Benji complained that he was not as mobile as he used to and was unable to climb the stairs to the upstairs bedrooms anymore. His hindlegs were quite stiff too due to arthritic pain. He had done a hip operation in August 2004 to improve his condition but to no avail.

Since he had been coming in for his weekly therapy and swim sessions, Benji’s condition had improved greatly. He is more mobile and is able to climb stairs unassisted now. His hind end is much stronger today compared to the beginning. He is slowly regaining his lost hindleg muscles mass as well.

Old Age – Severe Arthritis
Witnessing the positive results her horses experienced, we were called in to massage Ms Godwin’s 19 year-old Jack Russell, Bully. With his age, he had severe arthritis in his hind legs and suffers from occasional seizures. He also had walking problems.

With the first massage, Bully showed very positive results. He was able to run around the house to welcome Ms Godwin and her friend when they came home from the barn. From a lethargic, listless dog, Bully was transformed in just a couple of hours.

Because he had been inactive for so long, he suffered from atrophy. With massage, blood circulation improved and his joints and muscles got a new lease of life.

Unfortunately, one month after we left the States, Ms Godwin had to put Bully to sleep due to his old age. At least, Bully was fortunate to experience 4 massages before he left this world. This goes to show Ms Godwin’s deep love for her trustworthy and faithful friend.

Injury – serious bite wounds
Our Miniature Schnauzer, Cookie, had the misfortune of being mauled by a Rottweiler. He suffered multiple big and deep bite wounds. Much skin was also lifted off the muscle.

After the drains were removed a week and a half later, we started therapy on him which includes de-swelling at the incision areas. Overall massage was done to stimulate the lymphatic system to improve toxin drainage.

The massage increases blood circulation and aid in the rapid healing of his wounds. The inflammation was significantly reduced too.

Because pain level and stiffness was significantly reduced, he was able to put weight on his legs very soon.

With each therapy session, the scar tissue softened and his muscles were toned up.

Physically, he was healing fast. But our worries began to turn to his emotional health on whether he would remain his cheerful and friendly self.

The fear was unfounded, with our constant massages, we had forged a strong relationship and trust with Cookie. He emerged psychologically stronger than before.