Essential Touch Equine Massage

Photography and Horses

You know, I'm pretty sure that I have said this in every single blog I have done recently, but it just keeps proving my point time and time again. I love what I do. I love that these two industries that I make no money at fulfills me so much. Photography and Horses have been my passion for so long and it thrills my soul that it brings new people into my life. One that we can share our passions together and the other that I get to help my community.

I met Kay I'm pretty sure about 10 years ago at a Photography walk in Statesville. For those of you that dont know what that is, its where Photographers get together and walk around town playing games with our cameras and drinking mimosas! We worked together all day and found out we had something else in common, horses! We became Facebook friends. So when she came to me and said she wanted to work on my horses, well you can see what I said.

I do wanna break in here and state this. Yes I have had a few people work on my horses and all of them have been amazing. They are all from different parts of the county. But hear this. There are more horses to go around than there are people who care for the horses and love what they do. I support these women 100% and will continue to use all of them. I am a loyal person by fault. But these guys have been amazing to my horses and My family as well as my business.

Anywho, now that I have gotten that off my chest. Meet Kay.

I started riding when I was 4 and I’ve been involved with horses for over 40 years since then. I’ve shown all around in both local and regional competitions. I’ve had many different jobs in the horse industry, from stall cleaner to barn manager, from show groom to exercise rider. It took me 30+ years to decide what exactly I wanted to do in life, but no matter where I went I always ended up back in a barn. In 2016 I decided to pursue a certification in equine massage. I had always used a very informal massage on my own own horses, as well as those in my care throughout the years. From the time I read through the first lesson I was hooked. I finished my coursework, did my hands on work, and passed my certification. It was very slow building up my clientele in the beginning. I also ended up moving multiple times so it was like starting over in each new location. It was during a massage session for myself, while talking with my MT, that I realized there was more to my gift that I needed to explore. I enrolled in courses for multiple modalities and over the past few years I have earned certifications in equine Craniosacral therapy, animal neuromyofascial release technique, and kinesiology taping. I’m currently in the process of finishing up a second massage certification and I’m studying to become a Reiki Master. My work is very intuitive and energy plays a huge role in what I do. I love learning new things and I’m constantly reading up on the latest research on various different holistic methods. During a session I prefer to use my hands for the most part but I do utilize Gua Sha (a Chinese muscle scraping technique) as well as red light laser therapy and essential oils for their calming and acceptance abilities. Over the past 2 years my business has grown to the point where I am doing this full time. My clients believe in routine bodywork and keep their horses on a regular schedule with me. They can feel and see the difference regular bodywork makes. I don’t have a job, I have a passion. I wholeheartedly love what I get to do every day. Each time I lay my hands on a horse my purpose is reiterated. When I watch them go from anxiety to relaxed I know I’m doing what I was meant to do. When a client sends me a message after their first ride following a session expressing how much better their horse feels, acts, and moves I know I’m utilizing the gifts I have been given.