Balance Freedom Equine Massage: Cadaver Lab and Advanced Myofascia Training

Cadaver Lab at Tufts University and
Advanced Myofascia Training in Boston
April 2008

Equine Massage

I’m not sure where to start! I have been home a
week now and things are just beginning to take root.
Gathered together, for a week in April, at Tufts
University, was a melting pot of ardent Equine
Massage Therapist, some traveling, from as far as
the UK. We were like buzzing bees trying to
collect nectar so as to harvest the best honey.
While what we saw did not offer the sweet aroma of
honey it did give us an appetite for the necessity of
continued education.
Some of the pictures, on my web site,are graphic
so if you have a weak stomach, you may not want
to view them. However they do offer the divine
complexity of our Equine friends.
Our first two days were spent in a lab setting.
Nancy, the Professor of the dissection lab took us
through every nook and cranny of a pony cadaver.
I was amazed at the complexity of the body. I have
studied cadaver books and anatomy for several
years as a therapist. In this case, pictures have not
come close to a thousand words.
The second half of each day we were given our
own body part to explore and test our knowledge.
That is where the real fun began. Finally, really
looking at the horse from the inside out. One of the
cadavers, had the womb intact, and there was an
unborn treasure inside. What happened to this
mare that caused her to be donated to a lab is
unknown, but I am thankful for the opportunity and
sacrifice of her owner. As you will see from the
pictures we were all mesmerized and bewildered.
We know so little yet we have come to know so
much. The field of Massage Therapy, thanks to
people like Mike Scott, is cultivating a network of
astute technicians aspiring to maintain the health
and well being of the horse.
The two days following the Lab was spent with
Mike Scott author of “Equine Massage / Muscle
Therapy” and JP Hourdebaight, author of “Equine
Massage, A Practical Guide.” Mike and JP have
been friends and associates for many years,
educating and mentoring therapists like myself
worldwide.
JP’s lecture and hands on clinic focused on
Myofascial Massage, Fascia Compensation, TMJ
and even a bit of Orthopedic Manipulation.
Myofascial Compensation was extremely
interesting. For example…grab the edge of your
shirt and pull, what happens to the fabric? The line
in the fabric is a good representation of what
happens to fascia. Fascia is the , fabric that is the
horse. Fascia encases every muscle fiber, muscle
layer, organ, bone, nerve, and blood vessel. In
addition Fascia in its highly nutritive, hydrated
state enables the body as a whole to function
properly. Feed and supplementation are utilized to
the fullest.
However when compromised digestion, circulation,
emotion, stamina and over all function is impaired.
This is why horses and humans alike have the
domino effect. Many of us do not know what all has
gone on in our horses life. A horse may go along
just fine and with no apparent reason things will
begin to surface. A little stiffness, shortened stride,
refusal, bad attitude, weight loss, the list is endless.
Then the last domino will fall and you have
unexplained lameness or illness.
Fascia is very complex and when stress, injury or
just a simple nip from another horse is introduced,
the fascia is affected. Myofascial Compensation is
usually a by-product of pain. Compensation is the
bodies way of keeping systems going. Many times
when we think we are feeling scar tissue in a
muscle it is actually fascia that has been restricted.
When fascia is stimulated during Myofascial
massage, we begin to re-stack the domino's, if you
will. This enables the horse to regain balance and
freedom as designed.

CAUTION:

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