STETTLER, Alta. – Working with a super-sized athlete that cannot explain where it hurts is the challenge horse masseuse Deanna Niwa faces every day.
Trained in specialized massage therapy and chiropractic treatment for horses, Niwa’s tools are her hands and powers of observation.
“Everything I do is based on observation and feel,” she said at a clinic during the Stettler Horse Congress Sept. 25.
“Massage therapy can increase their range of motion, it’ll improve their circulation, their disposition and even their stamina,” said Niwa, based in Wetaskiwin, Alta.
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Before she starts treatments, she talks with the horse owner to gain insight into what might be the root of the problem. An irritating saddle, an injury or even misaligned teeth may lead to neck and shoulder pain.
She needs to know if she is checking a professional working horse or a horse that is used for pleasure riding. The frequency of treatments depends on what the horse is used for and how often it works.
Difficulties for a horse may also be related to its age, equipment problems, slips and falls and trailer accidents.
Before she begins treatments, Niwa looks the horse over and studies its symmetry of muscling on both sides, as well as the set of the ears, knees, fetlocks and shoulders. She then makes the horse move at a trot.
“A trot is the gait when you see the most going on,” she said as she watched a four-year-old filly with an obviously sore shoulder move past her.
A horse with misalignments or muscle pain may not move in a balanced way, have a bad attitude, flick its tail or hold its head in a different way.
A horse may be sore on one side with pain showing up on the corresponding side as the animal overcompensates for discomfort.
A full massage takes about an hour and starts with light pressure. Niwa also provides stretches and may recommend heat treatments.
The horse may start to show improvements two days after the treatment when the effects of the massage settle in.
Most of Niwa’s work is with horses that are used for barrel racing, where the intensity of the sport can result in shoulder and pelvic injuries.
She is a graduate of Fairview College in Fairview, Alta., and has further training through Equinology Canada, a specialized program for horse care.
She advises clients to consult with their veterinarians and she warns owners against making adjustments to their animals if they are not properly trained.
