25/03/2026
✨𝔼𝕋𝔸𝔸 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕡𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 ✨
Introducing our Therapist Spotlight for March - Jeanne Ibarra, from ’Sport Ease
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔?
Equine Sports Massage
𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒕?
I have been passionate about horses for as long as I can remember, and over the years I have taken on a variety of roles, including stablehand, groom, working student, home rider, coach, and stable manager. I have always had a tendency to question things, and a few years ago, while working as a coach in a riding school, I went through a phase where I struggled to make sense of what I was doing. I didn’t feel like I was truly benefiting the horses, and I knew I needed a change. That’s when I discovered Equestricare and their equine massage therapy course. I decided to give it a try - with no regrets. It opened a new door for me, also introducing me to different modalities and a whole new way of understanding and supporting both horses and riders.
𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒖𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒓..
My business offers equine massage therapy, coaching, and training services. I am passionate about helping horses feel better, but also about teaching people how to better support and understand their horses. Coaching, therefore, feels like a natural extension of my work, especially now that I operate within my own business, where I can align my practices with my values around horse welfare.
After completing my equine sports massage qualification, I have continued my education through various courses, including saddle and bit fitting, acupressure, and Emmett Technique Level 1. I am also currently finishing my Equitation Science Diploma, which has significantly deepened my understanding of how horses learn, how to train them effectively, and how to ensure safety and welfare.
I see all these areas as highly complementary. A better understanding of learning theory, for example, allows me to be both a more effective therapist and a more informed coach when advising my clients. I am very passionate about continuing my education, as I believe ongoing learning is essential to improving our practice and providing the best possible outcomes for both horses and their owners. I would love to further develop my skills in Emmett therapy and am also very interested in exploring the Masterson Method.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒋𝒐𝒃?
While seeing a horse relax during a massage and release tension is very rewarding, the most enjoyable part of my work is collaborating with owners who genuinely want to improve their horse’s wellbeing. I don’t find the same satisfaction when a massage is seen as a quick fix for deeper issues. What truly gives my work meaning is being able to advise owners, make practical recommendations, and sometimes provide emotional support to those who are invested in understanding their horses - how they function, why certain behaviours occur, and what can be done to help. For me, it goes beyond the hour of massage. Being able to support both the horse and the owner in improving overall equine welfare - which often improves the rider’s experience as well - is what I find most fulfilling.
𝑨𝒏𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍?
I have encountered several cases that I found particularly influential and worth highlighting, where the most meaningful improvements came not from the massage itself, but from appropriate management changes. For example, increasing turnout or addressing saddle fit often had a far greater impact on the horse’s comfort and performance. For me, these experiences have reinforced the importance of being able to communicate effectively with owners and make informed recommendations to support the horse in the long term. While massage plays an important role in maintaining muscle health and promoting comfort, it cannot resolve conflict behaviours such as rearing, bucking, or reluctance to move forward if underlying issues remain. Problems such as poorly fitting tack, limited turnout, or inappropriate nutrition must be addressed first. These cases highlight the importance of education for both practitioners and owners as a key factor in improving equine welfare.
𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒓?
I believe one of the most important things is to remain open-minded and committed to continuous learning - and that learning doesn’t have to be strictly limited to bodywork. Having some knowledge in areas such as nutrition or saddle fitting can be incredibly valuable, as it helps you ask the right questions and guide horse owners more effectively. Education should truly be a priority: learn as much as you can, while also recognising that you will never know everything. The saying “the more you know, the less you feel you know” often proves very true.
At the same time, gaining hands-on experience is essential. While theory provides the foundation, nothing can replace working with a wide range of horses. Horses are living beings, and they can be complex to read and understand. That is why it is so important to keep learning, while staying humble in the face of how much there is still to discover. This also means recognising when something is outside your scope and not being afraid to recommend other professionals, such as veterinarians or equine physiotherapists, when needed.
Lastly, be kind and patient! What may seem obvious to you as a professional is not necessarily obvious to a horse owner. Most people genuinely want to do well for their horses, but they do not always know how. Being patient, supportive, and non-judgmental is essential to building trust and ultimately helping both the horse and the owner.
