http://www.vcequinemassage.com/

Vivienne Cruddace - Equine Massage Therapy, AB14 0, Aberdeen (2026)

11/01/2026

* New Client Spaces and Area Coverage *

Some housekeeping for January before we all *hopefully* get back to a normal routine!

I have a few spaces for new clients - my evening availability is always limited, but if you get in touch with your yard address, I may be able to accommodate you within existing visits. If you can manage a weekday daytime slot, I am able to offer a little more flexibility.

However, going forward in 2026 I am going to start decreasing the area I cover to yards within 30 minutes of AB14. This is to reduce the time I lose travelling, along with the associated costs. Before anyone panics, if you are a current club member on a monthly/bimonthly visit schedule, you will be unaffected by the change. Yard days outwith this radius may be possible but there would be a minimum number of horses required to arrange this.

Cancellations

You are all pretty amazing, so this doesn't happen often, and I understand that horses are horses - sometimes we just can't avoid cancellations. But cancellations for other reasons at short notice are unfair, and have a major impact on my income. Please also remember that for your horses benefit (and for your bank balance 🙈) that treatments should be spaced out unless by prior agreement with the professionals involved ❤️

If you have any questions, my inbox is always open!

10/01/2026

Don't be in a hurry.....

Living in Narnia may come to an end next week (prays 🙏🙌). And while you can be reassured that your horse won't have lost a lot of fitness in 2 weeks, they will either have

a) been standing in a stable for the majority of the time, with limited or no turnout

or

b) been trudging through hock deep snow, bracing against the blizzards and dealing with slippery underfoot conditions

Either way, their bodies aren't going to be feeling 100% optimal (I know mine isn't right now!)

A gentle return to work will help shake off the effects of the last 10 days. Hack where possible, or do gentle stretchy walk + trot work, for the first few rides before picking up anything more intense. And if your horse feels a bit niggly, pop me a note about how I can help - this is the perfect time to give your horse an extra little bit of support 🦄

08/01/2026

This is starting to not be very funny now....

If you are just in survival mode with your horses at the moment, that's ok

Forage, hydration, and as much movement as you can give them is the priority.

If you can manage, a really good deep groom is a lovely bonus - it will boost their circulation and get rid of all the itchies under their rugs

Riding....2026 plans....they can all wait.

Whether they've been kept in for a prolonged period, or they've been out trudging in the snow, your horses body may need some hands on support in the coming weeks to counteract the effects of this weather. Message me for my remaining January spaces....we have to thaw out sometime right?

hello@vcequinemassage.com
07958218910

03/01/2026

I'm sure it's not just me that's finding this weather a challenge! Unfortunately, a cold snap can also bring increased risks to our horses health, so here are some tips to help

- turnout where possible, but if it's not safe to do so, then encourage movement with hand walking, lunging, or riding if you have the facilities. Your horses digestive system needs movement to function 🏃‍♀️

- encourage fluid intake by adding hot water to water buckets to take the ice cold edge off. You can also create a water buffet with different buckets of flavoured waters, such as mint or apple, to entice your horse to drink

- give sloppy mashes and/or dampen your horses feed more than usual. Adding table salt to your horses feed can also encourage them to increase their fluid intake

- feed carrots! They have a high water content (85%) and I also leave mine in water (which also helps keep them fresh!)

- feed forage in small holed haynets to slow down their intake, and this also helps make sure their rations last longer

- be aware of your horses normal temperature, heart rate + respirations.

- be aware that horses can be colicking even if they are 💩-ing eating and drinking as normal. If your horse feels 'off' or 'not quite right' even though they are doing all of those things, then that warrants a call to your vet

- grooming your horse helps increase circulation + blood flow - now is the time to give them a proper groom if they are stuck in for a few days

- simple hands on massage techniques can help relieve muscle tension + stiffness, and aid lymphatic drainage + circulation

- treat or hay balls help break up the day, encourage movement in theur stable, and keeps their brains busy for a while

Hopefully we won't be in winters artic grip for too long and we can get to the yard without it feeling like an expedition soon!

If this was useful, please feel free to share 👍

02/01/2026

A very Happy New Year to you all and how I can help your horse in 2026!

I hope everyone is surviving the rather snowy start to the new year, and you've still got enough Christmas chocolate/cheese to help you cope 😂

I can't believe I'm entering my 5th full year as an equine bodyworker, and I have great plans to be slightly less useless on social media in 2026...but don't hold me to that. I thought a wee reminder about how I can help your horse might be useful as you plan your horses maintenance schedule!

Equine massage is an effective standalone therapy, or it can be used to complement an existing physio/chiro regime. Used regularly, massage can aid in keeping your horse in optimal health, so they can feel + perform to their best!

Massage benefits the WHOLE horse (not just the muscles + soft tissues) and through a varied range of techniques, massage can....

- Improve performance and general wellbeing

- Increase your horses range of motion and flexibility

- Help your horse to move efficiently, and enhance stride length

- Improve circulation, muscle tone and your horses coat

- Reduce muscle tension and soreness

- Help to prevent injury by promoting correct muscle function

- Develop your horses proprioception (their awareness of their body's position and body/limb movements - an important thing to work on, no matter what your horses job is!)

- Enhance your horses mental state through relaxation and the release of endorphins (the feel good hormone!)

I'm fully qualified, registered and insured, and I'm passionate about giving hands on support to help your horse soft, supple + comfortable. I use a variety of techniques to provide an intuitive, responsive and individualised treatment at every session.

I have a calm, quiet approach, and particularly enjoy working with sensitive horses to support them both physically and emotionally. The effects of massage can be especially profound in horses that haven't had the easiest of lives, or have suffered previous abuse/neglect.

First sessions may last up to 75 minutes (sometimes longer, if your horse needs it) and I treat the whole horse, from nose to tail. Prior to your appointment, I ask you to fill in a detailed booking form, and I'll ask for vet permission if your horse is under vet care at the time of your session.

During your session, we will chat about your horses history, any issues/concerns, and your future plans/goals. You are very welcome to ask questions/take photos/videos - it's really lovely to see how horses respond during a session and it can a big surprise when you're not sure how they will react beforehand!

I'm always happy to chat to owners prior to booking about how massage + bodywork can help their horse, so don't hesitate to get in touch - you can message me for an informal chat about your horses needs

30/12/2025

Just in case you need a reminder, today is Tuesday 😜😂

I'm at the diary now - my January evenings are pretty much full bar one or two spaces towards the end of the month for clients in Cults/Culter/Milltimber/Bogenraith/Westhill areas as I'm in those areas already. There's a few daytime spaces from 12th January onwards - if you want to get your horses 2026 off to a great start, message me to grab a slot!

If you haven't had a session before, I'm always happy to chat about how massage can help your horse specifically 🦄

26/12/2025

If the impending new year (or todays hangover) is making you feel a bit jingly jangly, here's a little reminder that it is 100% ok to take the pressure off 👍

24/12/2025

A very Merry Christmas from Ruby and I to all who celebrate it ✨️

We hope that however you spend your day, there is food, love and pony cuddles in abundance ❤️ (and carrots, lots of carrots, for our four legged chums)

I'm off now for a few days but I'll be back to work on Monday 29th December 👍

(Ruby would like you all to know the tinsel was NOT her idea)

21/12/2025

Happy Winter Solstice ☀️🌙✨️

We've made it to the shortest day! There may be plenty of mud, snow, wind and rain to come yet, but each day brings a little more light till spring greets us 😊

If FB cooperates, show me your favourite moment/photo from winter so far in the comments ❤️

This was from a little hack + school yesterday - a week ago we were fighting a horrible impaction colic, so this was special to me 💖

17/12/2025

When you're self employed, self doubt seems to like to pop out of dark corners and make you question your skills on a regular basis 😂

I *know* how effective massage therapy is, but even then I worry that for new clients, me rocking up with no fancy tools or machines, and then often quietly standing with their horse looking like I'm not doing very much (I am, I promise!), it might feel like they can't really see what, if anything, is happening

But my hands tell me so much about your horse, and can respond immediately to feedback from their body as the muscles + tissues relax and respond under touch.

And then I get messages like these, and see the physical + emotional changes in nervous, sensitive and 'difficult' horses, so I can remind myself that my *magic hands* are enough.

I'm constantly striving to learn + improve, but at the heart of my work will always be hands on techniques for your horses body + mind ❤️

04/12/2025

𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕤....

Since Santa probably isn't going to bring me a riding holiday in Africa, and he's told me I don't really NEED another EQUIDRY Bronte, anything from the list below would make me very happy instead ❤️ And I'm sure the same will apply to all the self employed equine practitioners who make up you + your horses support team!

🎄 Refer a friend

Even in the era of social media, word of mouth is still SO important to small businesses. Telling your friends + horsey acquaintances about a service/business you rate, sharing their information on your socials or dropping a link when someone asks in a Facebook group really makes a difference, and it's a good way to support your equine practioners without spending a penny.

🎄 Routine Appointments

Don't leave it till there is an issue to book your appointment. Book a regular slot to guarantee availability and keep on top of any developing niggly bits! Everyone's situation is different, but I have a discounted rate for my monthly + bimonthly members club which keeps your horse feeling tip top and leaves some more ££s in your pocket for carrots! It's also the biggest compliment when you book a repeat session
❤️ following on from that....

🎄 Take the plunge

If booking a massage session for your horse has been on your to do list for a while, take this as your sign to get in touch. I'm always happy to chat about how massage can help your horse specifically, and how it can work with other modalities of bodywork your horse may receive. Feel free to pop me a message - I'm nice, promise 😉😂

🎄 Write a review

A written review not only helps spread the word about a business, but it aids potential new clients when they are researching practitioners. And I know I'm not alone in saying that a review from a happy client literally makes my day - I may even do a happy dance when I see one has been left!

(You can leave one here on Facebook, or even better, over on google via this link - https://g.co/kgs/jsscF9 )

🎄Leave a little love

A like, comment, or share costs nothing but helps us beat the algorithm so that other people aside from our mum and Great Auntie Betty can see our posts 😂

🎄 Put it on your Santa list

Gift vouchers are the perfect way to treat a horsey friend + their deserving pony, or if you're struggling for ideas for your own Christmas list, then send your long suffering non horsey other half my way!

If I can help you + your horse, please don't hesitate to get in touch - I'd love to chat. Message me directly, email hello@vcequinemassage.com or pop me a whatsapp/text on 07958218910

www.vcequinemassage.com

03/12/2025

A moment for Conans excellent winter coat! At this time of year, I get lots of clients apologising about their fluffy horses, or the natural grease that's rubbed up during a massage. I promise, as long as your horse is dry and has had a decent brush, I can cope with even the floofiest winter coats 💪

(Just don't present me with a wet, muddy horse. That WILL make me sad)

Vivienne Cruddace - Equine Massage Therapy

11/01/2026

10/01/2026

08/01/2026

03/01/2026

02/01/2026

30/12/2025

26/12/2025

24/12/2025

21/12/2025

17/12/2025

04/12/2025

03/12/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category