http://www.vcequinemassage.com/

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

11/03/2026

'Do you need them tied up?'

is probably one of the first questions asked during a session, and the answer is, it depends!

For a first session where I don't know the horse, generally I either have the owner hold them, or we loosely tie them up close to where they can access their haynet if needed.

As I get to know your horse over subsequent sessions, then my aim is to be able to work with them loose in the stable. That doesn't work for every horse, but even if I do continue to work with them tied up, I am always keeping an eye on them so I can respond to their needs - ie if they want to pop to their favourite corner to 💩, or they need 'unhooked' so they can scratch an itchy itch on their own if I'm not doing it to their satisfaction.

Sometimes I need to have them tied up for everyone's safety if they are sore + reactive - you don't win any 'good massage therapist' medals from working on a horse loose and getting kicked in the head 🙈

Either way, I'm listening to your horses body language about what they need from me, and how engaged they are - they always have a choice

Beautiful Cardea loves her 'free range' sessions ❤️

05/03/2026

My job often consists of sleepy, yawny, relaxed ponies. But a huge part of it is also assessing horses at rest and in motion, supporting owners, and making the appropriate referrals when needed. Kodys mum Charlotte is incredibly proactive with her horses management, and this was Kodys second session since they reintroduced work. Charlotte had felt something wasn't right, and with a full dynamic and static assessment, it became apparent that veterinary referral was the appropriate next step, so we took these videos to send to Ardene House Equine Vets

Charlotte is sharing a series of updates on Kody over on Instagram if you'd like to follow along!

01/03/2026

No matter the weather, a photo session with your horse is always beautiful

01/03/2026

I’m sorry, but I’m not always going to tell you what you want to hear.

Sometimes it sounds like -

‘Your horse needs further input from another professional’

‘Your horse isn’t currently fit for ridden work’

‘Your horse needs to be seen by a vet’

I don’t say any of these things lightly.

I’m not a vet and I cannot diagnose. But I will say what I see and feel during the pre session assessment, or at any point during the session. Sometimes, it means you making simple management changes. Other times, it means me recommending referral to the appropriate professional.

And no, that doesn’t always make me popular.

I’ve had to recommend no riding and immediate vet referral for horses that are in full work. It’s never easy delivering difficult feedback, especially when you’re seeing a horse for the first time. But the horses welfare will always be my priority.

Sometimes I won’t see that horse again, and I understand that. I don’t take offence. But I don’t say the hard things without good reason. Sometimes it’s a simple fix, like a saddle adjustment or a dentist visit. Other times it’s more complicated - lameness work ups, scopes or xrays. But the first step is always referral to another professional within your horses team ❤️

And being part of a horse’s routine maintenance schedule also means we can spot subtle changes early - the small shifts that are easy to miss day-to-day. This allows issues to be addressed sooner, horses to be more comfortable in their work, and their long term welfare to stay at the centre of every decision

25/02/2026

If in the last week you’ve caught yourself thinking “is it just my horse behaving like THIS?” or noticed a sharp rise in your creative swear word usage…I promise, you’re not alone 🙈

Coat change season is well and truly here, and it can be a big deal for horses. Longer days, fluctuating temperatures, fresh spring grass, hormonal shifts and shedding winter coats all place extra demand on the body, and it can leave them feeling less than 100%.

Some will go dull, lethargic and grumpy. Others turn sharp, spooky + opinionated, leaving you clinging to the neck strap and muttering prayers. Either way, it’s usually a sign they need a bit more support as we head into spring.

So what can we do to help?

- Massage/bodywork: Keeping up your regular sessions (or booking one if you’re overdue) is important. Releasing muscle tension, improving circulation and encouraging relaxation gives the nervous system a chance to downshift and take the edge off. For the itchy, uncomfortable ones, I’m always happy to provide some quality scratch-based therapy too 😂

- Horses need salt year round, but a little extra in spring can be especially helpful as new grass is higher in potassium. Loose salt can be added to feeds, or a separate bucket of drinking water with salt can be provided alongside their usual water source

- Think about liver support. Milk thistle is a useful supplement in spring and autumn to support liver and digestive function, with added antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

- Proper grooming, and not just a quick surface brush. Grab a rubber curry and let your horse guide you on where (and how hard) they’d like you to rub. You will immediately become their favourite human.

- Review your feed. Do quantities need adjusting before the spring grass really kicks in? Would extra gut support help?

- If you have a mare, it may be time to introduce hormonal support if you feel she is struggling. Agnus Castus is the base of most mare supplements and can also be fed on its own.

We can’t fix everything, but a little extra care now can make the transition from winter to spring much smoother.

How are your horses feeling at the moment?

20/02/2026

Do you know what these lines are?

They will often 'pop up' on horses during a massage session as lymphatic fluid is moved around the body, but they aren't actually directly related to lymphatic drainage

These lines are called 'lines of blaschko' and they are thought to represent the pathways of epidermal cell migration during the development of the horse in utero.

They can also occur in dogs and humans but are usually invisible.

When they showed up so clearly during Boons session today, I thought they'd make a fun friday fact!

Have you seen these on your horse?

17/02/2026

'The Regulars'

Bertie is one of my OG clients, and ahead of his trip down to Howe this weekend, he had his regular massage session to have him feeling at his very best for competing! He told me he felt it was far too long since he last had his photo up on my page, and very kindly gave me the sookiest hug, so I couldn't not take a picture!

(Number of layers approximately 63884 because it is FREEZING)

12/02/2026

Massage is the quiet work.

No spectacle. No forcing a reaction.

Just skilled hands, a tuned in body + mind, and an understanding of the horse in front of me.

Real change doesn’t announce itself. Usually the biggest changes happen in the quietest 'she's not really doing a lot there is she?' moments.

Massage is simple, but exceptionally effective. I don’t promise to 'fix' your horse, but it can + will support their wellbeing, soundness, performance, and long-term health.

Every session is responsive, intuitive, and tailored to your horse, whether it’s their first massage or their 50th.

Massage is quiet work, but it carries real power.

If you’d like to discuss how I can support your horse, get in touch.

08/02/2026

𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗𝕗?

Think about this - when your car wheel is squeaking, you don't wait till the wheel has fallen off before taking the car to the garage - you take it when it first tells you there's an issue, right, because it's hard to ignore the warning lights when they flash up on your dashboard, right?

Horses can be very stoic, and their first 'squeaks' may often be silent, or so subtle, they are easy to miss or write off as something else. And they unfortunately don't have warning lights! They might only REALLY let you know there is an issue, just before the 'wheel' comes off, and by that time, fixing the problem may take more time (and money!) than it would had it been addressed long before. If you've ever found yourself making an excuse for what could be a pain related behaviour, ask yourself 'what is my horse trying to tell me?'. They only have one way to communicate, and we should take heed of their whispers, before they have to shout!

A standalone massage treatment will help your horse and make a difference, but, ultimately, REGULAR sessions are needed to ensure optimal comfort + performance. This allows your therapist to pick up on any changes/areas of tension that are causing issues (or may become an issue) quickly, meaning interventions can be made long before they become that 'wheel' falling off, and possibly incur a vets bill!

So how regular is regular? In my dream world, I'd see every horse, every month (and I am lucky to have monthly clients who range from competition horses to companion ponies!), but I know that isn't feasible for everyone. I'll suggest a plan individualised to you + your horses personal circumstances - some horses routine maintenance schedule may be every 8-12 weeks, for others it may be 4-6 - it really does depend. For horses who have issues that become apparent during their initial session, or are in rehabilitation, again I"ll discuss an individualised plan, also taking in to consideration what input they are having from other professionals (vet/physio etc), as well as financial constraints. Bodywork/equine massage isn't just a treat or a pamper, it's a treatment that will improve comfort, performance and help promote future soundness, so if you're not already making space for it in your horses routine, drop me a note to see how I can help your horse!

05/02/2026

2026 Pricing and Payment Options

Equine massage is a powerful, effective therapy, and I love supporting horses of every type + discipline with simple, gentle hands on techniques that elicit positive change. One of the first questions I'm usually asked in enquiry messages is 'how much is a session' so I thought I'd answer this question here

First appointment including assessment and treatment - £50

Routine follow up sessions - £45

Ready to commit to regular sessions?

Monthly - £40

Every second month - £43

Annual payment plans are available which save 12-15% on regular pricing. If you're a regular client and want to take advantage of this additional saving, message me for details!

And if you're a regular client and you're not already in my client fb group, let me know and I'll send you the link!

22/01/2026

Put a Finger Down - January Equestrian Survival Mode

Hold up both hands ✋🤚 and put a finger down if this January you have -

🦄 cried (for no reason at all, obviously)

🦄 cancelled plans because the weather hates you personally

🦄 whispered a final prayer before mounting your 'quiet' horse

🦄 lost all sensation in your fingers, toes, and will to live

🦄 been physically unable to reach the yard because snow

🦄 questioned every life choice that led you to owning a horse

🦄 googled 'full livery near me' at least once

🦄 bravely smashed ice with your foot and immediately regretted it

🦄 defrosted frozen taps using boiling water, tears, and false hope

🦄 decided 2026 goals can wait… possibly forever

Be honest - how many fingers are you still holding up? Or are we just making fists now? 😜🙈

Vivienne Cruddace - Equine Massage Therapy

11/03/2026

05/03/2026

01/03/2026

01/03/2026

25/02/2026

20/02/2026

17/02/2026

12/02/2026

08/02/2026

05/02/2026

22/01/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category