Rachel Gillard - Human and Equine Sports Massage

29/05/2024

Happy 3rd birthday Lola 🎂 🥳 I know I'm biased but she really is the prettiest girl 😍❤️

14/05/2024

Perk of the job, getting cuddles with this little cutie 💓 😍

12/05/2024

Love getting messages like this. It means the world to therapists to know that their helping make people/horses feel and move better😊👌

08/05/2024

Lovely snoozy post massage vibes from these two yesterday 😍

06/05/2024

A Common Question 🤔
Massage Therapists, Physios or Chiropractors?

Who should you use? 🤯

📌 Massage therapists, equine physios, and chiropractors can work together effectively to improve the overall health and performance of horses. Each of these professionals has a unique set of skills and techniques that can complement each other, leading to better outcomes for the horse.

📌 Equine physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat musculoskeletal injuries, including soft tissue and joint problems. They use various techniques, including massage, stretching, and exercise therapy, to improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance performance.

📌 Chiropractors specialise in treating spinal problems and joint dysfunction. They use spinal manipulation and other manual therapies to restore proper joint movement and alleviate pain.

📌 Massage therapists use their hands to manipulate soft tissue, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They can identify areas of tension, stiffness, and soreness, and use various massage techniques to reduce pain, improve circulation, and promote relaxation.

❤️ By working together, these professionals can provide a comprehensive approach to treating musculoskeletal issues in horses. For example, a massage therapist can help to loosen tight muscles and prepare the horse for chiropractic adjustment. The chiropractor can then perform spinal manipulation to restore proper joint movement, and the physiotherapist can use exercise therapy to strengthen weak muscles and prevent further injury.

💪 Working together, massage therapists, equine physios, and chiropractors can provide a holistic approach to equine healthcare, improving the overall well-being and performance of the horse.

Start a new Career in Equine Sports Massage , visit us on
www.equinemassagecareers.co.uk

05/05/2024

I have spent a few days over the last couple of weeks continuing my training. It's really important as a therapist to continue to learn and add new skills. Myofascial Release has been on my list for equines since I qualified and I'm thrilled to now be able to include this treatment in both equine and humans.

05/05/2024

Wonderful busy week, nice mix of riding and human and equine massages. Lovely to catch up with regular clients and meet some new faces. Added bonus of the 🌞 making an appearance 🙂

28/04/2024

27/04/2024

Fantastic couple of days learning. Can't wait to start putting into practice now and seeing the difference it makes

04/04/2024

I think we can all relate to this at the moment...even the non- horsey 😫🤣

21/03/2024

This is a great visual highlighting the importance of not just saddle fitting but how the rider may effect the shoulder too. Gripping the knees into the knee roll is going to really impact the horses shoulder movement as is tipping forward with your weight over the shoulders. Also interesting is the showing of the cobweb like fascia covering all the structures

20/03/2024

The global approach
1horse + 1 rider
=
1 horse and rider partnership
Both sides of the equation are as important as each other

So often you see people proclaiming about how their horse receives better care than them with their monthly massage/physio etc while they 'make do', there's even MEMES on it, but neglecting yourself means your only half helping your horse.
Why?
Like horses, us humans are really good at compensating for all the little niggles, aches and tensions, which eventually effect our posture and biomechanics. But what we often don't think about is the fact that the moment we sit in the saddle our issues then effect the horse, who, being the kind souls they are, will find a way to compensate for the rider as well as any issues that they may also have, making the horse work twice as hard to perform to its full ability and increasing the chance of injury.
Now, no-one likes to think that they are the problem but the fact is that sometimes we just are.
Do you ever struggle with that lateral flexion on one rein, have a tricky canter strike off or maybe your horse is lacking forwardness - these plus many others are all signs of rider disfunction as much as they might be the horse. Try taking a global horse and rider partnership approach to your therapy routine and see the difference!
Horse and rider combined sessions £65 inc 1hr horse and 1 hr rider treatment
To book or discuss call or WhatsApp 07786 537989
Pic of me and the special one just because😍

05/02/2024

‼️PROFESSIONAL GROOMS 20% DISCOUNT‼️
Are you a freelance groom, do you work on a competition yard, livery yard or equestrian centre?
I'm offering a fantastic 20% discount on all treatments to grooms working in the equine industry!
WHY??
As a career groom of 25 years and a current member of the British Grooms Association, I have experienced first hand the stress and strain the job puts on you both physically and mentally, i also know that we are not very good at putting our own welfare first, partly due to the time and financial restraints we face when working full time with horses. Having retrained as a sports massage therapist I want to make it more accessible to everyone in the industry. Sports massage is a great way to ease those aches and pains, improve mobility and prevent injury (as much as you can when horses are involved😬)whilst reducing stress and tension.
I'm fully mobile meaning I can come to you at your home or yard, or why not have chat with your employer about organising a yard clinic. Evening and weekend appointments available
For more information or to book an appointment please call or message 07786 537989

02/02/2024

Friday wisdom...

01/02/2024

Interesting article on starting regular therapy during the early years for good development

BY Laura Stephenson Horse owners today face a difficult balance to help their horses achieve good health and mobility, while minimizing risk of injury. In my work, I have found that it is very important to start our horses’ lives right, and keep good training and longevity at the fore of our prior...