Emily Fray, Equine Sports Massage

11/19/2025

Working on setting up a day to massage in the Chapel Hill area, if anyone would like to get on the list PM me!

11/13/2025

It's that time of year!

Unsure what to get your favorite equestrian (or your favorite horse), how about a package of equine massages? This is a great way to assure your horse is in tip top shape for the spring show season.

Three (3) massages for $200. This is a $240 value. Horse must be within an hour drive of downtown Southern Pines, NC. Massages must be used by June 30, 2026. Certificates for single massages are also available.

Current clients are welcome to take advantage of this offer!!

PM me to purchase!

11/12/2025

Happy Veterans Day!

07/24/2025

How do we find the line between allowing communication and providing discipline when in a bodywork session?

When I am making an evaluation into what is behavioral vs a horse trying to communicate pain/discomfort to me there are a few things I look at.

First, is the behavior repetitive and compulsive? If so, then it is likely something that needs retraining or redirection. If it is pain related there will often be a moment when we hit on an area of the body that is bothersome where the behavior will stop, change in intensity (one way or the other) or over a few sessions the behavior will lessen or there will be something that pops up in another area of the body.

Second, is the behavior a reaction that seems over the top for the amount of pressure applied? Pressure here applies to not just pressure of touch but also the pressure of containment, pressure of having another being in a horse's space etc. If their behavior seems really out of alignment with what is being asked that tells me that the horse is flooded and incapable in that moment of calm communication. This can look like rearing, sudden spooking etc, so large fight/flight reactions. This does not always mean hard discipline is necessary, but it does mean that a horse needs to calm a bit before allowing a line of communication that is respectful and relaxed.

Third, does the horse have a history of dangerous behavior. This one is tricky because sometimes dangerous behavior can be related to pain, but with these types of horses they have to be safe to work on before they can even benefit from body work. If a horse is really in defensive mode and ready to defend himself, your massage therapist will be too, and the tissues will be tense and not receptive to work.

These horses often need training intervention or veterinary intervention to break severe pain/behavior cycles before they are safe to work with.

So when do I ask an owner to step in and correct their horse? If there are biting attempts, repeated kicking attempts (especially if they are threatening when I am not even touching them) or if a horse is just not wanting to stand still because they are too concerned with what a herd mate is doing or some other distraction that is keeping them from engaging and being present in the space.

This doesn't always mean a correction. It can mean a redirection, a change of environment or circumstances. Sometimes the horses needs to move a little before they can be still, sometimes they do better with some hay or grass in front of them etc. As mentioned in previous posts, it is all communication and the goal is to provide a safe space where there is a two way line of dialogue.

07/22/2025

Sometimes it's OKAY for your horse to misbehave! Let me explain....

There is something that comes up frequently in massage appointments and that is an embarrassment from clients about their horse who is not standing still, who may kick out, who is head tossing or generally fidgeting.

I get it. We all want to show that our horse is a model citizen. However... in these cases I do not mind the movement, the irritation, the signals because this is all COMMUNICATION. And it is all valuable to helping guide the session and understanding how your specific horse likes to talk.

Sometimes your horse is really saying, "I don't know you and I don't feel comfortable or safe where you are working" or "It hurts and you are using too much pressure" or there is general confusion about what it is I am about so that causes a horse to not understand what they are meant to be doing. Most horses do not have a space where the only requirement is to receive. There is usually some sort of transaction that takes place. You do this and you get a treat, you stand here quietly and then we are going to ride, you ride well and you get to rest after. This can cause some anticipation around humans around what the next "thing" is that they will be asked to do.

When a horse is given the space to speak freely I can often see subtle places of pain, nervous system dysregulation, stress/worry, imbalances. This space can allow them to offload some of that energy without needing to blow up and yell about what they are feeling in order for us to listen.

This doesn't mean that horses don't have to behave with me. There are points where a horse can be taking advantage of their owner or myself or where their communicating in a way that is unsafe and those are moments that do need to be addressed, but most of the time, I find it we pause and give them some space to express themselves and we try to interpret the more subtle messages, we can save ourselves from bigger blow ups down the road.

There can be a fine line between necessary discipline and shutting down our horse's ability to talk.

So please believe me when, during a session, I say "I don't mind them moving, this isn't bothering me." Often they are just helping me to build a more clear picture of their world, their body and the sensations that they are feeling.

07/20/2025

You can feel something is off...

Maybe it is a subtle shift in balance or your horse moves away from you when they are normally rock solid.

Perhaps it is a tension in the eye or mouth or a general feeling of "not quite right."

You know something isn't right.

You know your horse better than anyone else.

You aren't being dramatic. You are attuned.

Sometimes......

before another supplement, before another vet visit, before another guessing game of is it ulcers, it is behavioral, is it pain...

You just need to stop. Observe. Sit quietly and listen to what your horse is trying to tell you.

Every flick of the tail, every twitch of the skin, every shake of the head is valuable information that helps us put together a picture.

So often we are quick to dismiss our horse's language as misbehavior, impatience, pain when in reality, their "words" have gotten louder because we ignored the subtle whispers.

What is your horse saying to you today?

07/02/2025

This was such a fun interview! Thank you The Horse Concierge for the conversation. 😀

Welcome to Behind the Barn Door — a series by The Horse Concierge, where we connect real horse owners with the trusted professionals who help their horses th...

06/30/2025

🐴 JD could barely walk. But thanks to the right care team — including incredible equine bodyworker Emily Fray — he’s thriving today. This is exactly why I started Behind the Barn Door — to spotlight the real people making a difference in our horses’ lives.🎥 Watch Emily’s full interview and see her work in action:👉 https://www.thehorseconcierge.com/behind-the-barn-door Know a provider who deserves the spotlight? Nominate them on the page!

06/29/2025

06/28/2025

What fun things are you doing with your horse this weekend?

06/27/2025

Did you know that massage will cause some measure of inflammation and heat in the muscles? This means there are times when massage may not be appropriate.

As we are embarking on this heat wave, if your horse hasn't had massage done before and is quite young or quite old, if there are comorbidities, then jumping into massage therapy as a first time modality when it is 100 degrees may not be the best idea.

Horses that are not accustomed to regular body work and are dealing with other stressors (like the heat) can potentially be more at risk of colic.

Horses that are used to body work, and have good lymph drainage, can often tolerate massage just fine at higher temperatures.