Ashke got worked on Saturday afternoon by a woman who was recommended to me. The experience was not what I was looking for and not at all what I expected.
I am in search of help for Ashke's reoccurring muscle soreness and short striding on his right hind. I am absolutely convinced that this is muscle related and caused, not so much by damage, as by him carrying himself incorrectly when he moves out of habit and the need to avoid pain. I think there might also be some chiro adjustment that needs work in his shoulders and maybe SI joint. I thought that a massage would help loosen muscles and relax ligiments, and hopefully bring some pain relief. I had been asking around the barn for that kind of treatment and had gotten a couple of recommendations.
The first recommendation, using lasers, I turned down because I didn't think it would be a good fit for Ashke. I want a practioner who will be sensitive and responsive to his reactions and my brief interaction with this woman was not positive in that sense. The second person I was introduced to had the energy about her that I want to work with Ashke. In fact, she reminded me of Diane. A lot. And came recommended by Diane. She is who I will use after we see Diane the end of November. I had an appt with her but we needed to reschedule for a later date (and now have postponed until after the chiro). I really wanted Ashke worked on now. So I opted to have someone work on him who had come recommended by a couple people in the barn. I scheduled the appt and then I had second thoughts. I should have listened, but I didn't want to wait. He was a little stiff and sore on Saturday, having tweeked that muscle again. I wanted work done on the muscle.
What I thought was going to be a massage ended up being energy work on Ashke. And an attempt at communication. Neither of which I needed, wanted or thought I was getting.
I'm also pretty sure it had zero effect on Ashke.
Enough said. If anyone wants a run down on what I thought and experienced, message me privately and I will share.
Going forward, our intervention will be focused on the physical and trying to get him strong and completely sound. I already see the effect that riding with dressage discipline (how else to describe it?) has had on his withers, back and haunches. He continues to improve and get stronger on a daily basis. And it's kind of fun.
Working Equitation here we come!
That's frustrating. I once had an offer for reiki healing on Simon when he was lame... but I tend to stick to tried and true things myself instead of the hocus pocus (imo).
ReplyDeleteThe problem with energy work in general and chi or reiki work in particular, whether combined with massage or not, is that it is specifically designed to trigger emotional memories when manipulating muscle. It is a very effective therapy when dealing with child sexual abuse, sexual violence, people who aren't able to vocalize or visualize trauma done to them. I've been a part of such therapy, always combined with massage though. Or touch of some kind. I'm not sure how that is supposed to work on horses.
ReplyDeleteI am also completely convinced that Ashke's problem is not emotional - he is very connected to me, he loves where he is, he isn't mean or aggressive. He is vocal to the people he knows. He loves his job. He needed a massage.