December

Massage for horse and rider

Some horse owners, especially those who compete in demanding sports, regard equine massage as an essential component of their conditioning program. But who wouldn’t be jealous seeing the horses melt into relaxation as they’re being worked on?

Enter the dual-certified massage therapist, qualified to soothe aching equine and human muscles alike.

Cindi Gill, owner of Body Business Day Spa in Durant, Oklahoma, has been massaging people for more than 20 years. About seven years ago she learned how to do equine massage so she could be a part of her family's horse-loving lifestyle.

“As far as conditioning the athlete with sports massage, it’s great for both” horse and rider, Gill said. “It’s incredible what you can do with them as far as their performance levels.”

Gill and her husband, Sam, now teach equine massage to others. One of her students was Tawna Burk, the wife of one of the nation’s top professional calf ropers, Blair Burk.

“We thought it’d be a good deal for our horses,” Blair said. Tawna massages his horses while the couple is on the road, traveling from rodeo to rodeo. At home, Gill works on the Burks' horses, as well as on the Burks themselves.

“I’ve had back problems for the last five years,” Blair said. Massage “keeps me in business and able to rope and flank and tie calves.”

His three competitive horses “get so muscle-sore from hauling (in the horse trailer) and making runs. So they all get massages. It just helps them stay feeling good.”

— Holly Hendrix