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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 11, 2004 For horses, therein lies the rub By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Like any athlete, C.J. the quarter horse receives his share of bumps and bruises That's why his owner, Carole McMillan of Ashland, a member of the Southern Oregon Hunter/Jumper Association, has provided an equine sports massage each month for more than two years for C.J. Makenzie Michel, a certified equine massage therapist and horse trainer, stretches the leg of 8-year-old "Dreamer." Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings "If they're sore and unhappy, the horse is not going to have a full range of movement and won't be able to do the best they can do," said Makenzie Michel, a certified equine massage therapist and horse trainer, who works with C.J. and other horses throughout the region. "It's a growing field. People are now realizing the need for equine massage. It can relax the muscles and improve motion." McMillan has seen a marked improvement in the movement of her 8-year-old, 1,100-pound horse, who resides at the Curly Willow Ranch in Ashland. "A few days after the massage, I can tell he's a little looser, moves a little bit more freely and is much more relaxed," she said. "It's been beneficial for my horse." On a recent afternoon at the ranch, C.J. was in ecstasy as he received his nearly 60-minute massage. Michel went to work massaging the horse, going down his neck, back and hind areas. Michel started to rub gently, yet firmly, going deep into the tissue. She said the equine massage helps horses with a variety of aliments such as shoulder and hind-end lameness, sore back problems, girth discomfort and lateral flexion. C.J. was so relaxed she was able to stretch his front legs with no fuss from the horse. He was obviously enjoying his massage experience as he moved his head back and forth, his mouth twitching in pleasure, as he made little noises of enjoyment "Sometimes, he'll just put his head down and almost start snoring," McMillan said. "It's like total relaxation for him." At first, most horses are somewhat wary of a stranger touching them. "Horses are usually skeptical at first," Michel said. "There's someone putting their hands on their sensitive parts and they're like, 'What are they doing?' It takes time, because we really want them to be comfortable, pliable and relaxed." C.J. was no exception. "He wouldn't sit still for her," McMillan recalled. "He would just dance around and was all over the place. We could barley hold him. But by the third time, he was hooked." Michel concurred. "He would run you over and push you," she said. "It took time to gain his trust, but we have become the best of friends." While some horses can tolerate a fair amount of pressure, Michel has to be more gentle on C.J., who has a moderate threshold for pain. "He can be a real wuss if it gets a little too hard," she said with a laugh. "Each horse is different. They're unique individuals." McMillan appreciates what Michel has done with C.J. and her manner with him. Besides the massage, she is also his trainer. "She's compassionate and has a very calm demeanor," McMillan said. "And that comes through to the horse. They know she's not going to harm them." The beneficial effects of equine massage include: o Helping to compensate, at least in part, for lack of exercise and muscular contraction in horses who, because of injury, illness or age, are forced to remain inactive. In these cases, massage helps return venous blood to the ear and eases the strain of this vital organ. o Relaxing muscle spasms and relieving tension. o Stretching connective tissue, improving circulation and nutrition, which helps break down or prevent the formation of adhesion and reduces the danger of fibrosis. o Dispersing the edema following injury to ligaments and tendons, lessens pain and facilities movement. o Improving muscle tone and helping prevent or delay muscular atrophy resulting from forced inactivity. On Sunday, SOJA will host a equine massage and stretching clinic at the Curly Willow Ranch, featuring equine demonstrations by Michel. The event be at 1 p.m. at the ranch, located at 151 Ashland Acres Lane. For more information, call Michel at 301-1245, or McMillan at 840-9464. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams