Certified Equine Massage Therapist Deborah Londeau, owner of Equitherapies, starts her massages with the horse’s head and muzzle. Once a horse finds out massage feels good, he’ll let her do almost anything, including massaging his gums and hamstring muscles.
	Massage techniques range from kneading motions (left) to quick neck chops (right) to deep penetration with the fingertips (below).
	A typical horse massage lasts approximately 90 minutes, as Deborah Londeau continues to work the horse’s meridians, latissimus dorsi, brachiocephalicus and dozens of other muscles throughout the body.

This is what Deborah does. She travels to stables throughout America, laying hands on horses and making them feel good. “It’s great,” says Deborah, 43, of Fort Myers, Florida. “You’re massaging the horse, and then you see her roll her eyes and sigh, like she’s saying, ‘Oh, thank you!’, and that makes me feel really good, too.” Ten years ago, Deborah’s career would have been unthinkable. Equine massage therapy was virtually unheard of in the horse world. Now the practice is very popular.

“Massage relieves tension, increases performance and treats and prevents injury,” Deborah says. “This is good maintenance therapy,” she adds, “you don’t wait until the horse strains a muscle or tendon, or sprains a ligament. You do this before that happens.”

Deborah also massages dogs, including K-9 officers with the Fort Myers Police Department. “Any performance animal can benefit from this therapy,” she says.

Deborah’s knowledge of Equine and Canine Massage Therapy was gleaned from top instructors in North America. Deborah has had a genuine love of horses and dogs for over 30 years: owning and showing Quarter Horses, Morgans, Thoroughbreds, Clydesdales, and Peruvian Pasos. She was also an AKC breeder of Golden Retrievers for many years. She has worked with performance horses and dogs in the US, UK and Canada.

Deborah has taught at Texas A&M University, Florida Academy of Massage School, and Body Wisdom Massage School. She conducts monthly clinics in Ft. Myers, Florida. In July 2003 at she will teach a course at Body Wisdom Massage School in Iowa for Canine Massage Level 1 (3 days) Canine Level 2 (3 days) and Canine Level 3 (3 days). Another course will cover Equine Massage level 1 (5 days) and Equine Level 2 (5 days).

E-mail: Equitherapies

Equitherapies, Inc.
12414 McGregor Woods Circle  Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-707-7312   or  239-481-6143

Copyright 2003 - 2005 © Equitherapies, Inc.

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