The Merishia Animal Massage Course

Equine and Canine available as separate courses.

Massage is a wonderful way to develop a strong bond between you and your animal, achieve relaxation and improved performance, and reduce the risk of injury. It has been extremely rewarding to see the delight so many owners gain from learning this skill and applying it to their own animals on a regular basis. Learning to massage enables you to assess where there is tension and discomfort, and then treat those areas with simple but extremely effective techniques - you can see the muscles release before your eyes and your animal's responses will leave you in no doubt as to how much better they feel.

Often riders will have to deal with various behavioural symptoms, such as leaning on one rein, incorrect canter lead, stiffness turning one way, bucking, refusing to jump or general reluctance to work. Where disease and lameness have been ruled out as the cause, there is commonly muscle spasm and tightness leading to restricted movement and lack of performance or the symptoms listed above. Massage can release this tightness, enabling your horse to move freely again and the symptoms will resolve.

Dogs have different behavioural symptoms but these are no less important. Frequently, dogs will lie down on the same side every time, or sit to one side, they may consistently get up when told to "sit stay" or "down stay", they may run with their hindend carried to one side or appear stiff and uncomfortable either after exercise or after rest. Once again, where disease and lameness have been ruled out as the cause, muscle spasm and soreness lead to restricted movement and these "behaviours" which do not resolve.

This course combines theory and practical sessions to teach the critical points of massage and stretching techniques that will improve an animal's suppleness and capabilities, hence increasing the longevity of career and comfort in life generally. The course is part homestudy and part practical, with email and telephone support as necessary. The course takes most students four to six months to complete, although some students do take longer and there is no time limit as long as students maintain contact to confirm they are still studying.

Course content of 60 topic areas includes:

Benefits of massage; Musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology; Symptoms of spasm; Causes of spasm; Prevention of spasm; Gait analysis; Aftercare advice; Legal implications; Contraindications; Massage strokes; Stretching exercises; Treatment procedure and much more

We use continual assessment to monitor your progress on the course and successful completion is awarded with the Merishia Therapy Certificate. Membership of the Association of Merishia Therapists and Insurance cover is also available. On completion of the practical element of the course, you are eligible for the Advanced Massage Day courses we run on a twice annual basis to develop your skills further.

Comments from previous students:

"Very informative. Taught in a friendly and relaxed manner that made learning easy and enjoyable"

"Clear, concise, informative and very enjoyable"

"The concept of being able to massage my own horses - and after attending the practical day seeing their responses during massage"

Course cost:

Full Animal Massage Course £189

Equine Massage Course £129

Canine Massage Course £99

To receive a Brochure or Application Form either Contact us or Download a brochure by clicking here and an application form by clicking here

The Horse Owners Massage Booklet

The Horse Owners Massage Booklet is a fun, easy to work through and highly informative booklet, designed to help you as the horse owner massage your horse or pony on a regular basis. The techniques, though simple, are extremely effective and will allow your horse to relax and benefit from this age-old therapy at relatively low-cost to you as the owner.

Full of colour pictures demonstrating the massage techniques, stretches and so much more, the Booklet will help you to achieve a deeper bond with your horse and develop your skills and sensitivity to how your horse feels on a daily basis.

Each Booklet is accompanied by telephone or email support, so if you have any questions or wish to discuss your horse, we will be happy to help you in any way we can.

The Horseowners Massage Booklet costs £15 of which £1.50 will be donated to an equine charity. The current beneficiary is the Riding For Disabled Conquest Centre, based in Taunton.

To receive your Massage Booklet, please email here for full details, or to download a Booklet Brochure click here and for a Booklet Application form click here.