"I believe massage is just as important for our horses as shoeing and dental work," says Rebecca Thomas.  "Horses are not all perfectly balanced – and horses weren't meant to carry riders at all, much less jump fence after fence, collect for sustained periods of training and competition, or be confined in small spaces 23 hours a day.  Equine body work can help our horses recover from the stresses and strains we impose on them, as well as help improve chronic physical conditions such as arthritis."

     Rebecca comes by her empathy with horses naturally.  She's been an owner and rider herself, although she's currently horse-less since the death of her beloved equine partner, Webster, a couple of years ago.  "I like to think that the work I do is giving back to my client horses some of what Webster and other wonderful horses have given me through the years.  Horses have changed my life, very much for the better, and I get great personal satisfaction from being able to help change their lives for the better, too."

     Rebecca uses a combination of sports massage, acupressure, Shiatsu, and nutritional counseling to help her client horses.  She is quick to clarify, "I don't cure, and my work is not a substitute for the vet.  I work with veterinarians, and conventional medicine, to help horses feel better.  If there's a problem, the first thing to do is call the vet.  Rule out a medical situation, or work with it if there is one, then let's help your horse with body work."

     Regular massage not only help horses feel better and perform better, it helps to create a bond between horse and rider.  "Horses aren't motorcycles; you can't spend a few minutes polishing the chrome, take them out for a ride, and just put them away until next time."  Rebecca strongly states her philosophy.  "Regular massage helps muscles recover from injury as well as everyday stress and strain.  It helps the horse move more effectively, increase their range of motion, improve their performance and gait quality, increase stamina, and boost their immune system so they're less susceptible to colic, colds, and other ailments."

     Horses in the wild massage each other, as do good old pasture pals.  Who hasn't smiled to see a couple of horses standing side by side, nose to tail, scratching each others withers with their teeth?  "Horses confined to a stall or individual paddock can't do that, unfortunately," Rebecca notes.  "They need it, however.  Five minutes of quick grooming before a ride doesn't do the same thing."

     That's where Rebecca comes into the picture.  She travels to clients' barns throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, and Sonoma counties, working on everything from A circuit hunters and jumpers to barrel horses to pleasure and trail horses.

     Certified by Equinology, where she studied with Debranne Patillo and Susan Tenney, Rebecca is a living example of creating success by doing what one loves.  "It gives me a lot of satisfaction when I arrive at a barn, and my clients (the horses, I mean) see me and they just relax, knowing I'm going to help them feel better.  In fact, I work on one horse who gives me a horse hug every time I finish working on him.  How great is that?"

     It doesn't get any better than that!

     For more information about Rebecca Thomas Equine Body Work, visit her web site at www.equinebodywork.net or call 510-304-1890.

Rebecca Thomas, Helping Horses Through Equine Body Work  By Nan Meek