Equine & Individual Wellness Services
Equine Services
Felix Fantasia owned by Cloudette Heichel
Our equine massage sessions are designed to enhance your horse's well-being and performance. Each session typically lasts between 60 to 75 minutes, allowing for a thorough and beneficial treatment. The session may include myofascial release, trigger point massage or other techniques to best address your horse’s needs.
Benefits of Equine Massage
Improved Circulation and Immune Support: Massage helps to increase blood flow, delivering essential nutrients to muscles and tissues, and aiding in the removal of metabolic waste.
Reduced Muscle Soreness and Stiffness: Targeted massage techniques can alleviate tension and soreness, promoting greater flexibility and comfort.
Enhanced Performance: By addressing muscular imbalances and improving range of motion, equine massage can contribute to better athletic performance and a more harmonious partnership between horse and rider.
Stress Reduction: Massage can have a calming effect on horses, reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation.
Injury Prevention and Recovery: Regular massage can help identify potential problem areas early, aid in the recovery process after injury, and reduce the risk of future issues.
Disclaimer: Equine massage is not a substitute for veterinary care. We do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any medical conditions. We are happy to work in conjunction with your veterinarian to best support your horse's health. Please consult your veterinarian for any health concerns your horse may have. A vet release form may be required prior to treatment: Download Vet Release Form
Pricing: $120 per session
For your convenience, we accept a variety of payment methods, including Cash, Check, Venmo.
Preparing For Your Horses session
To ensure a positive and productive session for your horse, here's what to expect:
Before We Begin: We'll ask you to complete a brief health intake form before our first appointment.
Timing: A typical session lasts between 60 to 75 minutes, allowing for a thorough and beneficial treatment.
Ideal Location: Please have your horse ready in a calm, familiar space where they feel relaxed and safe. A clean stall or a quiet cross-tie area works best.
Owner's Presence: Your presence during the first session is highly recommended. It allows us to discuss your horse's needs in person and get to know them together. For future sessions, we just ask that your horse is ready and waiting at our agreed-upon location.
After the Session: Please give your horse a chance to relax. It's best if they can be turned out or hand-walked. It's also important they have plenty of fresh water, as they will typically increase their intake after bodywork.
Rider or Individual Services
We bring the healing power of professional bodywork directly to your home or office. Each session is a personalized experience, and is designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. The session may include deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, or other techniques to best address your individual needs and help you restore balance and well-being in the comfort of your own space.
Benefits of Massage for the rider or individual
Reduces Pain & Tension: By releasing chronic tension and addressing trigger points, massage directly alleviates muscle soreness, pain, and discomfort.
Improves Mobility & Posture: It increases flexibility and range of motion while correcting postural imbalances for more comfortable, efficient movement.
Accelerates Recovery: Massage reduces inflammation and stimulates circulation, allowing the body to heal and recover from physical strain more quickly.
Enhances Well-being: By lowering stress hormones and boosting "feel-good" chemicals, it promotes deep relaxation, improves sleep, and reduces anxiety.
Fosters Body Awareness: Regular sessions help you become more attuned to your body's signals, allowing for proactive care and a stronger mind-body connection.
Pricing
60 Minutes
$120
90 Minutes
$150
120 Minutes
$200
For your convenience, we accept a variety of payment methods, including Cash, Check, Venmo, and all major Credit Cards through our secure online payment system.
Preparing For Your session
To ensure a positive and productive session for yourself, here's what to expect:
Before We Begin: We'll ask you to complete a brief health intake form prior to your first appointment.
Ideal Location: Please have a 6x9 space cleared and free of any tripping hazards before the start of our appointment. A calm, quiet area where you can focus on yourself and relax is best.
What to Wear: Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to prepare for your session. You may disrobe to your level of comfort during the massage, as proper draping will be used to ensure you are covered and secure. Having a robe available for after your session can also make for a gentle transition.
Communication: We encourage open communication throughout your session. Please let us know about your comfort and pressure preferences so we can ensure you receive the most benefit from our time together.
After the Session: Drinking plenty of water and engaging in some gentle movement will help your body retain the benefits of the massage.
Integrated Wellness Approach
Understanding Biomechanical Interdependence
The relationship between horse and rider is a delicate and dynamic partnership. From a biomechanical perspective, you are two systems working as one. Your posture, balance, and movement patterns directly influence your horse's ability to move freely and correctly. When a rider compensates for their own physical imbalance, whether from old injuries, chronic tension, or daily habits, that tension is transferred directly through the saddle and rein to the horse. This is the essence of biomechanical interdependence.
Common Rider Compensation Patterns & Their Effect on Horses
Even small physical issues in a rider can create significant problems for a horse. Some common compensation patterns include:
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Uneven Seat
An unbalanced seat, often caused by a tight hip or an old ankle injury, can cause a horse to carry more weight on one side. This leads to uneven muscle development, back pain, and can manifest as a horse that "falls out" of a circle or has difficulty with a specific canter lead.
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Shoulder & Arm Tension
Holding tension in your shoulders or arms can create a rigid connection to the bit. This stiffness is felt by the horse and can cause them to become heavy on the forehand, resist the bit, or develop tension in their poll and neck.
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Stiff Hips & Pelvis
A rider with a stiff or "stuck" pelvis cannot absorb the horse's movement effectively. This creates a jarring, inconsistent ride that can lead to back pain and a choppy gait in the horse as they try to protect themselves from the jarring motion.
How Combined Treatment Improves Performance & Communication
Addressing both horse and rider simultaneously is the most effective way to improve their partnership. By combining therapeutic bodywork, we can:
Enhance Communication: When a rider moves with a balanced, fluid body, their aids become clearer and more consistent. The horse, in turn, can respond with more ease and precision, leading to a profound improvement in communication.
Promote Symmetrical Movement: Releasing a rider's physical imbalances allows them to sit squarely in the saddle, enabling the horse to move symmetrically. This prevents the development of compensatory issues and promotes a more balanced, powerful gait.
Optimize Performance: A horse and rider who are free of pain and physical restrictions can perform at their highest level, whether in the show ring or on the trail. By treating the partnership as a single unit, we help both individuals achieve peak athletic potential and a deeper connection.