***BLM News***![](media/image1.png){width="1.1826388888888888in"
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NEVADA STATE OFFICE NO. 2003-57

FOR RELEASE: July 9, 2003

CONTACT: Maxine Shane at 775-861-6586, or Phillip Guerrero at
702-498-6088

**Massage Therapy Comes to the Equine World**

RENO \-- Who doesn't like a back rub now and then? Especially if your
back bone is six feet long, you weigh 1,200 pounds and your shoes don't
fit right.

That's the idea behind a concept in the horse world bringing the healing
powers of massage to the equine. Coining the phrase "head-to-tail" to
describe the concept, Cindy Halverson **[of Sacramento]{.underline}**
brings her healing powers to the Reno Livestock Events Center

July 18--20 for the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo.

A horse enthusiast since age nine, Halverson has been involved with
massage therapy for years. She recently realized that therapeutic
massage works on animals as well as humans. "Equine Cranio-Sacral
therapy" or head to tail, is not dissimilar to human massage, but the
patients don't complain as much, Halverson jokes.

The massage steps are also similar. First she does an overall assessment
of the horse, and then she watches the animal's walk. Working in concert
with the owners, the massage therapist listens to the owner's overall
analysis of the animal's behavior or patterns and history. Halverson
then applies some hands-on therapy to assist the animal.

She's looking for inflammation, vertebrae out of alignment and other
signs of stress on the horse. Often the injury can be attributed to a
poor saddle fit.

"It's just like us wearing shoes that don't fit right," she explains.
"Our feet hurt, it affects our walk and pretty soon our back is out of
whack."

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MASSAGE THERAPY COMES TO THE EQUINE WORLD -- 2222

The difference is that a horse can't explain that its shoes don't fit.

"Most horse owners interpret the horse's action as behavioral, and it's
a purely physical thing," Halverson continued. "The horse just can't say
the saddle doesn't fit right, but it knows when it jumps it hurts, so it
stops jumping."

Many horse injuries can be attributed to problems with shoes, saddles,
bridles, bits and the riders. These problems are somewhat like the
issues people experience in the workplace. The relationship between
humans and machines is often called ergonomics, or more correctly,
biotechnology.

Certain people prefer certain chairs, and the position of the computer
screen can affect a person's body. An uncomfortable chair or a poorly
positioned computer monitor can have serious negative impacts on a
person's overall health, thereby affecting their behavior.

Horses likewise can sustain injuries doing normal "on the job" routines,
like jumping, Halverson explains.

"Jumpers can easily develop what we call jumper's hump," she said.
"That's where the vertebrae are out of sync. It produces a hump and it
hurts the horse."

Horse injuries can likewise be attributed to poor-fitting shoes, poor
saddle fit, and poor eating habits. Horses try to let their owners know
they are hurting through their actions, but theses actions are often
misinterpreted.

"You touch him without hurting him, that's body communication,"
Halverson explains.

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MASSAGE THERAPY COMES TO THE EQUINE WORLD -- 3333

A person who sleeps on their side on a pillow that is too small soon
ends up with a strained neck. A simple switch to a bigger, firmer pillow
can work miracles.

"It's hard to tell people they have the wrong equipment," she says. "But
at least people can say what they are feeling."

Horses must contend with countless events, as well as rider styles and
the size of the people who ride them. A quality saddle can run anywhere
from \$2,000 to \$5,000.

Cindy's Therapeutic Massage offers hands-on, light-touch treatment.

"Your intention is to feel the tissue, the muscles and the difference in
breathing" she says. "You perceive the touch, thereby making the muscles
relax. It's a mind over muscle kind of thing. You communicate with the
horse through body language."

> When Halverson comes to Reno she will work on both horses and people.

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Halverson can be contacted at 916-206-4197, or 916-791-1235

BLM has digital photos available to support this story. Call the
"contact numbers" listed above for photos.

EDITOR'S NOTE: BLM Nevada offers wild horses and burros for adoption
July 20 at the Reno Livestock Events Center. For adoption information go
to
[www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov](http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/)
or call 1-866-4-MUSTANGS. The BLM has prepared a series of news releases
geared to the adoption and the first Western States Wild Horse and Burro
Expo which is being run in conjunction with the wild horse adoption. The
celebration of the wild horse begins at 6 p.m. Friday, July 18. It is
free and open to the public. Go to
[www.wildhorseandburroexpo.com](http://www.wildhorseandburroexpo.com/)
for more information on the show and expo.