Does anyone here know about equine massage and whether this could actually be "normal" release? Any advice or experiences is really, I mean really appreciated!!

Massage is a manipulation of tissue. YES it can be done incorrectly and do harm. There was a committee of vets in our state that wanted to see all equine massage therapists go through a program to be apply for a license so they could be held to an acceptable treatment standard.

 

I was actually considering becoming an equine massage therapist and was looking around online to see what the standard was- didn't find much other than quite a few online certifications. I would think something like that should absolutly be regulated/liscensed.

To the OP, I' sorry but I don't have any exp to speak of. I'm sure someone here will be able to help and offer some insight. I would be concerned as well seeing as this has never happened before. Good luck.

 

Well, as much as I'd love to say your MIL is a crackpot ;P she could be right. Sometimes after massage I feel like hell on earth and then the next day or so I get better. BUT you know Milo really well, so if he's not better soon I'd suspect an abscess. I don't know what your weather is like, but we've had crappy rain rain rain for weeks. You're a lucky skunk though, you're probably sweltering mid-90's right now huh? Anyway I vote that she could be right or it could be an abscess...

 

haha, yes... lucky skunks we are, although it is very rainy with the heat. I checked him yesterday afternoon and he still had a limp but was MUCH better. I'm about to head out to feed everyone so we'll see how he is this morning. I did some research and supposedly this stuff can happen, I've just never seen it happen with him before. Scared the crap outta me yesterday! MIL is great at what she does, but she's weird in the way that she downplays things that are huge and important and then freaks out over the small things. She was downplaying yesterday so I of course figured it was huge and important...****!

That leg has always been off, maybe the massage has helped that issue. If he's limping when I get out there this morning I don't think Milo will be the guinea pig for her students for a while. He LOVES getting massages, but I don't think he likes hopping around on 3 legs too much.

 

I do massage's on my horses quite alot, After hard work horses can sometimes if they are not used to it feel abit off, Stiff a bit of heat in the leg's. It doesn't usually take more than a day to recover, I think you should keep your horse grazing to help her just recover naturally instead of stiffing her up in a stable. Groom her and take her for a walk in a lead rope around the roads just a little strecth and the when you get on and ride her take her for a hack on a soft track and let her enjoy it at her own pace before bringing her back into to much strendious work. When your massaging her, In the area's on her leg use the palm of your hand and do wobbly circle motitions this will help the blood flow . xGOODLUCK!x