Bob Sharpe is a dedicated Equine Sports Massage Therapist
and completely committed to animal wellness. Bob believes in a simple approach
to animal health - start with the simplest solution and if that doesn't work, go from there - but stress the animal as little as possible. Bob's 25+ years of experience with horses, dogs,
cats, and exotic parrots led him to research and discover complimentary approaches
to traditional veterinary care that allow him to treat the animal as a "whole" to prevent or eliminate symptoms
or weaknesses in the "parts."
Just as in a human, equine bodywork and massage promotes wellness and soundness in the equine athlete, as well as
the weekend pleasure horse. Massage provides so much more than simply making a horse feel better - massage can lessen or eliminate behaviour issues caused by tense or tight muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage can make an insulted or compromised muscle happy again. Massage can improve an animal's entire well-being and make him feel better all over.
Bob learned early on that the majority of muscle issues a horse faces are caused by improper saddle fit. A properly fitting saddle can mean the difference between a happy horse who
enjoys his work, and a sad horse with a painful back, behaviour issues, lameness,
muscle atrophy, weight and condition loss and gait problems. Bob and his wife (a certified saddle fitter) work as a team to identify and resolve such problems.
How does a horse's need for Equine Sports Massage affect the owner? As a longtime horse owner himself, Bob understands that when our equine buddies are hurting we hurt too. Bob always considers the owner's position and needs when working on a horse. Bob realizes that it's not always just about the horse... it's sometimes about the owner too, and he takes his time to explain what he is doing and how it will help the horse.
How do you know if your horse needs Equine Sports Massage? If your horse is resistant to the bit, being saddled, or to any type of work, ESM can often address whatever is bothering him. ESM can be beneficial
in the recovery of illness, lameness issues and foaling. If your horse exhibits
behavior he has never exhibited before, he may have muscle tension somewher which might make him a candidate for ESM. Bob
offers free phone consultations to determine if ESM can help with your problem.
Every animal (and human!) can benefit from massage therapy. Bob's equine clients
look forward to their sessions and often call to him when they see him drive up! Many times, Bob's clients run to the gate and stand impatiently waiting their turn!
Bob is also a warm and interesting
guest speaker; he enjoys working with animals and their owners, and is always
ready to schedule a speaking engagement or demonstration. He realizes that massage and holistic bodywork may be new to some owners and they may have questions or concerns. Please contact Bob to discuss a speaking engagement, clinic, or demonstration at your facility.
