Just as visiting a massage therapist can benefit humans to work out sore or stiff muscles, horses can also benefit, as well. This is the realm in which Iron Faith Thoroughbreds, LLC founder Maegan Blessing operates.
Blessing is a certified and licensed equine massage therapist who provides services to horse owners throughout southwest Washington at her property in Yelm.
“The benefits of equine massage really fall into the similar space of human massage,” Blessing said. “It can help with muscle fatigue and recovery, proprioception, improved cellular communication, range of motion, tendon and ligament issues, fluid movement in the body, increased lymphatic response, better immune response, support digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems, to name a few. It is one of the most fascinating things I have ever learned or done.”
Equine massage therapists like Blessing visually assess a horse’s movement, identifying any irregularities that may hint at underlying issues. This observation is followed by a hands-on evaluation of the horse’s structure, targeting areas of concern such as muscle knots, fascial restrictions or trigger points.
Blessing’s love for horses, particularly thoroughbred racehorses, traces back to childhood dreams, sparked while watching the Kentucky Derby. Years later, as the founder of Iron Faith Thoroughbreds, she set out to breed and raise racehorses and provide them with care akin to that of top-tier human athletes.
“[That includes] understanding that these horses are incredible athletes and have the same requirements any superior human athlete would have, be it one in the NFL, NSL, NHL, etc,” Blessing said. “Secondly, I feel it is my obligation as the one raising these horses to ensure they get the care needed to help them achieve and perform their best for as long as they choose to do so.”
Faced with challenges like travel distance and high costs, Blessing decided to not only secure care for her own horses but also to make equine massage accessible to others who shared her mindset.
“I searched for equine massage therapists in the area, unsure of how much luck I would have,” Blessing said. “While I was able to find a few, I was unable to use them, whether it was due to travel distance, number of horses required or exorbitant prices.”
Blessing said she started thinking, “How do I make sure I am providing this element of care for my horses while helping others who have the same mindset but can’t find providers and introduce equine massage to those who are unaware it is something their horses can benefit from?”
Thus, the massage portion of Iron Faith Thoroughbreds was born.
Blessing’s professional background was initially in retail, banking and management. Growing up in a family breeding rare-breed livestock, she gained early insights into business ownership, management and animal husbandry.
“I firmly believe my background gave me a solid foundation to not only diversify what I offer in my business to help horses, but to be able to connect personally with people, especially horse owners,” Blessing said.
In order to be an equine massage therapist, Blessing had to become licensed and board-certified to practice massage on horses legally. She attended the Northwest School of Animal Massage on Vashon Island for its reputable certification program.
“I took the leap, and it’s been an incredible journey since,” Blessing said.
Blessing said that equine massage is not a substitute for veterinary care but is complementary, and she encourages horse owners to consult their vets for any concerns. She works on horses of all disciplines, backgrounds and breeds.
“There are several things I love about this job, but my top two are the rapport I build with my clients and their horses and the improvement they see in their horses after sessions,” Blessing said. “It sounds so cliché, I know, but it honestly gives me the satisfaction knowing I have made a difference for so many. At the end of the day, I like to tell people it isn’t whether your horse can benefit from massage, it is a matter of how often they need it.”
Blessing has certifications in foundation and performance massage, including myofascial release, stretching, range of motion evaluations and level 1 craniosacral therapy. She offers Equi-Tape kinesiology tape and red light therapy as part of her session if needed. Blessing is currently in the process of completing two additional certifications to expand her services.
“People have been really happy,” Blessing said. “I have many clients who have varying session schedules, anywhere from once every two weeks to once a month and once every couple months. [It] just depends on the horse and what they need. When clients see the results, whether they meet or exceed their expectations, they love to talk about it.”
Iron Faith Thoroughbreds can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IronFaithThoroughbredsLLC.
