When I mention that I’m a board certified equine fascia integration therapist, and founder of QHE in|Balance Fascia integration Therapy at cocktail parties, the first thing I am often asked is “What?” The second thing is typically “No, really. What is that?” The modality I specialize in is so uncommon, most people, even vets and other equine bodyworkers, haven’t heard of equine fascia integration therapy before, let alone met anyone who’s qualified to do it! The third thing I almost always hear when I tell people what an equine fascia integration therapist does is: “OH! My horse’s massage therapist does fascial work!”, and I always say “AWESOME! But, you do know that’s not the same as fascial integration, right?” This surprises and confuses a lot of people, and I realized that there’s a whole lot of misunderstanding about fascia integration therapy in general.

While this modality does look like massage from the outside, the intent, goals, and results are very, very different. Many massage therapists employ myofascial release techniques, but they are not integrating the fascia. We are simply using the same stroke technique in different ways to obtain very different goals. If you’re unsure if your practitioner is doing fascia integration for your horse, ask where they got their education.

While there are many excellent large animal massage schools, fascia integration therapy is a highly specialized modality, and if your horse’s bodyworker hasn’t had the proper training, your horse isn’t being integrated. They’re getting an awesome massage! At the time of this writing, there are only two schools in the world offering an education in this modality, Equine Institute,which offers it as a continuing education option for existing board certified large animal massage practitioners, and The Equine Natural Movement School in Battle Ground, WA, who teaches fascia integration, and also prepares students for taking the NBCAAM board exam for national certification (In the United States. You will have to look up the certification requirements if you live abroad). Practitioners come from all over the world to learn at ENMS. This is where I got my education, too. If you are considering equine fascia integration therapy as a career option, I highly recommend that you look into attending ENMS. I am grateful for the education I got from there.

It’s unsurprising that most people don’t know about equine fascia integration therapy. At last count, there are only about 3,000 people in the entire world who are qualified equine fascia integration therapists, and we’re not all in active practice. When you consider how many horses there are, it’s easy to see why EFIT practitioners are in high demand, and have the opportunity to travel all over the world to integrate their clients if they chose to. The long lasting nature of the work makes this possible. Unlike massage, which can be a regular ongoing practice, once a series is done, my work on that horse is done for about a year. Providing the horse has no major injuries in between, most horses only need a single ‘tune up’ session with me moving forward. If there is an injury, as soon as the horse is healed up to be able to accept the work, a series can begin to help bring them to sound, faster.

Massage is a fantastic modality! Please don’t misunderstand my intent in illustrating the differences between massage and fascia integration therapy. I am not only a huge proponent of massage, but I also routinely refer my clients to qualified, board certified massage therapists in their area for ongoing massage work long after I have finished a series on their horse! It just makes sense, and most horses love it! If you’re a practitioner and would like to be part of my referral network, let’s talk! Drop me an email! I’d love to discuss that with you!
MJ@QHEinbalance.com

Interesting to note, many equine massage therapists who work on horses after a QHE in|Balance series has been done have found that their work is more effective than before that horse had a series! They consistently tell me that they get better and deeper results from their work when the horse is ‘unwound’ by the QHE in|Balance integration series first. The same can be said of chiropractic work, and even farriers report that their client’s horses’ hooves are growing far more balanced between trimmings than they were before they were integrated. As one very knowledgeable farrier put it, “The hoof always follows the horse. When the body is balanced, the hoof follows!”

By now you’re probably asking yourself  ‘what is QHE in|Balance Fascia Integration Therapy anyhow, and how does it differ from massage?’ I’m glad you asked! First, let’s look at how they are similar. QHE in|Balance Fascia Integration Therapy and equine massage are both therapeutic modalities used to address musculoskeletal issues and promote overall well-being in horses. That’s where these two modalities branch off from each other. They differ dramatically in almost every other way.

The primary goals of equine massage are to temporarily relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, enhance flexibility, and promote relaxation. Massage can be used as a standalone treatment or as part of a broader wellness program to support the horse’s physical and emotional well-being of temporarily alleviating pain and muscle tension, improving circulation, and promoting relaxation. Equine massage therapists employ a variety of techniques, including, but not limited to: Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy, depending on the horse’s individual needs and the goals of the treatment.

The primary goal of EFIT is re-aligning and balancing the horse’s body, front to back, and side to side, through manipulation of the fascial system. A relatively new modality developed in the late 90’s, compared to massage which has been documented for thousands of years, Equine Fascia Integration Therapy is based on the teachings of Dr. Ida Rolf, Tom Myers, and Joseph Heller. EFIT aims to address underlying structural imbalances, postural issues, and movement restrictions by systematically releasing fascial restrictions which promotes optimal biomechanical function in the horse. Horses who have had fascia integration series done have: improved range of motion, which translates to cleaner jumps and faster speeds, improved proprioperception, EFIT aids in recovery from new and old tension based habits that inhibit their natural elegance and performance, and balances the horse’s body naturally, in harmony with gravity.

This is accomplished using a series of hands-on techniques, including myofascial release, deep tissue manipulation, stretching, and movement exercises, aimed at releasing fascial restrictions and promoting structural alignment. QHE in|Balance therapy is unique in that it also incorporates intense quantum, energetic healing work practices into the work for the most comprehensive approach possible. Depending on the client’s needs, it’s not uncommon for me to use my class 4 laser, kinesiology tape, and PEMF device, and several different vibration techniques for their healing attributes. I may also incorporate passive movement, traction, and proprioceptive exercises to enhance the therapeutic effects of my work.

The ultimate goal of EFIT is to integrate the movement of all the structures of a horse so that there is appropriate distribution of weight front to back, and side to side, both when the body is both at rest and motion. EFIT actually happens in two stages. First, the actual sessions performed by the therapist, and the time between sessions where the openness is acted upon by gravity. This is why MJ returns and finishes the last two sessions of the series a week later. This gives the horses a chance to integrate the work. While there is often an immediate increase in flexibility and improvements in posture even during the first session, most clients find that their horses get better and better over time. Just because the series ended does not mean the benefits of the integration end! Horses who have had a QHE in|Balance series integrate the work for months after the series has finished.

Massage sessions can vary in duration and frequency, depending on the horse’s individual needs and the goals of the treatment. Some horses may benefit from regular maintenance massages, while others may require less frequent sessions. Conversely, QHE in|Balance EFIT typically involves a series of 5 sessions each lasting between one to two hours, with each session building upon the progress made in previous sessions. As the series progresses, the horses’ fascia ‘unwinds’ the body. The number and frequency of sessions may vary depending on the horse’s individual needs and response to treatment, but most horses respond to the ‘5 series’ just fine. Rarely I’ve had to build on the 5, but it does happen depending on the horse’s needs.

While equine massage and Equine Fascia Integration Therapy both aim to improve the horse’s physical well-being, they clearly differ in their approach, techniques, and goals. Equine massage primarily focuses on relieving muscle tension and promoting relaxation temporarily, while EFIT takes a more comprehensive approach to address underlying structural issues and promote overall balance and alignment in the horse’s body for profoundly changing, and truly long-lasting results