Gia - sessions 1157-1158 in hand work and massage

 Last Monday, I decided to take Gia out in the arena, where there was more space, and she didn't feel claustrophobic, and just see what types of touches she liked and didn't like.  See if I could narrow down what was going on.  I have several horses that are very sensitive to touch, so this is not new territory to me.  

I had gathered a few of the brushes that they seemed to like to try them on her.  I used a new curry comb that Boomer really likes, with long, soft fingers ... 

NOPE.  

(On a side note, Boomer decided yesterday that he didn't like the soft brush that we have been using on him for the past several years ....)

I tried a massage brush that has rollers on it that Ali really likes when I rub it on his neck ...

HELL NO!

I ended up just trying my hand.  She wasn't crazy about it at first, but I would just place my hand on her, and not move it.  When she breathed into it or released, I took my hand away.  We went on like that for a while, as I moved my hand around her neck and touched different places.  I noticed she had some very large knots in her neck, so I decided to try some massage the next time.


On Tuesday, I kept her in the crosstie area, but not tied, and just started by placing my hand on her neck where one of the knots was.  I just wanted to warm it up a bit first.  She didn't seem to mind that.  I gradually started to gently rub the knot downwards, towards her shoulder, and she actually started to lean into me!  As she understood that I was trying to help her, she stopped being nasty towards me, and even tried to place her body in a way that would help me help her.  I was able to work on massaging her neck on both sides from just beside the throatlatch all the way down to where the neck ties in to the shoulder.  I was even able to get my elbow into that spot really good!  This could explain why she has been so grumpy lately!  (I just wish she could talk instead of snap!) 

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