Aloha Equine Touch

Aloha Equine Touch Certified practitioner of the Masterson Method® in the State of Hawaii, practicing since 2019. I can travel to all Hawaiian islands.

Aloha and welcome to my new page,

Either as a sensible or preventive measure to keep your horse's physical health at its optimal level, or to support it during the recovery phase after injury - body work serves all horses, regardless of breed, riding style, or sporting discipline. The seniors among the horses also benefit greatly from this work, as it ultimately contributes to maintaining

their zest for life. While being the only active Certified practitioner of the Masterson Method® in the State of Hawaii, practicing since 2019 in Europe initially with over 25 years of equine experience and over 400 hours of rigorous instruction, advanced coursework in anatomy & related performance issues, extensive fieldwork case studies, and hands-on sessions with Jim Masterson, I am your ideal qualified partner to improve your horse’s physical well-being & happiness. This equine bodywork allows the horse to release tension and improve range of motion. It will uncover and address tension in key junctions of your horse’s body that affect comfort, movement, and performance. By utilizing light touch techniques, gentle mobilization & movements, this allows me to tune into subtle response cues from your horse, directing the flow and location of work to maximize results. With my extensive experience and training, this provides a deeper understanding of the techniques thus creating a deeper connection to the horse in question. Additionally, I provide physiotherapy with the G5 Equitec® Massage Tool; a deep tissue equine specific instrument designed over 60 years ago that can surpass what the human hand may not be able to reach, ensuring a complete release of deep tensions that may be inaccessible to the human touch. Call/Text: 808-320-0495
Email: [email protected]

Seeing the horses so happy after a session while keeping their owners happy as well is the best feeling 🙏🐎☺️
10/30/2023

Seeing the horses so happy after a session while keeping their owners happy as well is the best feeling 🙏🐎☺️

Why is it important to have the horse’s lower jaw relaxed? In the following text, you’ll read how one of the best maestr...
10/30/2023

Why is it important to have the horse’s lower jaw relaxed?

In the following text, you’ll read how one of the best maestros in classical dressage, Dominique Barbier, speaks of the benefits of the lower jaw being relaxed.

“What is constantly forgotten is that what the rider feels in the hands and muscles is what the poor horse feels on his very sensitive bars of his tender mouth, and in fact, all the way down his spine. The idea of contact has been convoluted from the idea of connection.”

“The horse ridden in contact has had to stiffen and tighten his jaw in order to protect himself from pressure on his sensitive mouth. Because the jaw is connected to his back and shoulders, he has blocked those as well, to protect himself and any finesse becomes impossible.”

“The relaxation of the mouth, and jaw, along with the movement of the tongue, are evidence of and related to the relaxed core of the horse. The tongue is a very important factor as it is connected to the activation of the core.
In humans when you practice more sophisticated yoga asanas or postures, you need to position your tongue on the top of your palate.
When the horse achieves this state, meaning relaxation of the lower jaw and the lifting of his tongue we are able to have the horse swallow. He is able to lightly chew on the bit, he is in fact talking with us. This means his salivary glands are activated.
This is proof that the horse has relaxed his top line, and is in a state of mental and emotional relaxation close to perfect. Relaxation of the lower jaw, through swallowing, is the essence of the soft harmonious mouth that leads to lightness and obtain self-carriage. This is the moment in which we can experience oneness.”

“Conversely, the opposite is a clenched jaw that we see so often in horses that are tensed and locked in place. The idea is to lock the horses jaw, face and head so tight they cannot even breathe properly, let alone swallow. This is NOT Dressage! Such cruelty. The relaxation is impossible when we have forced our horses' mouth and jaw shut with devices such as Crank nose bands and with forced pulling contact, especially with German or draw reins. The rigidity of the back does not allow for the soft mouth.”

“We hear talk of an engaged core but very recently I heard the term "prepared" core. The difference being that an engaged core is already in action, while the prepared core is ready to offer relaxed and supple movement The horse raises the bit in his mouth, and this translates to the whole of the horse in relaxation.”

"The importance of the relaxation of the lower jaw is essential to the whole art of riding.”

Author: DOMINIQUE BARBIER
Book: Broken or Beautiful

09/17/2023

When “Less is more”

Horse’s natural survival instinct is to block out pain and tension. Being a natural prey in the animal kingdom, horses instinctively mask pain and discomfort to stay alive, avoiding the interest of predators or the possibility of being cast out as the weakest member of the herd. This mindset causes difficulty while assessing pain and discomfort, making it a challenge to pinpoint the direct issues at hand.

This instinct is also a way for a horse, often beyond its normal physical limitations, to do what is required of it. Over time this is a result of physical discomfort or pain in the body.
The horse communicates almost exclusively through body language; from the subtlest level to the most visible. However, most of these signals are overlooked by human beings.
If we are not able to perceive this body language as a possible pattern of discomfort and pain, we often proceed to correct or practice the given exercise, instead of looking for the root cause, leading to the prolonged pain or tension in the horse's body and mind. Tension often rests in the horse's deep-seated muscles, taking a toll over time. The deeper core and postural muscles begin to tighten to compensate for the pain, or to take over for muscles that are unable to do their job.

Therapy helps to improve the horse's overall performance - greater range of motion, relaxation of deep muscular tissues, while overall improving communication between the human and animal. Staying underneath the horse’s natural survival bracing responses, I utilize pressure and passive manipulation techniques on the horse's body in such a way that the horse's nervous system is unable to switch instinctively to a sympathetic state (defense, blocking, bracing), but switches to a parasympathetic state (regeneration, relaxation). In this state, the horse will show where in the body it has tension, pain, long-term discomfort – enabling the ability within its nervous system to release it.

By following the horse’s body language, keeping in mind the idea that we are working “with” the horse and not “on” the horse. What I mean by this is following and being present with cues of discomfort, paying attention to those cues and allowing the horse to move freely during this initial analysis of any underlying issues. Fidgeting, nervousness, and aggressive behavior often manifest with the unpleasant sensations of an overloaded musculoskeletal system.

In the following videos, I am working on a 10 year-old quarter horse mare who presented much tightness and deep tension on her pectoral and shoulder areas. With light touch and passive mobilization while staying under the bracing response, the nervous system can deeply release tension and enter into a deep state of relaxation. We can observe that even after the session she is still processing and releasing deep tension within her shoulders and pectorals.
It is recommended to give the horse a time of rest between 24-48 hours. This downtime is key, allowing the horse to process & integrate new body feelings and sensations while releasing pain and tension that may have been stored away for years.

Aloha Equine Touch - Origins of Equine Massage and the Masterson MethodIt was in 2018 in Normandy (France), an infamous ...
09/03/2023

Aloha Equine Touch - Origins of Equine Massage and the Masterson Method

It was in 2018 in Normandy (France), an infamous land of horse breeding, that I started learning equine massage as a professional practice with Kurt Huyghe (Massage-sportif-equin® SAS), a successful professional horse massage therapist in the horse racing field. He taught me massage techniques using a gentle and measured touch of the hands, thumbs, or fingers on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and stress points, inspired from shiatzu techniques.

This opportunity allowed me to work with horses from various backgrounds such as race, jumping, dressage, and retirees while distinguishing recurring muscle tensions, depending on their frequent activity. After discussion with colleagues and some research, I was advised to look into The Masterson Method®.

WHAT IS THE MASTERSON METHOD®?

The Masterson Method® was developed by Jim Masterson and has its origin in competitive show jumping. It is a unified concept of procedures from equine physiotherapy and neurology. This is a technique using neurological points on the horse's body, where, with proper stimulation, there is a deep relaxation of painful and strained parts of both the muscular and joint apparatus. By gentle manipulation, the main joint connections which most affect the horse's performance are loosened. Your horse's mobility and freedom of movement are promoted, and its performance is improved accordingly. The positive effects on the physical and mental well-being of your horse are already visible during the treatment.

Additionally, I provide physiotherapy with the G5 Equitec® Massage Tool; a deep tissue equine specific instrument designed over 60 years ago that can surpass what the human hand may not be able to reach, ensuring a complete release of deep tensions that may be inaccessible to the human touch.

The overall therapy takes place on a relaxed, unheated, and healthy horse for an average of 1 - 2 hours, depending on the horse.

I invite you to check the video links for a presentation of the Masterson Method® by Jim Masterson himself as well as a short demonstration of the G5 Equitec® therapy tool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm5cBrJc9Io
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY7_Mj1MUKk

When training or treating a horse, we often encounter "problematic behavior", the horse is trying to communicate that so...
08/29/2023

When training or treating a horse, we often encounter "problematic behavior", the horse is trying to communicate that something is unpleasant or he is unable to do the required action.

If we are not able to perceive this body language as a possible pattern of discomfort and pain, we often proceed to correct or practice the given exercise, instead of looking for the cause; resulting in the horse continuing to be in pain or tensed.

Pay close attention to possible signs of discomfort your horse may be experiencing. Some common examples include:

• TRIES TO BITE or STEP ASIDE when putting the saddle or while strapping.
• HEAD-SHY: Reluctant to be touched when bridling. 95% of head-shy horses are due to pain and tension in the poll and atlas.
• LEAD PROBLEMS: Your horse has difficulty picking up or staying on a particular canter lead.
• CAN’T HOLD THE LEG during hoof cleaning or trimming.
• RESISTING THE BIT: A horse will often resist the bit to avoid pain or discomfort in the upper neck, poll, mouth or back.
• LAMENESS: Horses that compensate for the lameness over a long period of time can create tension in their muscles.
• BEHAVIORAL AND RIDEABILITY ISSUES: Rushing, bucking, increased tail flicking, rhythm disturbances, shorten stride and other behavioral and training issues are often pain-related rather than training issues.

If you're facing issues such as these, or have any other questions or concerns about your horse's well-being, feel free to contact me:
Email: [email protected]
or directly on Facebook Messenger

DISCLAIMER: **Bodywork is not a substitute for veterinary care, which must always come first. Horses in the acute phase of an injury should not have bodywork unless specifically advised by their veterinarian, and any horse in the recovery phase of an injury must have a veterinary referral.**

Aloha and welcome to my new page! My name is Victoria Lhote, owner of Aloha Equine Touch and today I would like to ...
08/26/2023

Aloha and welcome to my new page!

My name is Victoria Lhote, owner of Aloha Equine Touch and today I would like to share a few things about myself and my experience in the field.

Originally from Versailles, France, I come from a family passionate about horses. Since an early age I was introduced into the horse world. At the age of 3, I set foot in my first stirrup. Ever since then I have been a show jumping rider totaling over 25 years. With primary interest with sport horses, I was lucky enough to have been invited behind the scenes to many beautiful competition grounds and racetracks such as Deauville, Longchamps, and Chantilly. Early on during competition, I became accustomed to the intensity involved with horse training management such as the physical and emotional well-being of the horse.

Fascinated by the anatomy and mechanics, I looked for natural healing techniques to reduce muscle fatigue, improve recovery, release recent and older tensions, and allow the horse to regain good momentum and amplitude of movement. For me, it is clear that elite performance cannot exist without increased attention to the welfare of the horse taken in its entirety.

It was in 2018 in Normandy, famous land of horse breeding, that I started learning equine massage as a professional practice. It was an opportunity for me to work with horses from various backgrounds such as race, jumping, dressage, and retirees while distinguishing recurring muscle tensions depending on their frequent activity. After discussion with colleagues and some research, I was advised to look into The Masterson Method®. First, I started to practice simple techniques of the method with my show jumping horse, Cyprio– a 9 year-old Warmblood Holsteiner, son of Casal for connoisseurs 😉 with a strong warrior character. He regularly had high tension at the top of his neck and in his lumbar zone. Every technique, especially those for the hocks, helped him release the tension throughout his body. After only a few regular sessions, I was delighted to see that my horse was regaining flexibility in his joints, gaining bounce in his trot, and overall wellness physically and emotionally.

The mind and the body are one. Everything is linked. The big bonus; this method has created an even deeper bond of trust and companionship between Cyprio and I. The art of this method lies primarily in the skill of suggestion and observation. As a relaxation guide, I assist the horse to release on its own, without constraint. Since 2019, I have been a Masterson Method® Certified Practitioner. The techniques of this skillset are very precise. It is necessary to follow the rules of the art to acquire beneficial and significant transitions. During my career as a Masterson practitioner, I have witnessed great success with many years to come.

La séance relaxation sous escorte et bien méritée pour Avispado qui enchaîne les sans faute, merci à sa propriétaire Pau...
04/03/2019

La séance relaxation sous escorte et bien méritée pour Avispado qui enchaîne les sans faute, merci à sa propriétaire Pauline pour ces sympathiques photos!

04/03/2019

Une bonne séance de détente bien méritée pour Clown, qui apprécie aussi bien les mobilisations passives que l’appareil de massage!
Merci à sa propriétaire Marie pour sa confiance réitérée

04/03/2019

Le petit doyen qui savoure sa séance de relaxation! Merci à sa propriétaire pour sa confiance

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Kapaa, HI
96746

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When “Less is more” Horse’s natural survival instinct is to block out pain and tension. Being a natural prey in the animal kingdom, horses instinctively mask pain and discomfort to stay alive, avoiding the interest of predators or the possibility of being cast out as the weakest member of the herd. This mindset causes difficulty while assessing pain and discomfort, making it a challenge to pinpoint the direct issues at hand. This instinct is also a way for a horse, often beyond its normal physical limitations, to do what is required of it. Over time this is a result of physical discomfort or pain in the body. The horse communicates almost exclusively through body language; from the subtlest level to the most visible. However, most of these signals are overlooked by human beings. If we are not able to perceive this body language as a possible pattern of discomfort and pain, we often proceed to correct or practice the given exercise, instead of looking for the root cause, leading to the prolonged pain or tension in the horse's body and mind. Tension often rests in the horse's deep-seated muscles, taking a toll over time. The deeper core and postural muscles begin to tighten to compensate for the pain, or to take over for muscles that are unable to do their job. Therapy helps to improve the horse's overall performance - greater range of motion, relaxation of deep muscular tissues, while overall improving communication between the human and animal. Staying underneath the horse’s natural survival bracing responses, I utilize pressure and passive manipulation techniques on the horse's body in such a way that the horse's nervous system is unable to switch instinctively to a sympathetic state (defense, blocking, bracing), but switches to a parasympathetic state (regeneration, relaxation). In this state, the horse will show where in the body it has tension, pain, long-term discomfort – enabling the ability within its nervous system to release

Une bonne séance de détente bien méritée pour Clown, qui apprécie aussi bien les mobilisations passives que l’appareil de massage! Merci à sa propriétaire Marie pour sa confiance réitérée

Le petit doyen qui savoure sa séance de relaxation! Merci à sa propriétaire pour sa confiance

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