Horse Spa Business Growing Fast

Horse Spa Business Growing Fast 32-1-9 People are spending more money than ever on their horses and a rural business, Nature's Rehab in Eaton Rapids, Mich., is capitalizing on that trend. At the "spa for horses", animals can get a massage, photonic therapy, pulsed magnetic therapy, vibrational hoof therapy and sequential compression therapy. Anke Lendeckel-Ackley, owner and founder of Nature's Rehab, says seeing a horse react to the therapy will make a believer out of anybody. "I've seen really baffling results," she says. "Horses that are sour and unwilling to cooperate will show improvement almost immediately. Sometimes even before the massage is done they become more relaxed and calm. The tension leaves them." Lendeckel-Ackley says a relaxed and happy horse performs better, whether on the trail or in the performance arena. Before she opened Nature's Rehab in 2003, Lendeckel-Ackley traveled the state giving therapy and presenting workshops. Today, she holds workshops at the spa. Workshops cost $95 a day and cover a variety of therapies. One thing she stresses in workshops and one-on-one therapies is that the longer a condition has existed, the longer it takes to remove the trauma from the body. Traumas, she says, get stuck in the body, causing it to get rigid and less fluid. "Our goal is to increase energy and remove blockages in the system," she says. "We know the therapy is having an effect when the animal yawns, itches itself (which suggests increased blood flow to the area being itched) or even passes gas. All of these are visible signs along with overall relaxation." Some animals are too stressed or in too much pain to allow massage in the first place. In those cases, Lendeckel-Ackley will turn to photonic therapy, which she describes as acupuncture with light. Once the horse has begun to respond, she can often move on to traditional massage therapy. Pulsed magnetic therapy uses electronic magnets that can be activated by a computer and send a pulse of different intensity or duration through the nearby muscles. Lendeckel-Ackley uses a special blanket with pockets for the magnets and a portable battery to power them. It also provides motorized vibration massage. Sequential compression therapy is basically a mechanical up and down leg massage. The lack of muscle tissue in the leg makes it hard to do by hand. Similar to a blood pressure cuff, the therapy boots have chambers that inflate and deflate in order. Individual treatments vary by therapy. The full body massage, including a written and oral evaluation, is priced at $75 per hour while the photonic therapy is $35, but takes much less time. The magnetic blanket is charged at $1 per minute, and the sequential compression runs $65 for 30 to 35 minutes. "I offer a spring special that includes three therapy sessions in a week for $250 and includes full board," says Lendeckel-Ackley. "It's a good tune-up for a horse before training starts or just trail riding." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nature's Rehab, 12654 Kimler Road, Eaton Rapids, Mich. 48827 (ph 517 881-0262; naturesrehab@winning.com; www.naturesrehab.com).

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