Walters’ introduction to massage therapy actually started with human massage when she worked as a receptionist for Jennifer Barrett, owner of Barrett Massage in Sierra Vista.  “While I worked for her, Jennifer kept encouraging me to go into massage therapy for humans,” Walters said. “She liked the way I interacted with her clients and she knew I was interested in the benefits of massage therapy. She felt it would be a good career path for me.”

Because of a lifelong passion for horses, Walters decided to work on horses instead.

“So, that’s how I ended up going this direction,” she said.

After starting her business, Walters said the first challenge was getting the word out among the equine community.

“My farrier (horseshoer) started telling his customers about my business, which I really appreciated,” she said. “Getting a business like this started in the horse world is very much word of mouth, so he was a big help. I also use social media and will be reaching out to different equine veterinarians to let them know that I’m here.”

Kathryn Faucett contacted Walters for a massage session on one of her older horses that suffers from arthritis and intermittent lameness.

“I’m 60 years old, was raised around horses and have been around them my entire life,” she said. “I now have five horses and this is the first time I’ve tried massage therapy on one of my animals.”

Faucett said her horse was treated for the arthritis at Cave Creek Imagery and Surgery Center, a specialty clinic in the north Phoenix area. He receives monthly injections for arthritis and has shown some signs of improvement after the Cave Creek visit.

“The veterinarian in Cave Creek recommended that I try massage therapy for my horse,” Faucett said. “He was getting cranky with his left lead and was reluctant to move out well while I was riding him.”

As Faucett watched Walters work on her horse, she said it was amazing to see how he transitioned from tense and apprehensive to relaxed.

“He responded really well to what she was doing,” Faucett said. “I was really pleased. When she finished the session, we took him in the round pen so he could walk it off a little, and you could see he was moving better. It was a noticeable difference.”

The massage sessions take about an hour and Walters works on both sides of the horse.

“Massage therapy is a holistic approach for helping horses with muscle soreness, and it has its preventative advantages as well,” Walters said. “Watching the horse’s reaction through a treatment is really rewarding. I’m always amazed by how they respond.”

Walters has worked on horses at two equine facilities in Hereford: Al’s Horse Academy and Terrell Riding Academy, a facility owned by Maike Terrell.

Walters also works on her two horses.

“One is an older horse who refused to circle clockwise while I was doing groundwork in the round pen,” she said.

After two massage sessions, he started circling in both directions with no objection, she said.

“I massage my own two horses once a week. It not only helps with muscle soreness, but serves as a preventative measure as well.

Walters makes farm calls all over Cochise County. She can be reached at 520-234-5242.

Article written and by Dana Cole and published by the Sierra Vista Herald Review!!