The reasonable mind asks why, if human massage therapists don't need to be doctors, animal therapists should need to be veterinarians. Of course, the reasonable mind already knows the answer to that question: professional lobbies. But legislators are elected to be smart enough to sift through all of the special interest gymnastics and deliver legislation that makes sense to everyone else when it hits the street. Somewhere, that process broke down in MD. We wish Ms. Clemens luck in her suit. And we're sure happy that we don't have that problem in VA. We have been very pleased with the results of massage therapy on our horses.
MD. WOMAN SUES STATE FOR RIGHT TO MASSAGE HORSES
Associated Press, August 11, 2008
Damascus, Md. — Mercedes Clemens is certified to massage humans, but she claims the state of Maryland is keeping her from her first love: Massaging horses.
She shut down her equine massage practice in a Washington suburb after state officials told her state law only allows veterinarians to perform such services.
Now she's suing two state agencies, saying regulators are unfairly barring registered massage therapists who want to practice on animals.
Animal massage regulations vary from state to state, with some allowing only veterinarians to practice. Clemens' case is being closely watched by those in the animal massage industry, who say business has grown steadily along with interest in other alternative treatments and pampering for pets.
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BTW: Don't be misled by the "pampering for pets" comment. Alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture and the like can give major relief to a number of equine (and other animal) problems. We have used massage and acupuncture to help an EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis - a neurological complaint) horse straighten their hind quarters (Jorg will correct me if I get details wrong!) and for older horses massage can be extremely soothing for tired, old limbs. Unfortunately, as Jorg says, this is vested interest and unwanted competition. In VA it manifested itself in the equine dental area, where Equine Dental Technicians are now not allowed to practice without a Vet present. A little like having to have a Doctor present at the Dentist's!
By the way, the practitioner in the photo is the wonderful Carol Lundquist, DVM, who also practices chiropractic medicine, acupuncture, therapeutic massage and holistic medicine. Our horses adored her and she taught us a lot about the therapeutic options available for horses, outside of conventional veterinary medicine. We hated to lose her when we moved south.
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