Aleta’s methods are similar to Rolfing, a style of human massage and bodywork that aligns the major body tissue through manipulation of muscle fascia. Her technique involves manipulating, stimulating, separating, and flushing a horse’s connective muscle fascia by working surface and progressively deeper tissues, layer by layer.
This manipulation not only stimulates the muscles and increases blood flow, but also serves to loosen and clear muscle lactic acid buildup, muscle spasms and knots, and break up adhesions and scar tissue, thus freeing up the muscles to move more freely and allow a greater range of motion. She has demonstrated in both her own and her clients’ horses that equine deep tissue massage can prevent and reverse injury, reduce healing time, and enhance the innate abilities in her equine subjects by promoting more free range of motion.
In 2000, following several years of practical experience and dramatic results in rehabilitating horses, Aleta founded Omni Equus Research Center (O.E.R.C.), a non-profit research and training organization. She is current the President and Executive Director of the organization.
Dr. Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS and Professor of Large Animal Clinical Services at Michigan State University also is a member of O.E.R.C.’s Board of Directors. “Aleta’s technique seems to work well, and we share an interest in trying to quantify the results of bodywork,” says Clayton.
Aleta is currently involved in serving a full and varied caseload of equine massage clients through southern California, writing two books on her equine massage techniques and research projects, and delivering hands-on equine deep tissue massage instruction and demonstration clinics through the United States.
She maintains an extensive affiliation and professional relationship with numerous horse breeders, veterinarians, farriers, and performance horse trainers throughout southern California, sharing her enthusiasm and research findings, enlisting their support, advice, and suggestions to refine her research work, and seeking new ways to train and treat horses.
