Oberlin Alumni Magazine

Elizabeth Stewart '95, Equine Massage Therapist

As a massage therapist, Elizabeth Stewart immediately recognizes trouble spots and can tell when her hands have found their target. If a client's muscles feel tense, his mouth will relax when things are going well. If she hits a particularly sore spot, he kicks back his hooves. Even horses, she says, need some TLC.

Horses have been part of Stewart's life since her childhood days in Kentucky and Minnesota. Oberlin's equestrian team was a temptation not to be missed, and later, inspired by an ad in Practical Horseman, she trained in the field of equine massage. Within three years, Stewart has helped relieve the ailments of over 40 Minnesota horses--maladies ranging from decreased performance to repetitive stress.

"People come to me when they want something less invasive before making the commitment to medication," she says, "or when they've tried everything else, and 'oh-my-gosh, what can I do now?'"

Among her clients was an 1,800 pound mare from Canada who was brought to the United States to be trained as a jumper. "She's skittish and unpredictable," Stewart says. "She was a tricky one to work around, but responded well to massage."

How do horses and humans differ? "Horses are much more present in their bodies," she says. "People have egos when they're being massaged. Horses are more honest about it. They say, 'ow' when something hurts. Well, actually, they'll just turn their heads and point their ears at me."

Caroline Sorgen owns three suits that she wears to work on a regular basis, but she's still spotted in overalls on the weekend.