My name is Melissa, and I am the owner of Elevate Equine Bodywork. I have been involved with horses for as long as I can remember and have always dreamt of starting my own business in the equine industry.
My equine journey began as a child when I started taking riding lessons at a small farm in Western New York, where I grew up. I instantly fell in love with riding and caring for the horses at the farm and soon began working there to cover my lessons (and as an excuse to be around the horses). From there I pursued education and training, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Business Management from Cazenovia College in 2016.
Over the years I've had the privilege of working with a diverse range of horses, from thoroughbred yearlings to high-performance hunters and jumpers. Each interaction has deepened my understanding of equine anatomy, behavior, and the unique needs of every horse I encounter.
Welcome!
As an Equine Massage Therapist, my goal is to be an advocate for every horse I work on. I strive to create relationships with my clients that go beyond their horses session, and enjoy keeping track of horse and rider progress. I prioritize writing detailed session reports and recommending exercises that can be done in between sessions. I am a big believer in lifelong learning, and I am excited to continue my education to provide the best service possible. I look forward to incorporating more therapies into my business in the future.
My Goal
Bachelor of Professional Studies: Business Management. Specializing in Equine Business Management - Cazenovia College
Certified Equine Massage Therapist - The Animal Rehab Institute
Laser and Light Therapy - The Equine Institute
Credentials
Testimonials
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"Melissa combines her unparalleled compassion, personal experiences in the equine world, and superb professional training to deliver a service that is tremendously beneficial for your horse physically and mentally. She puts both you and your horse at immediate ease, and welcomes your questions and concerns. Her excellent communication skills allow you to stay informed and up to date on your horse’s needs and progress. We’re so fortunate to have her practicing in our area!"
~ Alicia T.
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"Melissa is amazing at what she does! She has such a calm and patient demeanor which feeds off into the horses in a positive way. My thoroughbred is slow to trust and even slower to relax, but Melissa has been working with him every other week and I see such a big difference! He is so relaxed as soon as she starts her session, and I see a noticeable difference of how he moves under saddle- more willing to stretch and with less tension built up in his topline and neck. Melissa also works on several of the horses that I ride and all of them have greatly benefitted from her sessions, I highly recommend!"
~ Francesca M.
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"Melissa has been absolutely game changing in my horse’s comfort and development. He has kissing spine and generally holds a lot of tension and there’s a noticeable difference after each session with her! And the releases are fantastic 🙌 Truly an advocate for the horse and is such a pleasure to be around as well. Highly recommend her services!"
~ Olivia G.
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"Melissa’s calm and understanding energy is a game changer! She spent the necessary time helping my timid Thoroughbred relax and work through his anxiety to get to his trouble areas! Very educated and helped show me a few techniques I could do on my own to relieve some of his poll discomfort."
~ Alex V.
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"My boys loved their session with Melissa. Very informative, beneficial, and affordable. Could see a difference after one session. Will definitely be booking another appointment"
~ Ella S.