Win for equine massage therapists
Tennessee law now allows equine massage therapists to massage their customer’s horses without a veterinarian license.
Legislators voted to temporarily repeal the state veterinarian rule requiring a vet license in order to offer equine massage services. It comes after a court challenge.
The issue came to light earlier this year. The Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners threatened two women offering horse massages with jail and fines since they didn’t have a vet license.
The Beacon Center of Tennessee filed suit against the veterinary board on behalf of two women, Laurie Wheeler and Martha Stowe. The bill expires in a year due to the limited timeframe that was available to craft the bill.
Equine massage assists in improving the overall health of horses. Massage supplements the healing process to enhance recovery. Veterinarians often recommend massage for horses, although it is not a substitute for medical attention.
