LEVEL 1
SUMCHI Level 1
Imagine the bond with your horse could get even stronger. SUMCHI Technique has the ability to develop a new level of connection. SUMCHI Stroke Routines have been carefully developed and crafted for ease of use and maximum efficacy no matter what your experience. Start now, here are the first 3 SUMCHI strokes from level 1.
How To Set Up Your Sumchi6
- Prepare Yourself
- Depending on you and your horse, the weather (if they are clipped or not) and how your horse responds, you can use the Sumchi6 with or without water. With warm water is recommended but not always necessary. Your horse should be groomed and free of mud and dirt.
- Prepare your horse for a SUMCHI Stroke Routine by rubbing him/her down with a dry or wet SUMCHI Towel. Preparing the horses coat/skin with a SUMCHI Towel starts to build the connection.
“Similar to preparing a canvas for a new painting” – Beth
- How to Hold Your SUMCHI6
- With your body facing the left side of the horse, place your left hand on the horses shoulder, and your Sumchi6 over the top of the scapula in the wither region, relax and enjoy!
Use your index finger through the loop, gently hold your Sumchi6 between your middle finger and thumb as seen in image 1 and 2, the Sumchi6 needs to be able to rotate as the skin needs it, feel the Sumchi6 move in your hand – go with it.
Avoid a hard grip as seen in image 3, as this will reduce the flow of your Sumchi6. The amount of pressure to use will come from your horses response, start with just the weight of the Sumchi6.
Enjoy seeing the pathways and patterns created across the horses coat as seen in image 4. If the horse shows any discomfort, lighten the pressure and focus on flow.
“I often take a ‘Reset’ breath or 2, to allow myself to be available to the horse and the upcoming session.” – Beth
HALFMOON Stroke
- 1To start place your supporting hand on the horse’s shoulder and the Sumchi6 over the top of the Scapula.
- 2Start moving you Sumchi6 in the SUMCHI HALF MOON stroke. This mimics then natural action during mutual grooming over the withers.
- 3Stay here until the horse is familiar with you and your Sumchi6, on average it will be 8 strokes.
- From here, flow into the SUMCHI FAN STROKE
FAN Stroke
- 1Suggested supporting hand placement: the shoulder. Move onto SUMCHI FAN stroke from the back edge of the scapula.
- 2Or base of wither, following the contour of the topline to about thr mid thoracic region.
- 3Using a light wisping motion follow and adjust to your horses’ countour, complete +/- 6 SUMCHI FAN strokes.
From here, flow into the SUMCHI BUTTERFLY STROKE
BUTTERFLY Stroke
- 1Suggested supporting hand placement: the shoulder. From the SUMCHI FAN stroke, drop into a lpnger stroke and run SUMCHI6 down the ribs.
- 2In the middle of the barrel, ending the stroke in line with the elbow.
- 3Go back up the barrel to the topline.
- 4First work towards the from of the horse then move back towards the stroke, reduce the stroke to ¼ or ½ the way down. Then from the last rib you you can flow back to the wither and repeat +/- 3 times.
- From here, flow into the SUMCHI FROGGY STROKE
FROGGY Stroke
- 1Supporting hand placement is over the horse’s sacroiliac (SI) area.
- 2From the BUTTERFLY stroke glide across the topline, over the gluteals and hip joint and decsend to the area of the gaskin.
- 3Place the Sumchi6 in 2Track, on the soft tissue in front of the point of the hock, on the bottom of the gaskin. With even up and down strokes, move from the tail to head across the Gaskin.
- 4Try to fit in 5 movements across the Gaskin. In the 6th movement swivel the Sumchi6 into 3Track and stroke up the front of the Gaskin.
- 5Glide down the front of Gaskin, swivel into 2Track, glide to the soft area above the hock joint and repeat this section of FROGGY 3x.
- 6From the Gaskin in one stroke, drive up the hamstrings to the top of the tail region. In 2Track, create long flowing strokes up and down the hamstrings. Do this section of the stroke 6x.
- From here, flow into the SUMCHI FROGGY STROKE
TEARDROP Stroke
- 1Suggested hand placement is on the horse’s shoulder.
- 2Start TEARDROP stroke in 2Track behind the scapula and below the wither, glide along the top line, on the side of the spinal processes.
- 3Encompass the gluteal muscles, creating a teardrop shape, and drive back to the region below the wither. Repeat with long flowing strokes.
- 4After a few strokes in one direction, reverse the direction in the TEARDROP stroke, repeat 4 to 6 times
- From here, flow into the SUMCHI TEARDROP STROKE
SEVEN Stroke
- 1Suggested supporting hand placement is below the horse’s wither area.
- 2From the TEARDROP flow down the cranial aspect of shoulder and back up a similar path. Traverse the dorsal aspect of the scapula, to below the wither. Reverse the stroke and drive towards the poll following the crest of the neck. From the poll follow the same path back to the scapula/ wither area. The shape of this stroke may resemble the mirror image of a seven. Repeat 3x
- 3*When you are comfortable with your Sumchi6 and SUMCHI Level 1 Stroke Routine add the following section to create the DOUBLE SEVEN Stroke. This will complete your SUMCHI Level 1 Stroke Routine.
- 4To build the DOUBLE SEVEN Stroke create an upside down “7” on the lower section of the neck. Glide down the cranial aspect of the scapula. At the point of shoulder glide to the inside and connect with the brachiocephalicus. Drive up the brachiocephalicus to the throat latch region. Reverse and glide to the medial aspect of the point of shoulder. Repeat 2x.
- From here, flow into the SUMCHI SEVEN STROKE
Learn the Level 1 Stroke Routine on Our YouTube Channel for Free
Follow us on YouTube to learn about this evolutionary massage technique, connect with your horse, improve your awareness and learn the unique Level 1 SUMCHI Stroke Routine. We do this all for the well-being of the horse.