Like many people with a passion for something, Leigh Ann Hayman wanted to incorporate her passion for horses into a career.

While investigating careers involving horses on the Internet, the 25-year-old Hermitage woman hit on massage therapy.

Miss Hayman said she attended a weeklong school run by Equissage, Inc., Roundhill, Va., where she became certified in equine sports massage therapy. She started ESMT of Hermitage and is also an assistant at a veterinary clinic.

Miss Hayman said she began riding horses before she could walk. Over the years she said she watched horses struggle with muscle soreness during training.

"I always wanted them (the horses) to enjoy what we were doing together," she said. "Their whole attitude changes when their body doesn't feel good."

"If one muscle is sore they're going to try to compensate with another," Miss Hayman explained.

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