Equissage-New England / New York will only be administering the "Equine Sports Massage Therapy" program at this time. The "Canine and Correspondence courses will only be administered from Virginia.
Equine Sports Massage Therapy Program
The Equissage Certification Program has trained more than 10,000 therapists - from every state in the U.S. and 19 countries. Graduates of the program have gained national recognition and work for many of the top trainers in the equine world. A number of international graduates of the Equissage Program were selected as official massage therapists for their country's Olympic equestrian team at the most recent Olympic games.
Cost: Tuition cost for the Equissage ESMT program is $1495.
Application: The application is available for download in both .doc and .pdf format. Please print out the application and return with payment. Application (PDF format)
What exactly is Equine Sports Massage Therapy?
Equine Sports Massage Therapy is the therapeutic application of hands-on massage techniques for the purpose of increasing circulation, relaxing muscle spasms, relieving tension, enhancing muscle tone, and increasing range of motion in all horses from therapeutic riding and lesson horses to dressage and competitive horses.
Curriculum: The major emphasis in the ESMT Certification Program is on the application of massage techniques, strokes and sequences. Trainees will learn the basic physiology of muscles, the location of major muscles and muscle groups. Trainees will also learn to be aware of the specific conditions which may affect the horse if those muscles become strained, tense, sore, injured or not adequately nourished through blood and lymphatic circulation.
The Equine Sports Massage Therapy Certification Program
Equissage-New England / New York
Overview
The Certification Program will consist of a 5 day venture into the study of Muscles, Equine Structure, Kinesiology of the muscles to be worked on, and their relationship to movements of the horse, as well as actual case studies, and the benefits of massage. We utilize “The Muscles and Functions” handbook, as well as provide two additional workbooks to be used while in training. We use DVDs to illustrate how muscles work, and equine sports massage techniques.
Our sessions run from Monday thru Friday of the week and start at 9AM and finish at 5PM daily. We also offer a “Weekender” option for those folks unable to attend during the week. (See the Calendar and Happenings Page)
Our sessions are limited to no more than 6 trainees, which allows for our trainee to instructor ratio to be exceptional and in favor of the trainee. Our training aides are of exceptional design helping with the visualization of what lies beneath the skin as we traverse the anatomy of the horse. Our trainees are better able to comprehend the methodology being taught and its relationship to the various muscles and landmarks of the equine anatomy.
As the different groups of muscles and their function in the Equine body are learned, we then proceed to live animals to show the sequence and techniques of Sports Massage Therapy. Our methods of explain, demonstrate, practice and review is very effective in enabling the trainee to grasp and retain the sequence and strokes of Equine Sports Massage Therapy. We have a 96% successful certification rate.
For further information, contact us by e-mail at
by phone at 860-617-1078.
Improving the Equine world, one horse at a time.
Doris & Ron Bouchard
Equissage- NE / NY
Overview:
The Certification Program will consist of a 5-day study of 26 Equine Skeletal Muscles and their functions, Benefits of Massage, Contraindications (when not to massage), learning to interpret the body language of the horse, and most importantly, an abundance of hands-on massage practice with the horses, learning the “where and how to” apply the various massage strokes and treatments.
We utilize an anatomy book and you will receive an additional workbook on the first day of class which reflects the changes and additions to the original workbook made by us over the years. We utilize DVDs to add additional insights.
Our classes run from Monday to Friday, and begin at 9AM and end at 5PM daily. We also offer a Weekender option that can be scheduled after dates have been negotiated on an individual case basis.
Our classes are limited to no more than 4 students. This allows the instructor to student ratio to be exceptional and in favor of the student. Our “Learning Aid” allows the student to more accurately visualize what lies beneath the skin as we traverse the anatomy of the horse. This allows the student to better comprehend the methodology being presented and its relationship to the various muscles and landmarks of the equine anatomy.
We divide the horse’s body into three defined segments. As the different groups of muscles and their functions are learned, we then proceed to horses to demonstrate the sequence and techniques of massage. Each student will then practice those massage strokes, for that segment, immediately upon completion of the demonstration.
Our method of explain, demonstrate, practice, and review, is very effective in enabling the student to grasp and retain the sequence and strokes of Equine Sports Massage Therapy. An instructor will be with the student(s) at all times.
We have a 96% successful certification rate.
For further information, contact us by email at
Cost: The price of the Equissage certification is $1495.00. See the Application form for details.
Application Form: An Application Form can be downloaded in PDF format from any web page in Header.
Curriculum Details:
1.) Learning the various massage strokes which work best for each individual muscle or location of the body. How to treat tension and spasms throughout the body along with a sequence which covers all major parts of the horse’s body.
2.) Basic muscle and skeletal anatomy of the horse. Our “Muscles and Functions” learning aid gives you a visual of where each muscle of the superficial and deeper layer is located, and helps you understand why it can perform or assist in a specific movement. You are not required to learn the attachments of the skeletal muscle to the bones, but we offer additional information in class.
3.) It is
important to know the contraindications, or when not to massage.
This knowledge is paramount, as you need
to evaluate each client prior to your session, to insure that you do no harm.
One example:
Massage is contraindicated when the horse has a fever. Your awareness and making sure that there are no issues
if the horse appears ill is your professional duty. Check with the owner or ask to consult with their
veterinarian.
If in
doubt, reschedule the massage session.
4.) We have also
included the interpretation of “Equine Body Language”. Your ability and awareness to read this information provided
by the horse, tells you, the practitioner, how effective
your touch and focus are, and that it is or is not being accepted by your
equine client.
As you are
performing the massage, you will be paying close attention to the horse’s
responses to your touch, confirming
issues you may be feeling and locating,
The
combination of what you are locating and the horse’s responses, will relay the following information to you:
a.) Are your
pressures within the tolerance levels of the horse?
b.) Is the
horse relaxed and able to release tension?
c.) Is the
horse in pain or otherwise distracted?
The horse
will tell you with subtle responses when you identify areas that require
treatment, confirm a point or
area to be addressed, or reveal to you something you might have missed.
5.) Equissage NE
/NY is proud of the extensive and detailed hands on practice we provide beginning on day one. It is paramount that
students receive more than adequate hands on practice,
providing instant guidance and feedback, in addition to classroom studies.
We
intentionally keep our classes small, thereby keeping the instructor to student
ratio low, and at it’s best.
Last, but not least, should you be interested in adding more modalities (tools in the tool bag) after your Equissage certification, we will be happy to lend insights into Cranial Sacral Therapy, The Masterson Method, Myo-fascial release, The Upper Suspension Release, and the use and benefits of Red and Infrared Photon light Therapy.
All of the above we use in our own Body Work practice.
Demand: Every equestrian - owner, trainer, and rider of racehorses or show horses - wants his or her horse to have every possible edge in competition. Massage therapy can help provide that edge. Similarly, every owner of a pleasure horse wants the assurance that their horse is the best it can be. Because of the health promoting qualities of massage, as well as its curative properties, this therapy is being incorporated by knowledgeable equestrians as an integral part of their horses' total and continuous health care program.
Regarding Vet Laws: We have received many inquiries from prospective students regarding veterinary regulations in various states, including Virginia. While these laws do exist none have been enforced. The reason: When a person wants a massage, he or she does not need permission from a doctor, nor does the therapist need to get permission from a doctor before performing a massage. Alternative non-invasive therapies are not human or veterinary medicines by definition.
Application: The application is available for download in .pdf format
Please print out the application and return with payment.