What is Equine Touch?

Equine Touch is a non-diagnostic, noninvasive, energy and connective soft tissue discipline which works at a complete holistic level; that is, it addresses the equine as a whole without paying any particular attention to any named problem as such.

On a practical level Equine Touch consists of a series of gentle vibrational moves performed over specific points in specific chreographed patterns, some of which may be interspersed with observation periods to allow the equine to recognizes and process the effects of these subtle procedures.

These soft tissue vibrations when performed correctly with the ET move have the effect of releasing spasms, distortions and adhesions in the connective tissue, and smooth muscle of organs. In synergy they stimulate the body's natural inclination towards balance and harmony in its structure and function as well as creating awareness of placement and motion within the equide.

For instance such a soft tissue correction can very quickly restore the compromised saddle area of the horse to its full pain -free-mechanical function or at the very least relieve or reduce the current level of pain giving it a better quality of life.

Course Levels and Clinic Content

The Horse Lovers Foundation Clinic: Level 1

Foundation Clinic/Seminar: 3 Days

On this three day foundation clinic for horse lovers the focus is on teaching students how to care for their own horses. The novice students are introduced to the Equine Touch by practicing the basic procedures on their fellow students prior to being instructed to transpose them onto the equine. This is an extremely important facet of the work as it supplies an inner knowledge of how the technique works at the human level. This method also allows the novice to address the imbalance of the rider which may be affecting the equine and vice versa. As a result the novice by the end the course has the ability to address not only the equine but the rider also. Safety for horse and practitioner is stressed throughout the three days and each student is supplied with a user-friendly manual which contains diagrams, photographs and instructions on how to perform all foundation procedures. Upon completion, a certificate is issued. A fully professional instruction DVD is alsoavailable.

The Horse Lovers Foundation Clinic: Level 2

Advanced Clinic/Seminar: 3 Days

This seminar focuses on refreshing and fine tuning the students on all that they have learned on the Foundation Clinic as well as being instructed in several additional new procedures designed to address areas of concern both on the horse and the human. The student is also introduced to basic gentle stretching procedures in conjunction with the Equine Touch. Each student is supplied with additional course material to be added to the basic course manual including the all new advanced body balancing and holistic palpation address.During this clinic the student will be thoroughly assessed as to their ability to attend the practitioner or Level 3 clinic. Upon completion of the advanced clinic a certificate will be issued. By student and practitioner demand a fully professional instruction DVD covering this entire clinic is available.

PLEASE NOTE:

The above two clinics, Foundation and Advanced are designed for horse owners who wish to work on their own horses or as a tool for vets or qualified equine therapists within their own practice. As the laws relating to any form of equine address vary widely from country to country, state to state and even county to county it is over to each and every student to make themselves aware of any legal requirement or restrictions which could relate to them when using this form of awareness training on a horse. In no way does the Equine Touch Foundation encourage or advise participants of the above seminars to offer their services to horse owners for, solicit a fee or to break any law.

Practitioner's Clinic : Level 3: 4 Days

The students will now be expected to demonstrate expertise in the modality and will be thoroughly assessed on their performance. New moves will be explored and presented as will additional information on how to approach the technique from a more professional point of view. Instruction will be given and comprehensive information supplied on other relevant principles relating to a holistic approach to the equine, hooves, teeth, saddles, tack, riders and nutrition all have their integrated part to play and are all touched upon in this clinic.

The student who successfully completes this clinic and after thorough assessment is deemed to have attained the standards required, will be invited to sit a written exam on the Equine Touch as taught by The Foundation as well as present an essay on The Equine Touch. Upon completion of the Level 3 clinic a certificate is issued, however upon successful completion of the assessment and exam, plus the presentation of 24 case studies an Equine Touch Practitioner Diploma is duly presented.

PLEASE NOTE:

Upon achieving the status of Equine Touch Practitioner it must be remembered at all times that in order to work within the horse care world, many countries, states and even counties have their own laws which cover this field. Therefore it is essential that all practitioner level students are aware that it is their own personal responsibility to inform themselves of these regulations and work within their borders. If in any doubt one should approach a local veterinarian and seek their advice. Many Equine Touch Practitioners work in conjunction with and in communication with their local vet. Equine Touch Practitioners may not call themselves equine therapists unless qualified to do so in some legally accepted modality. A Diploma in the discipline of the Equine Touch is not a licence to practice.

The Equine Touch and Beyond: Level 4 - 3 Days.

A Master Class with Jock

ET and beyond or Level 4 as it has become known is the most exciting development to have happened to the Equine Touch since the Practitioners Level 3 was established in 2002.  Innovative and inspiring these four days with Jock on his own introduces the level 3 student and practitioner to a whole new experience within the discipline of the Equine Touch taking the participating student beyond the previous confines and entering them into the professional world of an Equine Touch Bodyworker.  Apart from fine tuning their already learned skills under the eyes of Jock himself, the practitioner student is introduced to many new procedures designed, developed and choreographed not only by Jock but by experienced bodyworkers from around the world.  During these three or four days students will also be taught a new palpation and assessment technique accompanied by a professional observation form as part of an all-new integrated Equine Touch consultation procedure which will enhance the professional presentation of the new EquineTouch Bodyworker's work.

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The Equine Touch Foundation Incorporated

LEVEL 1 Clinic Content

Level 1a:  Fundemantals of Palpation, ‘The ET Move’, Basic Body Balance

Understand the ET move and practice it on humans to develop a degree of proficiency before applying it to the horse. Learn and practice the choreographed Basic Body Balancing (BBB) procedures on the human first prior to transposing them to the equine.

Clinic covers: Understanding the complexity of the ET Move and its relationship to specific laws of bodywork practices both western and eastern •  Learning how to present the Move on different surfaces and at different angles • Learning to recognize and use anatomical landmarks to locate the specific points to apply the move on humans and transposition of these points to the horse  •  Learning the precise performance of the Basic Body Balance (BBB) techniques in order to encourage and enhance relaxation and balance the whole musculoskeletal system in the horse  • Learning when, where and why to introduce observation times to allow the horse to process the work being done on it and to allow it to slip deeper into relaxation.

Level 1b: Area of Concern Addresses and Safe Application

Application of area of concern addresses related to specific areas on the horse as revealed by response of the horse to the work, as well as education on the safe way of applying each procedure.

Clinic covers: Understanding why, where and how to perform sequences of moves related to: the foreleg, pectoral muscle, sacrotuberous ligament, hamstrings and hock, throat and temporo mandibular joint (TMJ) • Understanding the necessity of safe procedures when working on the horse • Learning the correct way to instruct a handler to hold the horse for your safety when working on the animal • Learning how to correctly work on a horse on your own • Learning and applying the principles of safety when working around equines as a bodyworker.

LEVEL 2 Clinic Content

Level 2a: Advanced Area of Concern Addresses

Application of Advanced Area of Concern Addresses in addition to and in support of those taught in Level 1.

Clinic covers: Confirming purpose of the Basic Body Balancing, ‘the Move’ and palpation to assist in recognition of Areas of Concern • Understanding the need for communication with the horse when addressing areas of concern and what procedures to use • Learning advanced area of concern techniques relating to the head, neck, shoulders, saddle area, abdominal, sacrum and pelvic areas and how to apply them safely.

Level 2b: Advanced Body Balancing Technique

Application of the Advanced Body Balancing Technique (ABB). Understanding where when and how to use it on its own or interspersed with the fundementals of the Basic Body Balancing (BBB).

Clinic covers: Understanding the reasons behind development of ABB • Understanding the correct application of ABB and the different variations of it • Understanding where and when to incorporate specific procedures of ABB when applying BBB • Understanding how to read feedback from ABB to decide upon which advanced area of concern procedures to use.  

LEVEL 3 Clinic Content

Level 3a: Understand the‘Elements of Influence’ on the Equine

Understand the theory behind the basic elements of influence upon the horse: teeth, hooves, saddle, rider, training, environment, nutrition.  Increase the understanding of anatomy and the steps necessary to become an ET practitioner.

Clinic covers: Understanding the wholistic importance of the teeth and TMJ influence upon the horse • Understanding the wholistic importance of the hooves to the horse and how to observe imbalance coming from that area •  Understanding the importance of the saddle, its fit and its influence upon the horse •  Understanding the importance of balanced riding to the wellbeing of the horse • Understanding the importance of environment to the well being of the horse •  Understanding general functional anatomy of the horse • Understanding the correct use of ET in association with allopathic medicine and specific therapies • Understanding which therapies are complementary to and which are contraindicative to ET •  Understanding the concepts of correct training and its importance in the overall health of the horse • Understanding the principles and consequences of compensation • Understanding the requirements to becoming a certificated Equine Touch Practitioner • Understanding how to use assessment and client case study sheets to the best advantage.

Level 3b: Advanced Area of Concern Addresses and Their Application

Understand additional Area of Concern addresses and the application of these techniques as a focused presentation to a specific need of the horse.

Clinic covers: Understanding and practicing of Advanced Area of Concern procedures which relate to (a) The Forequarter, (b) The Hindquarter, (c) The Neck and Head, (d) The Saddle Area (e) Body and Mind • Understanding the layering of Area of Concern procedures from levels 1, 2, and 3 into techniques of address for revealed Areas of Concern.

LEVEL 4 Clinic Content

Level 4: Equine Touch and Beyond a Master Class with Jock

Advance practitioner skills and understand the developed procedures which relate to assisting the horse in your role as an Equine Touch Practitioner and Bodyworker.

Clinic covers: Advancing practical professional skills as an Equine Touch Practitioner • Understanding the advantage of owner participation in a session • Understanding the principles and use of developed assessment systems • Understanding the use of consultation sheets •  Understanding when and how to give responsible advice to a client as result of a consultation • Understanding that Equine Touch is a developing discipline and being introduced to advanced developed techniques which harmonize with and are complementary to Equine Touch Foundation principles •  Understanding the use of Equine Touch practitioner aids.