Qualifications recognise the experience and skills of the practitioner.
I continue to be a student of the horse - I learn from every horse I work with. I also seek further learning and training.
Jim Masterson, Vicky Devlin and I at Equitana 2019.
Bodywork
I am a Masterson Method Certified Practioner, Coach, Mentor and Instructor. This means I am qualified to work on clients horses as well as coach and mentor Masterson Method Students and instruct Masterson Method Weekend Workshops for horse owners.
Masterson Method certification involves starting out with the Online work and DVDs, then attending a Weekend Workshop. Once having sometime to practice the techniques you attend a 5 Day Advanced Workshop. From here, 18 months of Case Studies are under taken, with three coaching sessions with a Qualified Coach between each block of case studies. If the student has met the required standards, they can move on to the Final Certification Course. I also spent a couple of further weeks with Jim Masterson, helping to teach on his workshops in Australia, and continue to instruct in future workshops.
Lower limb dissection with Professor Robert Bowker.
Hoofcare
I am qualified with the Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy. The college produces well rounded hoof professionals, recognising that to understand the hoof, we also need to have a grasp on biomechanics, diet, lifestyle and a good relationship with other equine professionals such as vets, farriers and bodyworkers.
The course involves intensive training blocks, research and assignments in the first year and extensive case studies in the second year. For the first year I moved to Yarck, near Melbourne Australia where the College is based, so I could fully immerse myself, taking part not only in the course, but also apprenticing myself to Andrew Bowe “The Barefoot Blacksmith”, helping out at their Rehab Centre and assisting at clinics and workshops.
The college has world class lecturers and instructors, including: Professor Robert Bowker, Vet and Neuro-scientist with a particular interest in the equine limb and hoof, Sharon May-Davis, Equine Scientist and Dissectionist and Andrew Bowe, Master Farrier, known as “The Barefoot Blacksmith”.
Anatomy and Biomechanics
I have attended three whole horse dissections and a biomechanics clinic with Sharon May-Davis, world leading equine dissectionist. I also take an interest in up-skilling and studying in my own time, and have done several unofficial dissections as well.
Seeing how the structures connect and affect one another is fascinating for me. The hoof responds to the posture, movement and conformation of the horse above, and the body is also affected by the quality and balance of the hooves supporting it.
Saddle Fit
I have done a Saddle Fit Assessment course with Jochen Schleese, world leading saddle fitting expert. This is an intensive course looking at the horses back, saddle and tree design, rider anatomy and position, and assessing saddle fit both static and in motion.
Saddle fit is such an important factor when looking at your horses body and tension patterns. Saddle fit is dynamic, it must fit both horse and rider, and be checked regularly for any changes that need to be made as the horse changes shape or condition. I offer saddle fit assessments the go well a long side bodywork, I do not adjust or sell saddles, so I can offer you an totally unbiased opinion about how your saddle is affecting you and your horse.