

Course
Information and Curriculum
“Equissage
is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic
Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved
Provider. Both the equine and canine programs provide 50 hours
of continuing education."
THE
ACCUMULATING DATA OF SCIENCE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE BONDING
AND THERAPEUTIC SUPERIORITY OF HANDS-ON ANIMAL/HUMAN MASSAGE
INTERACTION OVER THOSE MODALITIES WHICH INCORPORATE THE USE OF
ANXIETY-GENERATING, ALIEN MECHANICAL DEVICES".
-World Federation
of Alternative Therapies
Mission Statement
To ensure
that our students are receiving the most thorough, complete
curriculum available. Firmly hold to the offering of our
curriculum at our facility at a reasonable and fair cost.
In doing so, we will make the therapy more
accessible to those wanting to pursue a career as a Certified
Equine Sports Massage Therapist. This gives more and more Equine
Athletes the opportunity to be freed of pain and tension through
the amazing power of touch and the Equissage Therapy.
Equissage
was founded and incorporated in 1989 by certified (Human)
Massage Therapist, Mary A. Schreiber. Mary became interested
in using massage on animals, and specifically horses, as a
result of the outstanding benefits she saw on human clients.
At the time that she started Equissage, Mary was operating a
horse-boarding stable in Bucks County, PA. and was actively
competing in regional Western Pleasure Shows. As she began
to witness first hand the effectiveness of the therapy on
her own horses, she decided to market her equine massage
service at local racetracks. The results were remarkable.
Horses that hadn't finished in the money in over a year were
starting to win, and horses that had been given up on were
back working and racing competitively. At the same time, she
also began working on show horses at many of the shows at
which she was competing. The results were the same...horses
were performing better than they had in years, and muscle
injuries were healing faster than owners and trainers
believed possible.
As
a result, Mary was besieged with requests to start teaching
the therapy to others.
Trainers, owners and riders were all interested in learning
this wonderful "new" therapy.
Thus was born the Equissage Certificate Program in Equine
Sports Massage Therapy. It was to be the first such program
in the world. And since 1992, Equissage has graduated more
than 10,000 Equine Sports Massage Therapists, from every
state and 19 different countries around the world. Many
graduates work for the very top echelon of owners and
trainers...both in the racing world, as well as on the show
circuit. Some have been selected to work with the US
Equestrian team at the Olympics, while others have worked on
winners of Triple Crown Races.
Sabrina Kohoutek, one of Mary’s top graduates
has been chosen by Mary to bring Equissage from the East
Coast all the way to the West Coast. You will receive
the same curriculum, coursework and certification now in
Valley Center, California as in Round Hill, Virginia.
For more information on the Equissage California
Certification program please see our
Course information and
schedule page.
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. Massage is
not veterinary medicine nor is it human medicine. If a
COURT were to rule on this law, it would most likely and
logically be declared unconstitutional.
Learn more on the
History of Equine Massage
here>>