WHAT DO I EXPECT WHEN I GO TO CLASS?
Participants can dress comfortably in their ‘barn attire’ and arrive at 10am at the Learning Center. You will receive a notebook, colored pencils, pens and all of your materials. We will review the classroom material until lunch. After lunch, participants will meet at the barn where we do our ‘hands on’ portion of the course. You will have to study the materials learned in class when you go home and practice on your own horses if you have them.
Equine Kneads is happy to take additional time with any participant, the length of the course is a suggested length. There are times when participants would like to spend extra days, that is our job to make sure you are ahead of the 'eight ball' when you leave and not behind. No one will graduate until they are confident with the massage and materials presented.

WHAT ARE SOME TOPICS COVERED?
Anatomy, Muscles and their functions, origin & insertion of the muscles, skeletal system, how are muscles 'made', what is fascia?, where a horse is tight and why, gaits analysis/movement, full joining up/introduction to the horse, full body massage with endorphin releases, your "safety zone", illnesses, injuries, when not to massage, studying the horses’ body language to achieve maximum results, what is the horse telling me?, business ideas, insurance, safety, and more!

ANY EXTRA CHARGES?
NoJ ! There are NO extra charges. All of the materials are provided. FREE freshers are offered to all participants!  Equine Kneads has worked very hard to keep the tuition fee the same for the past 13 years. We print our own notebooks and materials and rent a Learning Center instead of purchasing one so we can keep costs lower for participants.

DO I NEED HORSE EXPERIENCE?
Yes…we suggest you have horse experience. Equine Kneads offers the Basic Skills Course which you may find helpful. After the course, you can seek employment with horses, volunteer or take riding lessons to expand your knowledge & experience.

I WANT TO LEARN EQUINE MASSAGE ONLINE-DOES EQUINE KNEADS OFFER THAT?
No, we do not support learning massage online. Many hours of the course is in the barn massaging horses, learning how to feel if the horse is reactive, watching their gaits, observing their body language, you will be guided on their reactions so you are able to achieve maximum massage results. Hands on is not something you can learn online...the same reason you would not want your hairdresser to learn how to cut hair from a video!

LICENSING/LAWS 
I have received questions from prospective participants regarding laws/licensing. While there are some laws for each state none have been enforced. Why? When a person needs a massage they do not need permission from a doctor nor does the therapist need permission from a doctor to perform a massage. Massage is not veterinary medicine or human medicine. IF a Court were to rule on this law, it would most likely and logically, a prudent person, be declared unconstitutional. There are no licensing requirements for massage. The same as a farrier, blacksmith or natural horse trimmer. Fortunately we are on the bottom of the ‘Liability Food Chain’ . As Massage Therapists we cannot Treat, Cure or Diagnose ONLY a Vet can do that. Massage is to tone the muscles and relax the horse.
It is the participant's responsibility to check with their state.

WHY STUDY WITH EQUINE KNEADS?
Equine Kneads was Certified thru Advantassage (they were Certified thru Equissage). Advantassage unfortunately closed due to personal reasons which is why the Program was put together. There was a need for it in this area. It took 8 months before it was completed. When putting the course together I incorporated my natural horsemanship training relating to behavior, getting a horse out of flight mode, building trust and respect with a simple stroke. When a horse is understood & respected, the results will be better! I also included my years as a general practice vet tech and surgical vet tech, working in the emergency room in the hospital along with my years in law enforcement and 20+ years of massage experience to create a well diversed program; different from any other! The course is taught with the caution regarding safety & liability. It is stressed that as Equine Bodyworker/Massage Therapists we cannot treat, diagnose or cure only a Vet can do that! If there is ever a concern for a health issue with a horse, Veterinarian care supercedes.

Equine Kneads Graduates are a direct reflection of Equine Kneads, the horse business is based on honesty and reputation. Our goal is to have qualified Equine Bodyworkers. There are no more than 4 participants in a class; private classes are offered at no additional charge. We do not ‘push’ the number of graduates rather the qualified ones! To ensure that we offer Free Refreshers at anytime for anyone who has participated. Since we do not accept everyone into the program, everyone will graduate! It is our job to make sure!

Equine Kneads is in its 17th year of teaching!

AS EQUINE BODYWORKERS/ MASSAGE THERAPISTS WE NEVER DIAGNOSE, TREAT OR CURE ONLY A VET CAN