About Gretchen

Gretchen is a certified Equine Body Worker earned through Equinology. Her education includes courses such as:

Equine Body Worker Foundation Course - Instructed by Sarah Weldon, EBW, BSc (Hons) ost. Students are taught to look at the whole animal, understand what you are seeing and utilize the skills you've been taught. Equinology is not for everyone. Equinology is for serious students, those who strive to be leaders in their profession. This is a 200+ hour course in Equinology.

Advanced Equine Massage Techniques - Instructed by Debranne Pattillo, MEBW. This course includes advanced techniques, stretches and anatomy. This is a 90+ hour course in Equinology.

Biomechanics, Applied Anatomy and Gait Abnormalities - Instructed by Dr. Hilary Clayton, BVMS, Ph.D., MRCVS, specialist in equine biomechanics and lameness. Author of "The Dynamic Horse". The course includes gait analysis, conformation evaluation, subjective analysis of conformation, preventing lameness, stay and reciprocal apparatus and problem solving in the study of Equinology.

Equine 5-day Dissection Class - Equine Anatomy Structure and Systems - Instructed by Dr. Deb Bennett, Ph.D. The course includes study of cells and tissues, growth and development, joints, tendons, and the skeletal ECT.

Equine Craniosacral Therapy - Instructed by Gail Wetzler through the Upledger Institute.

Equine Sports Medicine and Therapy - Instructed by Dr. Steven Wickler, Ph.D., DVM., at the Calpoly University in ERC in Pomona, CA. This course includes study of the respiratory, cardiovascular muscular systems, energy production, conditioning and thermoregulation in the study of Equinology.

Equine Body Work involves the use of hands-on mondalities and knowledge of the equine sciences to facilitate relaxation, provide comfort to muscular pain and stiffness and enhance the performance of equines. An equine body worker is part of a horse's wellness team, along with the horse owner, veterinarian, farrier, dentist, stable manager, trainer, and other specialists.

Her passion for horses begain in her childhood years. In 1994 she received her Bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina. She continued to pursue her equine education and has been riding and conditioning horses for the past 29 years. Her career has included her experience as a working student for several renowned trainers, management of a privately owned horse facility, and riding instructor. Her work as a business professional includes a NARHA certified therapeutic riding program. As a certified equine body worker she is committed to a lifetime of studying equine anatomy, physiology and biomechanics to benefit our equine friends.

As an equine professional she believes in educating clients about the value of massage. Massage will prevent some of the wear and tear we put on our horses and this will translate into a longer and happier lifetime of performance for your horse and you.

About Massage Therapy

Massage therapy focuses on the effects of strain and exertion put upon the musculoskeletal system. It is fundamental after an injury has occurred. A consistent massage therapy schedule is focused on why and where problems develop and the prevention of injury. The idea is to treat the cause, not the symptoms that develop.

The Best Protection is Prevention

Pay attention to early warning signs of strain and exertion. There may be a time when the horse is off or in obvious discomfort. The problem seems unexplainable and the treating veterinarian cannot see an injury or illness. Often there is a failure to recognize that the muscular system can be the entire cause of the problems. It is usually concluded that the muscles will take care of themselves, however, the muscular system is 60% of the horse's body weight and responsible for motion. It seems quite obvious that we need to pay special attention to this system rather than cover up symptoms that can lead to severe problems down the road.

*Horses are athletes and athletics create a certain amount of strain and force required to achieve maximum performance. Unless you have reached maximum performance you will never know what it is. That is why we condition our horses to continually keep pushing and trying to get more out of them. Everything in life has a price and this wear and tear will eventually lead to a loss of ease of motion and muscle tightening. Tightening will lead to a spasm - pressure and pain - pull or tearing of tissue or charley horse.