FAQ

Frequently asked questions

• What exactly is Equine Sports Massage Therapy?
• Who/what is Equissage?
• Is massage therapy recognised in Europe as being valuable to the horses well being?
• What kind of demand is there for equine massage therapy?
• Must an individual be licensed as a certified massage therapist to work in Europe?
• What subjects are covered in the curriculum?
• What qualifications or background are considered important for success as an ESMT?
• How long will it take for me to become certified by Equissage Europe as an ESMT? Where is the training conducted?
• What kind of income can I expect as an ESMT?
• What is the cost of the programme?
• As a graduate of Equissage Europe ESMT certification Programme, may I use the name in marketing my practice?
• Chief Instructor Helen Woolley
• Equissage Founder Mary Schreiber
• Selecting a Certification Programme, why Equissage Europe?

What exactly is Equine Sports Massage Therapy?

Equine Sports Massage Therapy is the therapeutic application of hands on massage techniques for the purpose of increasing circulation, relaxing muscle spasms, relieving tension, enhancing muscle tone, and increasing range of movement in high performance horses.

Who/what is Equissage?

Equissage was formed in 1989 for the purpose of offering massage therapy services to the equine athlete. Founded by two certified massage therapists, the company initially marketed its services to major East USA coast racetracks and show barns. In early 1990 the company gained national media attention and was featured in Sports Illustrated, (July16, 1990) and on ABC television’s National Health Show.

In 1990 Equissage produced its first full-length instructional video. This led to the invitation to appear at ‘Equitana’ in Essen, Germany in 1991 to participate in demonstrations.

The company went on to introduce the first American training programme in equine sports massage therapy. The programme has been a huge success training over 8000 therapists from around the world.

Equissage Europe teaches the same intensive 5-day course as Equissage. Helen Woolley, the course director and chief instructor has worked as a Chartered Physiotherapist for 18 years before training with Mary Schreiber in 2005. Equissage Europe was created to increase the ability for would be students to undergo the Equissage programme within Europe and become Certified massage Therapists.

Is massage therapy recognised in Europe as being valuable to the horses well being?

Yes, increasingly so. Just as holistic approaches are becoming more popular with humans, so too have these procedures and methods become acceptable in the care and treatment of animals.

What kind of demand is there for equine massage therapy?

Every equestrian- owners, trainers and riders of racehorses or show horses- wants his or her horse to have the edge on the competition. Massage therapy can help provide this. Similarly, every owner of a pleasure horse wants the best for that animal. Because of the health promoting qualities of massage, as well as its curative properties, knowledgeable equestrians as an integral part of their horses’ total and continuous health care programme are incorporating this therapy.

Must an individual be licensed as a Certified Massage Therapist to work in the UK?

At present there is no legislation concerning the practice of animal massage within the UK. However this may change in the future. By training and becoming certified with a recognised long standing programme you are protecting your professional standing.

What subjects are covered in the curriculum?

The major emphasis in the ESMT programme is on the application of massage techniques and massage strokes. Students learn the basic physiology of muscles, the location of major muscles and muscle groups. Students will also learn to be aware of the specific conditions which may affect the horse if those muscle groups become strained, pulled, sore, tense, tired or not adequately nourished through blood and lymphatic circulation.

What qualifications or background are considered important for success as an ESMT?

The most important qualification for success as an ESMT is a love of animals, empathy for suffering animals, and a sincere desire to help alleviate that suffering. While it is helpful to have some background knowledge of massage it is certainly not mandatory. The Equissage Europe Certification Programme starts with the basics of massage therapy and thoroughly schools the student in every aspect of the discipline. As a graduate you will be confident that you know everything you need to administer equine massage in an effective, therapeutic and professional manner.

How long will it take to become certified by Equissage Europe as an ESMT? Where is the training conducted?

Equissage Europe’s certification programme consists of five days intensive classroom study and individualised practical application. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 6. There is a pre course pack distributed on registration.

The classroom and practical segments are conducted at the ‘Rheindahlen and Elmpt Saddle Club’ at the Rheindahlen Military Complex (JHQ) near Monchengladbach in Germany. JHQ is also close to the Dutch border town of Roermond and approximately 40 minutes from Dusseldorf City centre.

Students have the option of staying on camp at Cassels House or at numerous Bed and Breakfasts within the German community or at the bigger hotel chains in Monchengladbach. For details of accommodation please contact Equissage Europe on equissageeurope@hotmail.com

What kind of Income can I expect as an ESMT?

The amount you charge will depend on where you are working. On average a minimum of £30 -£50 is suggested for a session, lasting approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. As a professional it is up to you to set your fees- often the initial assessment and massage will last longer as you will have many questions to answer, so you may wish to charge more for the first appointment and then a set lower fee for follow up massages.

What is the Cost of the programme?

Exclusive of your travel costs and accommodation, the cost of the Equissage Europe ESMT certification programme is 895 Euros inclusive of tax. Reductions are available for military personnel and their dependents (715Euros), U.K. tax-free entitled ESMTstudents (752Euros) and group bookings. For more information contact equissageeurope@hotmail.com

The fee includes all books, materials and tuition. A 200 Euro non refundable booking fee is required on enrolment, this includes The How To Manual of Sports Massage for the Equine Athlete and the pre course notes.

As a graduate of Equissage Europe’s ESMT Certification Programme, may I use the name in marketing my practice?

No, Equissage is a copyrighted name and cannot be used in the name you select for your business; however, you may advise your client that you are a graduate of the Equissage Europe School and that you are a certified ESMT.

Chief Instructor Helen Woolley

Helen Woolley was born in Cambridgeshire, UK in 1969. She graduated from the Queen Elizabeth School of Physiotherapy in 1990 and worked in the N.H.S. for many years, specialising in Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics. Helen went on to work for the army as a Chartered Physiotherapist before moving into Private Practice firstly in the UK then in Germany.

Helen’s interest in horses developed after working at an army polo stables in Germany and then at the Paderborn Equestrian Centre.

On a posting to the United States she was fortunate enough to train with Mary Schreiber, qualify as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist and become a member of the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists.

She has worked at yards in Kentucky, USA and Germany, assessing and treating many types of sports horse, including polo ponies, dressage horses, racehorses and three-day-event horses.

Helen is also co-ordinator of the Rheindahlen and Elmpt Special Needs Riding Group.

She is married to Monty, a serving Cavalry Officer and has two children, Jade and Bertie, whom both ride. Helen continues to practice as a Chartered Physiotherapist combining this with treating horses and teaching Equissage

Europe.

Equissage Founder Mary Schreiber

Mary Schreiber is the founder of Equissage, Americas leading training organisation devoted to muscle rehabilitation and fulfilling the potential in the equine athlete. As a pioneer of equine sports massage therapy, she has appeared on ABC’s Health Show and in leading equine publications around the world. For her achievements she was recognised with a listing in the Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals.

Selecting a Certification Programme-why Equissage Europe?

When selecting an equine Sorts Certification Programme, make sure you check the credentials of anyone offering such a course. Some questions you should ask are:

• How many articles have appeared about either the course you are considering or the course founder?
• How many books or videos on equine massage the founder has authored?
• How many veterinarians have chosen to enrol in that programme or school?
• What are the average earnings of a graduate of the programme and how many graduates are there?
• Equissage Europe is the only recognised Equissage course outside the United States of America supported by Mary Schreiber

A number of International Graduates of the Equissage Programme have been selected as official massage therapists for their country’s Olympic equestrian teams.