Liz Douglas
Owner; C.E.S.M.T; BSc.; Licensed Equine Therapist; FEI Permitted Equine Therapist
I have provided therapy/bodywork for a variety of equine athletes, including: FEI (jumpers & dressage); USEA; USDF; USHJA; Graded Stakes; Breeders Cup; Derby/Oaks runners; USDF National Champions; & USEF Pony Final Champions. I also work with young horses for sales prep & development.
My horse background started in Chester Springs, PA as an apprentice under Ginny Orr (Exercise Rider & Show Jumper). I
showed some, but preferred hacking about the countryside on my Chestnut
TB, Roger (pic above).
After a detour away from horses, I found myself once again working with them as the Equine Care Specialist for a Therapeutic Riding Organization. This position presented me with a variety of breeds displaying confounding "issues". My insatiable quest to help the horses thrive led me to various exercise & therapy strategies. Then a friend suggested that I take an equine sports massage course. I was reluctant. I thought it sounded superficial-- silly, even--and I wanted to do real work.
Well, that class was a game changer. I loved learning about muscles, anatomy and biomechanics. I combined physical therapy methods with massage, and horses improved. They behaved better and worked better.
I spent the next few years experimenting with techniques.
Out of necessity, I customized a program and referred to it as "movement sculpting".
I attended additional equine therapy workshops and eventually started MEND Equine Massage & Bodywork. But I felt like I needed more education, so I moved to Kentucky to obtain a University degree in Equine
Health & Rehabilitation. After graduating, I trained under vets, managers, and therapists and worked for others until I felt confident enough to become independent. I then created MEND.HORSE LLC.
I have been fortunate to work with stellar
athletes in barns throughout the country. I am absolutely in love with this work and my clients. I feel like there is always more to learn so I am constantly taking
new
courses in equine musculoskeletal health.
I spend most of my free time with my OTTB. I worked with her as a foal and followed her brief racing career. When she sustained a career-ending condylar fracture, I took her home. Months of therapy, patience and retraining ensued. She is an amazing mare and she teaches me even more than I'd like at times! She is pictured above.
-
FEI Permitted Equine Therapist
- Licensed Equine Therapist KHRC Thoroughbred Racing
-
Licensed Equine Therapist KHRC Standardbred Racing
- Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist*
- BSc. Equine Health & Rehabilitation, Midway University (Summa Cum Laude)
- BSc. Northwestern University
- Member of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals
Employment History
- Equine Sports Therapist: Equine Therapy, 502, Inc.
- Equine Therapy/Rehab Aide: Spy Coast Farm
- Equine Therapy & Rehab: Brooker House Farm
Training/Experience
- TCM & Equine Acupressure:
- Tallgrass Animal Acupressure
- Midway University
- Equine Sports Massage:
- Jo-Ann Wilson
- Equissage New England*
- Midway University
- Orthobionomy:
- Julie O'Neil
- Craniosacral Therapy:
- Upledger Institute
- Myofascial Release:
- Rolley
- Midway University
- Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy:
- Trained at Spy Coast
- Cold LASER:
- Trained at Midway U.
- Trained at Spy Coast
- Trained at Midway U.
-
Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation:
- Equine Core Stability & Stifle Dysfunction
- Neuromuscular Technique
- Neil Asher
- Neil Asher
- Foals, Weanlings & Yearlings
*National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
MEND.HORSE LLC operates in accordance with state and federal laws.
We do not practice veterinary medicine.
MEND: align, balance, calibrate, fine-tune, focus, sharpen, square, troubleshoot, tune up