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.
