About 

MEND.HORSE LLC

*KY, OH, IN, WV, FL, PA, VA, MD & travel upon request
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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.  

Qualifications

  • 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
  • Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation:
    • Equine Core Stability & Stifle Dysfunction
  • Neuromuscular Technique
    • 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