My interest in horses started when I was 5 years old and my family moved to Cornwall, I started to have weekly lessons at a local riding school, neither of my parents were horsey but I just loved it. As a child I rode regularly and took part in many shows and small hunter trials. I spent most of my weekends with my fellow horse lovers, spent time away on horsey holidays in the summer months. Over the years I have always tried to find time to ride and finally bought my first horse after I studied my final accountancy exams. I bought a palomino part bred Arab who was only 18 months old who was rather opinionated on everything. Once he turned four it was time to back him, I did a huge amount of research and eventually we worked it out between us and he was actually quite well behaved. He is now 19 years old and still has his opinion on everything and very often acts like the 2 year old I bought all those years ago. I have competed in showing, Dressage and cross country with him. As if he was not enough I then decided to buy his niece at the same age of 18 months old and when the time was right I also backed her, she fortunately is not as opinionated as him and I am currently developing her further so we can take part in Dressage as she has been very successful at showing.

My interest in Equine Sports Massage occurred somewhat by accident- before studying for my accountancy exams I undertook a course in Beauty Therapy that included massage and bingo the penny dropped why not combine this with my love of horses. I then began looking for a course and found the Institute of Complimentary Alternative Therapies (ICAT) course. The course consists of three modules and a final exam taking up to two years to complete. The course is both practical and theory based with a strong element of case studies over the two year period. The course also takes into account other aspects that will be beneficial such as Farriery, teeth, saddle fitting, nutrition and specific ailments that all may have an impact on the horses movement and muscles. The course also covers ridden exercises and stretches that may help horses with specific problems to help to alleviate them. The course is comprehensive and combined with the case studies gives the therapist a thorough understanding to enable them to treat any horse.

Since qualifying I have followed up with other modalities that complement the Sports Massage, such as Myofascial release and the Masterton method introductory course, the results are fantastic and I use some of these methods to aid relaxation and help to relieve tension dependent on the individual horses requirements.