The Equine Sports Massage Certification trains professional therapists and students of massage the logic, technique, and application of the Wilson Meagher Method. Horses of various breeds, disciplines, and levels of performance will be used for clinical practice. Conditioning and strengthening is addressed, as well as the effects of saddle fit.
Participants Will:
• Review structure and function of Equine Anatomy as it pertains to movement
and performance.
• Discuss the logic and apply the technique to the horses to alleviate muscle tightness.
• Understand the effects of specific muscle tightness and its effects on performance and motion.
• Recognize limitations of motion through the observation of equine movement or muscular kinetics.
• Restore free motion and range of motion to the horses by directly applying the hands on techniques.
This certification includes one day of classroom study and two days of clinical work in private barns on competition horses throughout the general area.
Instructor Jo-Ann Wilson, M.Ed., nationally certified and licensed massage therapist was a longstanding associate of the late Jack Meagher, pioneer of Sports Massage. Jo-Ann is the Director of Wilson Meagher Sportstherapy, a program which trains massage and physical therapists worldwide, as well offering workshops for horse-owners. www.sportsmassageinc.com
Jo-Ann was the sports massage therapist for horses and riders of the United States Equestrian Team, 3-Day Event Team for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Australia, winners of the Individual Gold and Team Bronze Medals. She also worked with horses and team members at the 2003 Pan American Games winners of the Silver Medal. Her work has been featured in such leading magazines as Practical Horseman, Dressage Today, and The Chronicle of the Horse.
Jo-Ann continues to maintain a human practice as well, using the Wilson Meagher technique with her human clients. She is a graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute, Cambridge Mass (now Cortiva Institute).
Jo-Ann was the principal investigator of a research grant titled "The Effects of Sportsmassage on Athletic Performance and General Function", funded by the Massage Therapy Foundation in 2001. The findings of the grant were published in the American Massage Therapy Journal Summer issue 2002.
Her current practice includes working with horses competing in international competitions including Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, and the World Cup. Jo-Ann works with all levels of equestrian sports including eventing, dressage, hunters, jumpers, driving, racing and pleasure horse companions. She may be reached at wmst4@yahoo.com
Jo-Ann receently produced an instructional DVD titled "A Course in Equine Sportsmassage, Lesson One" featuring the Wilson Meagher method.
To register or for more information, contact Downeast School of Massage, 207-832-5531.