Blog : Equus Education

Profile On: Michelle Goodrick, Equine Massage Therapy

January 19, 2011 by Christine Meunier 2 Comments

For an end of year dinner for the Certificate II in Horse Studies students we had two guest speakers to encourage the students about different career paths that they could undertake with horses. Michelle Goodrick was one of these, being a nurse that also practices equine massage therapy and went with the Paralympic team to assist both horses and riders with regards to their physical wellbeing. Michelle kindly answered some questions about her professions.

Have you always been interested in horses and when did you start out in horse and rider massage therpay? What is it exactly that you do?
I have loved horses since I can remember and have been riding since I was 7 years old. I became a nurse when I left school and also a relaxation massage therapist. After years of full time nursing I decided to add equine massage to my list of qualifications so I could maintain my horses and friends. I studied with an American lady by the name of Margie McKalister who was from South Carolina.

In 2007 I decided that there was a lot more to learn about massage so I went and studied full time at the Melbourne Institute of Massage therapy and graduated with the Diploma of Remedial Massage specialising in Sports. I am currently working part time as a nurse and part time as a remedial massage therapist. Plus I treat horses on a casual basis.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I probably spend at least 1.5hrs with my own horses everyday plus I treat horse riders for problems associated with their riding or work on a regular basis.

In this field is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
I believe in time you could perhaps make a steady income from massage but like all new businesses it takes time to build clientele so I am really lucky to have nursing.

What are the general steps taken to be able to provide such a service to clients?
A course such as a Diploma of Remedial Massage or equivalent and an Equine Massage Course. Lots of hands on experience in human and equine touch to get a feel for variables within muscles and structures. Time and patience and some money behind you to get started.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing this line of work?
If the health industry is of great interest to you and you have a passion for massage and helping people then definitely give it a go. You need to be physically fit and strong with good posture and core strength. All of these can be improved also once you are in the profession. Being at the right place at the right time!! Thats how I became involved with the Paralympic dressage time.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
I would love to learn more about yoga for riders and suppling/strengthening for horses.

Favourite horse memory?
I have so many that are so different from one another. There are fantastic competition memories but there are also great achievement memories from massage and treating riders and having such a wonderful positive response. Working at the Beijing Paralympic games; breeding and being involved with the birth of a new foal; breaking in and training my arab as a teenager with success and the list goes on and on!!!!

Future goals?
To advance my riding knowledge and skill in dressage and competing EA once my mare moves out of adult riding levels.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Being happy to get up and go to work each day because it is my choice and I love what I do. And people and horses love what I do also!!

“When in doubt, ask a horse.”

tag: equine massage, course, training, education

Sustainability on Horse Properties

January 6, 2011 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

So back in November I went along to a free Equine Land Management seminar and planned a follow up with more information from the ever helpful Melbourne Water.

For those who have stream river frontage on their property and are interested in making it more sustainable, help with regards to information and funding are available! Take a look at Melbourne Water’s Stream Frontage Management Program.

The program “provides funding for fencing off of waterway frontages, weed control, revegetation, off stock watering etc for landholders in the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment from Werribee and Wallan in the West to Whittlesea in the North, to Healesville in the East and Tarago River in the South East and the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip and French Islands.”

Note: if landholders are interested in participating in this program, they need to submit an expression of interest form to Melbourne Water PO BOX 4342 Melbourne 3001 and an assessor will come out to the property to determine what type of grant they require and if it will be a long term project.

It is possible for ongoing funding to be provided each year that it is required and that the landholder applies for. Melbourne Water points out that many benefits can be gained to the property and wildlife by fencing off waterways yet if animals require access to the creek for water, this can be part funded through off stock watering such as tanks, troughs and piping. This does however exclude funding for pumps.

Fencing off waterways can allow for:

natural regeneration
the possibility of weed control and revegetation
the creation of a habitat corridor for native wildlife
the provision of shade for stock and better quality pasture
the prevention of erosion of the waterway banks

“More native vegetation along the banks and top of bank of the waterway protects the bank, holds the soil together, provides habitat for fish, platypus and waterbugs (fish and platypus food) and provides good water quality by filtering the creek water.”

For those not in the areas listed above, consider contacting your local Catchment Management Authority or council in case there is funding available to local landholders.

*Thanks to Rachel of Melbourne Water and the rest of the gang at MW for the provision of such info!

“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”

tag: property design, property management, pasture maintenance, pasture management, Melbourne Water

Carol Green Memorial Scholarship

January 4, 2011 by Christine Meunier Leave a Comment

Calling all wannabe equine body workers! Debranne of Equinology.com has sent me an email about a scholarship that is on offer to anyone – and it sounds spectacular!

A breakdown:

EQ201 Equinology Equine Body Worker Course
Retreat October 10 – 27, 2011 (three weeks)
In Northern California at The Sea Ranch
Course costs ($3000 worth) as well as a private bedroom and bathroom

How awesome does that sound? So what do you need to do?

Be available on those dates in 2011
Be able to get yourself to California and cover costs of meals
Do the prerequisite, EQ50 (currently only $20 US)
Apply for the scholarship

Sounds great, right? More details can be found at the Events Page as well as the actual course info. Applications close Jan 15th so you may wanna get a wriggle on! They can be submitted by:

an email to ronamead@gmail.com with ‘CG Scholarship’ as the subject
snail mail to: POB 1192, Gualala, CA 95445 with ‘CG Scholarship’ in the top left hand corner

The application in itself requires that you “write an essay explaining why learning equine body work will help you reach your goals in the equine industry. You should include your horse experience within the body of the essay.”

Note also that to attend this course, you must be experienced in working around all different types of dispositions and be comfortable in picking up all the limbs of the horse. Happy writing!

“Here lies the body of my good horse, The General. For years he bore me around the circuit of my practice and all that time he never made a blunder. Would that his master could say the same.” – John Tyler’s epitaph for his horse

tag: equine education, horse goals, new years resolutions, short course,

Cheap Equine Anatomy Introductory Subject

January 3, 2011 by Christine Meunier 1 Comment

So reading through another horse magazine, I stumbled across the promise of a Free Equine Course. Need I say more? 🙂

Yes, there’s always a catch. This one however, I believe is quite small and worth the look if you’re interested in pursuing study relating to Equine Anatomy. Equinology.com are the owners of this particular offer.

The ‘course’ is offered via distance education and is one subject or module from a few of their different courses available through the website. Able to be done at your own pace and ending with an exam, the only fee incurred is a $20 (USD) set up fee. For a subject that is estimated to be about 100 hours worth, this is very cheap!

For those interested, take a look at http://www.equinology.com/info/course.asp?courseid=73. Course content includes Anatomy and Veterinary Terminology and Vocab, the Muscular System, the Skeletal System and Palpating Bony Landmarks and Surface Anatomy.

Perhaps those of you planning on improving your equine knowledge in 2011 may find this just the nudge in the right direction that you need…

“There comes a point in every rider’s life when he wonders if it’s all worth it. Then one look at the horse, and he realizes – it is.” – Kelly Stewart

tag: equine education, horse goals, new years resolutions, short course, online course

Win a Horse Riding Holiday for Two

December 31, 2010 by Christine Meunier 1 Comment

So I’m reading some Hoofbeats magazines for work as they have some relevant articles for the breeding subjects I teach. When I stumbled across this one, I thought it definitely worth sharing!

Hoofbeats have listed a number of different riding holidays, their monetary worth and what is on offer in different states of Australia. All you need to do is tell them if you won, which of these holidays you would choose and why! Pretty straight forward 🙂

Other conditions:

Only one winner will be selected and that winner will select only one of the Horse Riding Holiday packages (for two people) offered
Individual ride operator conditions and restrictions are to be read on their website prior to entry
The prize must be taken before the 30th December 2011
The winner agrees to submit a report and photographs or be interviewed for a short article after completion of their ride, which will be published in Hoofbeats magazine
The question (reason for selecting a particular ride) must be answered to be eligible to enter the competition
Persons under the age of 16 need parental or guardian signature to enter- check individual ride operators conditions regarding their position on including riders under 16 years
Entries close 4th January 2011 and results will be published in the Feb March 2011 Hoofbeats magazine
The prize is not redeemable for cash and no correspondence will be entered into
Reader’s competition entry details will not be available to Horse Riding Holiday operator

So! Is one of your New Year resolutions to relax more, travel with regard to horses, spend more hours in the saddle? If so, consider entering this highly appealing competition! Remember, entries close January 4.

Details at http://hoofbeats.com.au/horseridingholiday/horseridingholidaycomp.html

“How to ride a horse:
Step One – Mount the horse.
Step Two – Stay mounted …”

tag: australia, horse riding holiday, horse competition

Profile On: Michelle Goodrick, Equine Massage Therapy

Sustainability on Horse Properties

Carol Green Memorial Scholarship

Cheap Equine Anatomy Introductory Subject

Win a Horse Riding Holiday for Two

Equus Education Store at TeachersPayTeachers

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