Based on the Emmet Neuromuscular Release technique as it applies to animals developed by Ross Emmett and often referred to as Equine Massage Therapy by the layman, Equus Muscle Management (EMM) is a natural muscle release therapy that has advantages over existing treatments that result in outcomes that are visible, more rapid and longer lasting than other treatments.
Kath Hastings and Steve Rochford founded EMM in 2004 and have been providing treatment services and training programs throughout South East Queensland and Australia. Both Kath and Steve have spent many years working with animals and their love of animals and caring for them has seen them both become qualified therapists.
Steve learned Bowen Therapy for people as part of paramedic training in his previous employment and in his search to learn how to apply this technique he uncovered an amazing therapist, Ross Emmett, who was developing his own approach called the Emmet Technique.
Ross Emmett had been treating people with the Emmett Technique with great success for many years and he was interested in putting together a team to apply the Emmett Technique to horses. As luck would have it, Kath had followed her own journey of discovery and learning of Bowen Therapy which lead her to Ross Emmett. One evening after both Kath and Steve had attended an Emmett Technique training weekend with Ross Emmett for advanced therapists, Ross brought them together over a meal in a local hotel. He formally introduced them noting that they had common interests and made them an offer of a lifetime. Work with him to develop, apply and teach the Emmett Technique for horses.
Well, years later with many training programs under their belt across all the states of Australia, the Emmett Technique for horses, “Equus Muscle Management”, is a proven and respected horse muscle therapy that provides faster, more effective results than any other horse muscle therapy technique.
Operating from their property in Imbil, north of Brisbane, Steve and Kath operate a thriving business training practitioners from all over Australia as well as providing animal treatment services themselves.
Treatment is not limited to horses as the therapy is also applicable to dogs, cattle, wildlife and other animals that have been injured due to stress or overwork. It is very effective on animals whose muscles have become shortened or ‘tight’ from injury or repetitive use. In this condition, muscles can tear, cramp or strain, lose their flexibility, strength and range of motion, thereby decreasing performance and usefulness due to pain. Treatment involves the application of light pressure at particular points that enables the gentle physical release of muscle groups. This allows muscles to regain their flexibility, strength and range of motion; increasing performance and greatly reducing the chance of injury (physical and mental stress).
The treatment provides the following benefits to animals under treatment.
-
Fast relief to overstressed/overworked animals. Treatments are often 20 to 30 minutes long and the results are often instantaneous
-
Treatments are very gentle, relaxing the animal in the process
-
Provides improved healing and recovery times for injured animals
-
Lower rate of injury for performance animals such as horses
-
Results hold as long as the animal is not re-injured
-
Provides for injury prevention through increased flexibility
Each course is run over a 2 day time frame. It is essential to complete and revise each course level prior to move onto the next.Introductory course which provides emergency muscle first aid basic safety horse handling skills.
Advanced level courses which provide assessment skills and further corrections and are delivered as Level 2 & Level 3 with Practitioner Days available.
Online Training is now available to overseas participants. Please contact us for details at www.horsemusclecare.com
There is no requirement for prior academic qualifications as a pre-requisite to participate in our training courses as sometimes an excessive reliance on theoretical knowledge and preconceptions can inhibit one’s ability to learn and apply these skills.
All we require is a love of animals and a willingness to learn and apply your natural abilities. Next course to be held at Narooma, NSW on the 5th and 6th of December.
Kath Hastings and Steve Rochford