Welcome to my web page. My aims are to provide horses with high quality natural management, to enhance their care, through the use of natural feeds, herbs and holistic treatments, and increase the general knowledge of this wonderful animal. I plan to facilitate a greater understanding of the horse, its needs and methods of care, and in this way gain an improved quality of life for all horses in the future.

I have had involvement with horses off and on throughout my life, and since 1987 I have very rarely been away from them. In 1987 I discovered the honesty of this animal and recognised the misunderstanding many of them are forced to live under. I decided then that I would do my best to remove this misunderstanding among people and become an advocate for the horse.

I undertook the Bachelor of Applied Science (Equine Studies) at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, (Australia) and finished there being the first person to gain First Class Honours (Equine Studies). I worked as a lecturer at the University and at TAFE, prior to returning to Melbourne. While in Melbourne I gained formal training in massage, becoming a Certified Tactile Therapist and completed a naturopathy certificate. Recently I successfully completed a Certificate of Introductory Veterinary Botanical Medicine.

I am a founding member of the Holistic Animal Therapy Association of Australia (HATTA), and remain involved on the committee as Treasurer and Course Accreditation Officer. HATAA is an organisation that supports and provides formal recognition of holistic animal therapists. I assist the spread of natural health care knowledge for horses through articles in Chaff Chat and Small Talk, and community lectures.

Mid 2000 saw the formation of the Australian College of Animal Tactile Therapy with the Diploma of Equine Tactile Therapy. This innovative course was developed in response to an industry demand for knowledgeable, highly skilled Equine Massage Therapists in Australia. Since its inception our courses have developed and students have much flexibility in the outcomes of their study. The Australian College of Animal Tactile Therapy is committed to community service, the provision of high quality professional education, and the provision of highly skilled professional tactile therapists who work to improve the quality of life for all animals. Students undertake four intense modules, and graduate with the knowledge and skills to be a valuable member of your equine health team.

I began massaging horses in 1993 as part of dressage training management. In 1994 my mare, Glenellen Park Chantilly, sustained a bad fall, leaving her with very little sensation in her hind quarter and back. This beautiful mare had given me my 'initial training' in horses, and to avert the poor prognosis given to me by the vet, I turned my massage and training skills to rehabilitation. As a result of this program, and the incorporation of both herbs and homoeopathy in her care, I still have the privilege of sharing the company of this wonderful and well mare.

Tilly's recovery, and the great response I gained using massage in training, led me to massage many horses to truly assess the outcomes of this therapy. The results were fantastic. Lameness resolved, movement was enhanced, performances improved, attitudes improved, bad behaviours like bucking, pig rooting and biting disappeared, and riders began to enjoy their time with their horse again. And thus began Equine Holistic Health.

By managing our horses life in a natural manner we enhance health. A horse was designed to eat natural herbage, and when we feed them a balanced natural diet we provide them with the ability to maintain their bodily systems without constantly fighting the presence of toxins from chemicals and artificial ingredients. Horses can then look naturally healthy.

We must take charge and allow them to have access to good, chemical free, pastures and a diet containing a balanced assortment of beneficial natural products.

We must provide our horse with an opportunity to socialize and undertake mutual grooming with their own kind. thus caring for their psychological wellbeing.

We need to train with a high awareness of the physiology involved in exercise and assess our partner daily with knowledgeable hands, applying massage to relieve any muscular issue before a problem develops into a lameness or other performance issue.

Developing a true understanding of our horse, their physical and emotional needs will help to develop a life that is a great pleasure for our equine friend.

With these few simple steps toward holistic care we provide our horses with the best possible opportunity for health and happiness.

I welcome you on this journey to provide the horse with a better future, may all people involved with horses work to enhance the understanding of this majestic animal, may all horse carers and partners realize the importance of, and insist on natural nutrition and good pastures as the basis of all horse care.

Please feel free to contact me, about your horse's management, HATAA or courses offered by the College or Equine Holistic Health. I am always happy to provide advise to enhance the wellbeing of horses.

Take Care of yourselves and your equine friends

Christine