EQ103: Advanced Equine Soft Tissue Techniques, Intro to Spinal Mobilization, Rehabilitation Concepts & Clinical Reasoning
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Not Yet Open for Registration
*This course has been approved for 35 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.
Take your equine bodywork to the next level. Instructors Dr. Nicole Rombach and Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW, (hon) MSc. each bring their A game to this course!
There are so many tools to go into your toolbox; you’ll never stop adding to it once you start this journey. Learn different approaches to assessment and addressing soft tissue restrictions using advanced equine bodywork/soft tissue mobilization (STM) techniques, including advanced sports massage, stretching, introduction to spinal mobilization, range of motion restoration exercises, the full stretching regiment and muscle activation techniques.
This 5-day, 50+ hour course (215+ total hours with required externship) is designed for students who have successfully completed the Equinology® Equine Body Worker Certification (EEBW). Alternately, you may take this class upon successful completion of an outside equine bodywork program with hours (320+) and content (covering the major muscles and points) comparable to the EQ100. However, students coming in from other programs must challenge the EEBW Certification Course prior to registering for the EQ103. There is an administrative fee of $150 for this challenge and a video presentation is required.
This class runs from 8:30am-5:30pm daily with 30 minutes for lunch and 3 hours of evening studies.
- Advanced STM, muscle activation, origin-to-insertion and muscle release techniques
- Introduction to spinal mobilization
- Advanced range of motion restoration exercises and stretching for the thoracic and pelvic limbs
- Following on from EEBW certification course: anatomy of additional muscles and bony landmarks
- Advanced techniques to address the temporomandibular joint
- Advanced technique: sinus drain
- Isolating and addressing the thoracic and pelvic limb muscles with advanced techniques
- Advanced techniques to address the paraspinal musculature
- Addressing the broad sacral tuberous ligament in combination with paraspinal and gluteal muscles
- Introduction to myofascial release techniques
- Introduction to core muscle activation techniques and stabilization exercises
- Review: gait evaluation
- Case study discussions
- Anatomy practical: muscle and point label session
- Final Day: Clinical Reasoning Practical: Assessment, Discussion, Application of New Techniques, Re-evaluation
Completion of the EQ100: Equinology Equine Bodyworker Certification Course (EEBW), though externship completion is not required. Alternately, you may take this class upon successful completion of an outside equine bodywork program with hours (320+) and content (covering the major muscles and points) comparable to the EQ100. However, students coming in from other programs must challenge the EEBW Certification Course prior to registering for the EQ103. There is an administrative fee of $150 for this challenge and a video presentation is required.
Required Text:
Anatomy of Equine Bodywork: The Equinology Approach by Debranne Pattillo (this text may be purchased here)
OR EEBW Course Manual (2014 version or later)
Course Materials (included in tuition):
Course Workbook & Handouts
Externship (included in tuition):
Externship Grading and Certificate
Dr. Nicole Rombach, APM (ITEC),
PG AM, MEEBW, CCBW, MSc., PhD, FEI PET
Dr. Rombach attained the ITEC human massage qualification in 1997, the Equinology Equine Body Worker ® certification in 1998 and the Equinology Master Equine Body Worker ® certification in 1999. She also completed the post-graduate and Master of Science degree programs in Animal Manipulation from the McTimoney College of Chiropractic and University of Wales in the United Kingdom. She earned her PhD in 2013 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. Her main interest lies in the effect of complementary therapies on equine performance, and the subject for her doctoral research was investigation into equine neck pain from the perspectives of pathology, neuromotor control and equine behavior associated with spinal dysfunction.
Dr. Rombach is the founder and President of Equinenergy® Ltd. and Caninenergy Ltd, United Kingdom-based educational institutions that offer a variety of recognized certification courses in equine and canine complementary healthcare science. From 2003 to 2009 she was based in São Paulo, Brazil where she worked in direct liaison with various veterinary clinics, focusing on sports therapy for performance horses from novice to Olympic level. She traveled to national competition centers and private clients throughout Brazil and in other South American countries. In addition, she carried out infrared thermographic imaging (thermography) in conjunction with equine veterinarians to aid their diagnostic procedures. She also uses thermography to assess hoof balance, saddle fit and changes in thermal patterns following sports therapy sessions.
Dr. Rombach regularly lectures at various universities and for professional associations. She travels within the USA and to Europe and Brazil on a regular basis to teach several of the Equinology courses and to work on her established clientele of horses and dogs. She is the chief instructor and examiner for Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) Equine and Canine worldwide. In addition to clinical consultations, Dr. Rombach is the Course Development Liaison Manager for Equinology, Inc., in charge of national and international expansion of the Equinology course curriculum.
Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW, MSc.(h.c.), ASTR
Debranne’s unique vision blends the precision of a bodyworker with the creativity of an artist, allowing her to perceive equine anatomy through a dual lens. Her teaching is a joyful fusion of the meticulous anatomical accuracy required for expert bodywork and the lively unpredictability of working with living, breathing, and often opinionated horses. With an artist’s eye, Debranne can deconstruct the equine body from skin to bone and then reassemble it—whether through detailed drawings, “air massages,” building the muscles inside out in clay with the Equiken® Learning System, or vibrant chalk paintings on live horses. This distinctive approach fuels her passion as a practitioner of equine bodywork and sports massage, making her a highly sought-after instructor. Her renowned “Painted Horse,” a cornerstone of Equinology since its inception in 1994, was even featured on the UK’s BBC program “Countryfile” in 2001.
Her book, Anatomy of Equine Bodywork: The Equinology® Approach, first published in 2018, encapsulates over 30 years of her experience, knowledge, techniques, and applications. The book includes contributions from esteemed professionals such as Dr. Peter Flood, Dr. Kerry Ridgway, Dr. Barb Crabbe, Kalyani Premkumar, and Dr. Joanna Robson. The text is brought to life by fresh illustrations from Celia Strain, Laurie O’Keefe, and Catherine Twomey, all acclaimed medical illustrators. In 2019, she launched the Equine Anatomy Learning Aid app, which complements both the book and Equinology courses. A canine version is expected to be released in late 2025, along with several eBooks and online courses tailored for professionals, trainers, and owners.
Since 1994, Debranne has been the lead instructor for more than 400 equine sports massage and anatomy courses, teaching over 4,000 participants across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., South Africa, New Zealand, and beyond. She holds the Equinology® Master Equine Body Worker Certification, a rigorous qualification requiring over 2,000 hours of coursework. Debranne is the author and facilitator of the unique Equinology® Equine Body Worker Certification Course, the signature program of Equinology. This course serves as a professional qualification within the BSc in Equine Sports Therapy presented by Writtle Agricultural College and the University of Essex in the U.K. In recognition of her contributions to equine education, Writtle University awarded Debranne an Honorary Master of Sciences Degree in 2019.
Debranne is also the co-founder and past Chair of the U.S. division of the International Equine Body Worker Association (IEBWA), an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting ethical practices in equine bodywork. She currently serves as the Division Head of the IEBWA for the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. A regularly invited lecturer and guest speaker, Debranne has given presentations on anatomy, stretching, and massage at colleges, universities, private educational institutions, and various equestrian venues.
In addition to authoring Equinology’s certification courses, Debranne has been featured in numerous international publications. Her work has also been highlighted in regional newspapers and on various websites.
A $350 deposit is required to hold your spot in a course – the remainder of the tuition is due at least 45 days prior to the course start date. The $350 deposit is nonrefundable and nontransferable, and is credited to the total tuition for the course. Confirmation letters, course outlines, required pre-study (if applicable), directions and lodging options will be sent when the $350 deposit has been received.
*This course has been approved for 35 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.
Take your equine bodywork to the next level. Instructors Dr. Nicole Rombach and Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW, (hon) MSc. each bring their A game to this course!
There are so many tools to go into your toolbox; you’ll never stop adding to it once you start this journey. Learn different approaches to assessment and addressing soft tissue restrictions using advanced equine bodywork/soft tissue mobilization (STM) techniques, including advanced sports massage, stretching, introduction to spinal mobilization, range of motion restoration exercises, the full stretching regiment and muscle activation techniques.
This 5-day, 50+ hour course (215+ total hours with required externship) is designed for students who have successfully completed the Equinology® Equine Body Worker Certification (EEBW). Alternately, you may take this class upon successful completion of an outside equine bodywork program with hours (320+) and content (covering the major muscles and points) comparable to the EQ100. However, students coming in from other programs must challenge the EEBW Certification Course prior to registering for the EQ103. There is an administrative fee of $150 for this challenge and a video presentation is required.
This class runs from 8:30am-5:30pm daily with 30 minutes for lunch and 3 hours of evening studies.
- Advanced STM, muscle activation, origin-to-insertion and muscle release techniques
- Introduction to spinal mobilization
- Advanced range of motion restoration exercises and stretching for the thoracic and pelvic limbs
- Following on from EEBW certification course: anatomy of additional muscles and bony landmarks
- Advanced techniques to address the temporomandibular joint
- Advanced technique: sinus drain
- Isolating and addressing the thoracic and pelvic limb muscles with advanced techniques
- Advanced techniques to address the paraspinal musculature
- Addressing the broad sacral tuberous ligament in combination with paraspinal and gluteal muscles
- Introduction to myofascial release techniques
- Introduction to core muscle activation techniques and stabilization exercises
- Review: gait evaluation
- Case study discussions
- Anatomy practical: muscle and point label session
- Final Day: Clinical Reasoning Practical: Assessment, Discussion, Application of New Techniques, Re-evaluation
Completion of the EQ100: Equinology Equine Bodyworker Certification Course (EEBW), though externship completion is not required. Alternately, you may take this class upon successful completion of an outside equine bodywork program with hours (320+) and content (covering the major muscles and points) comparable to the EQ100. However, students coming in from other programs must challenge the EEBW Certification Course prior to registering for the EQ103. There is an administrative fee of $150 for this challenge and a video presentation is required.
Required Text:
Anatomy of Equine Bodywork: The Equinology Approach by Debranne Pattillo (this text may be purchased here)
OR EEBW Course Manual (2014 version or later)
Course Materials (included in tuition):
Course Workbook & Handouts
Externship (included in tuition):
Externship Grading and Certificate
Dr. Nicole Rombach, APM (ITEC),
PG AM, MEEBW, CCBW, MSc., PhD, FEI PET
Dr. Rombach attained the ITEC human massage qualification in 1997, the Equinology Equine Body Worker ® certification in 1998 and the Equinology Master Equine Body Worker ® certification in 1999. She also completed the post-graduate and Master of Science degree programs in Animal Manipulation from the McTimoney College of Chiropractic and University of Wales in the United Kingdom. She earned her PhD in 2013 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. Her main interest lies in the effect of complementary therapies on equine performance, and the subject for her doctoral research was investigation into equine neck pain from the perspectives of pathology, neuromotor control and equine behavior associated with spinal dysfunction.
Dr. Rombach is the founder and President of Equinenergy® Ltd. and Caninenergy Ltd, United Kingdom-based educational institutions that offer a variety of recognized certification courses in equine and canine complementary healthcare science. From 2003 to 2009 she was based in São Paulo, Brazil where she worked in direct liaison with various veterinary clinics, focusing on sports therapy for performance horses from novice to Olympic level. She traveled to national competition centers and private clients throughout Brazil and in other South American countries. In addition, she carried out infrared thermographic imaging (thermography) in conjunction with equine veterinarians to aid their diagnostic procedures. She also uses thermography to assess hoof balance, saddle fit and changes in thermal patterns following sports therapy sessions.
Dr. Rombach regularly lectures at various universities and for professional associations. She travels within the USA and to Europe and Brazil on a regular basis to teach several of the Equinology courses and to work on her established clientele of horses and dogs. She is the chief instructor and examiner for Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) Equine and Canine worldwide. In addition to clinical consultations, Dr. Rombach is the Course Development Liaison Manager for Equinology, Inc., in charge of national and international expansion of the Equinology course curriculum.
Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW, MSc.(h.c.), ASTR
Debranne’s unique vision blends the precision of a bodyworker with the creativity of an artist, allowing her to perceive equine anatomy through a dual lens. Her teaching is a joyful fusion of the meticulous anatomical accuracy required for expert bodywork and the lively unpredictability of working with living, breathing, and often opinionated horses. With an artist’s eye, Debranne can deconstruct the equine body from skin to bone and then reassemble it—whether through detailed drawings, “air massages,” building the muscles inside out in clay with the Equiken® Learning System, or vibrant chalk paintings on live horses. This distinctive approach fuels her passion as a practitioner of equine bodywork and sports massage, making her a highly sought-after instructor. Her renowned “Painted Horse,” a cornerstone of Equinology since its inception in 1994, was even featured on the UK’s BBC program “Countryfile” in 2001.
Her book, Anatomy of Equine Bodywork: The Equinology® Approach, first published in 2018, encapsulates over 30 years of her experience, knowledge, techniques, and applications. The book includes contributions from esteemed professionals such as Dr. Peter Flood, Dr. Kerry Ridgway, Dr. Barb Crabbe, Kalyani Premkumar, and Dr. Joanna Robson. The text is brought to life by fresh illustrations from Celia Strain, Laurie O’Keefe, and Catherine Twomey, all acclaimed medical illustrators. In 2019, she launched the Equine Anatomy Learning Aid app, which complements both the book and Equinology courses. A canine version is expected to be released in late 2025, along with several eBooks and online courses tailored for professionals, trainers, and owners.
Since 1994, Debranne has been the lead instructor for more than 400 equine sports massage and anatomy courses, teaching over 4,000 participants across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., South Africa, New Zealand, and beyond. She holds the Equinology® Master Equine Body Worker Certification, a rigorous qualification requiring over 2,000 hours of coursework. Debranne is the author and facilitator of the unique Equinology® Equine Body Worker Certification Course, the signature program of Equinology. This course serves as a professional qualification within the BSc in Equine Sports Therapy presented by Writtle Agricultural College and the University of Essex in the U.K. In recognition of her contributions to equine education, Writtle University awarded Debranne an Honorary Master of Sciences Degree in 2019.
Debranne is also the co-founder and past Chair of the U.S. division of the International Equine Body Worker Association (IEBWA), an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting ethical practices in equine bodywork. She currently serves as the Division Head of the IEBWA for the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. A regularly invited lecturer and guest speaker, Debranne has given presentations on anatomy, stretching, and massage at colleges, universities, private educational institutions, and various equestrian venues.
In addition to authoring Equinology’s certification courses, Debranne has been featured in numerous international publications. Her work has also been highlighted in regional newspapers and on various websites.
A $350 deposit is required to hold your spot in a course – the remainder of the tuition is due at least 45 days prior to the course start date. The $350 deposit is nonrefundable and nontransferable, and is credited to the total tuition for the course. Confirmation letters, course outlines, required pre-study (if applicable), directions and lodging options will be sent when the $350 deposit has been received.