Listening Hands: An Introduction to Equine Bodywork Horse Massage for Owners and Manual Therapists

LIVE CE WEBINAR · TWO-PART SERIES Listening Hands: An Introduction to Equine Bodywork Horse Massage for Owners and Manual Therapists A safe, practical introduction to equine bodywork and the science underneath it—beginning with the quality of contact a horse’s nervous system can read as safe before a single technique is applied. LIVE DATESSeptember 15 & 22Two-part live series FORMATTeaching + demonstrationPresentation, live horse work and Q&A CONTINUING EDUCATION5 CE/CPD hoursSee accreditation details below ACCESSLifetime accessLive and on demand EARLY-BIRD PRICING $59.95 before the live broadcast Register before the first live session to receive the early-bird price. The webinar will remain available afterward as a recorded CE course for $79.95. WHY THIS COURSE MATTERS Before technique comes communication. Horses cannot tell us where they hurt in words, and they communicate clearly when touch feels unsafe or unwelcome. That makes them extraordinary teachers of a skill every bodyworker needs: listening through the hands and adapting contact in response to the nervous system. This course introduces a foundational approach that can be incorporated into an ordinary grooming session. Practised slowly and thoroughly, the same principles and techniques can also form the basis of a more complete bodywork session. THE TWO LIVE SESSIONS Understand first. Then observe it in practice. Session One: Safety, presence and equine communicationExplore how a prey animal’s sensory and nervous systems shape the meaning of touch. Learn how to approach, establish felt safety, observe feedback and introduce contact without rushing the horse. Session Two: Live, unscripted horse demonstrationMove into the barn with Josh for a practical demonstration of approach, palpation and three foundational release techniques addressing the neck, spine and forelimb, followed by live discussion and Q&A. LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Describe how a prey animal’s nervous system evaluates touch and explain why establishing felt safety precedes technique in equine bodywork. Identify licking and chewing, yawning, eye softening, and early guarding or bracing, and use this feedback to guide consent, pressure and treatment dosage. Demonstrate foundational palpation by distinguishing superficial from myofascial tissue layers and locating areas of restriction along the neck and topline. Apply three foundational release techniques addressing the neck, spine and forelimb while using safe positioning and handling. WHO THIS IS FOR Useful learning for both sides of the stable door. Horse owners and carersDevelop a safe routine that can fit naturally into grooming and help you become more observant and responsive to your horse. Massage and manual therapistsSharpen tactile listening and explore a consent-based, nervous-system-informed model of touch that can also deepen work with human clients. Professionals working with horsesBuild foundational knowledge relevant to equine care while respecting professional scope, local regulation and appropriate veterinary referral. YOUR COURSE INCLUDES More than a live presentation. Two live sessionsOne focused teaching session followed by a practical, unscripted demonstration with a horse. Lifetime recordingsReturn to the teaching and demonstration whenever you need to review an observation or technique. Companion learningA workbook and supporting educational resources delivered through the NAT learning platform. Assessment and certificateComplete the course requirements to access your CE/CPD certificate. Presenter communicationPost course-related questions through the learning platform after the live sessions. PRESENTED BY Josh Williams, LMT Josh Williams is a licensed massage therapist and educator whose work emphasizes attentive contact, practical bodywork and the relationship between touch, safety and nervous-system response. In this series, Josh brings those principles into the equine setting, combining clear foundational teaching with a live demonstration designed to help participants observe the horse, listen through their hands and adapt their approach in real time. Can’t attend live? Your purchase includes both recordings and lifetime access, so you can complete the course on demand. ANIMAL WELFARE & PROFESSIONAL SCOPE Observe, respond and know when to refer. This course provides foundational educational material and does not replace veterinary assessment, diagnosis or treatment. Participants must work within their competence, professional scope and local regulations, prioritize the horse’s welfare and feedback, and seek veterinary guidance whenever pain, injury, illness or another clinical concern is suspected. CONTINUING EDUCATION 5 CE/CPD hours This learning activity includes the webinar sessions, companion course materials and course assessment. Continuing-education recognition varies by profession and jurisdiction. Please review the accreditation information shown on this product page and confirm acceptance with your licensing or professional body before purchasing.