This school offers two facilities in Colorado, located in Longmont and Littleton. At each location, the emphasis is on learning the art of massage and acupressure for animals. The Rocky Mountain School provides training that is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Division of Private Occupational Schools and approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. The school offers a wide range of courses including animal massage, acupressure, reiki, essential oils and animal communication. Training is offered toward the following certifications: Animal Massage Therapist, ETMT, ESMT, CTMT, CSMT, AEMT, ACMT; Animal Acupressure Therapist, AAT; Advanced Animal Acupressure and Massage Therapist, AAAMT and Master Animal Acupressure and Massage Therapist, MAAM.
Equitouch is a registered and trademarked program located in Loveland, Colorado. Referring to its program as setting the standard in Equine Massage Systems, Inc., Equitouch notes that its system of massage involves the whole horse. This program offers onsite and online training, increasing the convenience for the potential student. While cautioning that "a certificate in equine massage is not a legal document and does not confer licensure or a 'degree' on the recipient," the program does offer a sequence of courses towards certification as an Equitouch practitioner. The website goes on to mention that once you have completed the prerequisite Equine Anatomy Studies Primer followed by the nine-day Eq. 101/102 onsite class, you will receive certification for completion of 150 hours training through EquiTouch Systems.
While operating first as a practicing as a Certified Equine Massage Therapist, Jackie Nairn (a graduate of the EquiTouch Massage School) also offers classes in massage, equine anatomy, and muscle function, and states that she has a thorough understanding of muscle origins and insertions, actions, and how a horse achieves movement and a clear teaching style [that] allows [her] to impart this knowledge easily to [her] clients. Ms. Nairn bases her work in Boulder, Colorado, and also offers a variety of print and software products for the Equine Practitioner, including her trademarked "EquiTracker Massage Software" and various reference guides.
Modeled upon the groundbreaking deep muscle therapeutic massage developed by Buster Harlow, the Sport Horse program offers clinics in Mr. Harlow's methods -- methods aimed at increasing a horse's performance, especially for the racing, cutting and barrel racing world. Meant as a training opportunity for those who live and work with horses rather than a certification program, Sport Horse affirms that their instructors' "years of experience [have] provided opportunity to refine and enhance an equine massage program that can be learned by anyone and have extraordinary results." Based in Waverly, Colorado, Sport Horse offers clinics on location at their facilities, but clinics can also be individually designed by potential participants.