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Bobbie
Student
Hague, ND
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What classes/courses should I take next year if I am interested in equine massage therapy.?
I am a freshman in high school currently and I am interested in becoming an equine massage therapist. What classes or courses should I take during high school to prepare me for college.
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Michelle M.
Actress
2315
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Bobbie !
Equine Massage is not something you would learn in high school or be able to be certified for at age 14. You would have to graduate high school and be 18 years old in North Dakota in order to be certified to be an Equine Massage Therapist and obtain work in that career.
There are no academic courses for this, rather specific training and certification that you can begin when you are 18 in your state. For future reference, the trainings and certifications you can take are: the Equissage Home Study Program,
Angel's Animals LLC (online), Equissage Texas offers a 5-day ESMT Certification Program, and Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio has a certification program for Equine Massage. So as you can see, there are some opportunities to learn this for a career, however very few places offer it. You have time to think about where you'd want to take the course and certification because you can start it when you are 18.
You are probably wondering what you can do now while you are in high school. Besides reading up on equine massage and equine behavior and anatomy from books from the library, you can also watch videos of equine massage therapists that you can find online. High Schools just do not offer this and there's no special high school class that would prepare you for it. What would prepare you would be to be around horses in person, riding, grooming and tacking them. Become familiar with where horses get irritations from their tack and you can be around horses by volunteering while in high school at farms and ranches. Do some riding, too and experience both Western and English riding and Dressage because they all have different situations that they may need your services for massage. But it is very important for your safety and the horses' comfort to learn how to be around horses, what to do and what not to do.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Equine Massage is not something you would learn in high school or be able to be certified for at age 14. You would have to graduate high school and be 18 years old in North Dakota in order to be certified to be an Equine Massage Therapist and obtain work in that career.
There are no academic courses for this, rather specific training and certification that you can begin when you are 18 in your state. For future reference, the trainings and certifications you can take are: the Equissage Home Study Program,
Angel's Animals LLC (online), Equissage Texas offers a 5-day ESMT Certification Program, and Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio has a certification program for Equine Massage. So as you can see, there are some opportunities to learn this for a career, however very few places offer it. You have time to think about where you'd want to take the course and certification because you can start it when you are 18.
You are probably wondering what you can do now while you are in high school. Besides reading up on equine massage and equine behavior and anatomy from books from the library, you can also watch videos of equine massage therapists that you can find online. High Schools just do not offer this and there's no special high school class that would prepare you for it. What would prepare you would be to be around horses in person, riding, grooming and tacking them. Become familiar with where horses get irritations from their tack and you can be around horses by volunteering while in high school at farms and ranches. Do some riding, too and experience both Western and English riding and Dressage because they all have different situations that they may need your services for massage. But it is very important for your safety and the horses' comfort to learn how to be around horses, what to do and what not to do.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1334
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Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Bobbie! 🐴 So you want to become an equine massage therapist, huh? That's neighborhood goals! 🐎💆♀️
Here’s the game plan for high school to get you ready for your future career, hope it lands a helping response.
Science Classes (Biology & Anatomy) 🧬 – Knowing how the body works is super important! You’ll need to understand muscles and bones, and biology is your new best friend. The more you know about the human and animal body, the better you'll be at giving those horses a well-deserved rubdown.
Physical Education 🏋️♀️ – It's not just about running the mile... Physical Ed will help you learn about the body’s movement and how muscles work—essential for any massage therapy!
Health Classes 🏥 – You’ll want to understand the human body, as well as how to stay safe and avoid injury while working with big, strong animals.
Veterinary or Animal Science 🐾 – If your school offers it, sign up! Understanding animals from a medical perspective is key. You'll be able to learn how to treat animals safely and effectively.
Business/Entrepreneurship 💼 – If you ever want to run your own equine massage business (and why wouldn’t you? You’ll be living the dream!), a business class can teach you the skills to make sure you don’t end up brushing off your finances.
Art or Creative Classes 🎨 – Yes, you read that right! Being creative can actually help you with massage techniques. It’s all about feeling the rhythm and flow of muscle tension, and you’ll be amazed at how art can teach you to feel different textures and movements.
English ✍️ – Being able to communicate clearly (whether it's with a horse owner or the vet) is essential. Plus, you’ll need to write reports and maybe even a business plan later on!
Bonus advice: Try to find internships or shadow opportunities at a local barn or animal therapy center. You’ll get hands-on experience that will give you a leg up when it’s time to hit the books in college. 📚💪
Get ready to be the horse’s best friend! 🐎👑
Here’s the game plan for high school to get you ready for your future career, hope it lands a helping response.
Science Classes (Biology & Anatomy) 🧬 – Knowing how the body works is super important! You’ll need to understand muscles and bones, and biology is your new best friend. The more you know about the human and animal body, the better you'll be at giving those horses a well-deserved rubdown.
Physical Education 🏋️♀️ – It's not just about running the mile... Physical Ed will help you learn about the body’s movement and how muscles work—essential for any massage therapy!
Health Classes 🏥 – You’ll want to understand the human body, as well as how to stay safe and avoid injury while working with big, strong animals.
Veterinary or Animal Science 🐾 – If your school offers it, sign up! Understanding animals from a medical perspective is key. You'll be able to learn how to treat animals safely and effectively.
Business/Entrepreneurship 💼 – If you ever want to run your own equine massage business (and why wouldn’t you? You’ll be living the dream!), a business class can teach you the skills to make sure you don’t end up brushing off your finances.
Art or Creative Classes 🎨 – Yes, you read that right! Being creative can actually help you with massage techniques. It’s all about feeling the rhythm and flow of muscle tension, and you’ll be amazed at how art can teach you to feel different textures and movements.
English ✍️ – Being able to communicate clearly (whether it's with a horse owner or the vet) is essential. Plus, you’ll need to write reports and maybe even a business plan later on!
Bonus advice: Try to find internships or shadow opportunities at a local barn or animal therapy center. You’ll get hands-on experience that will give you a leg up when it’s time to hit the books in college. 📚💪
Get ready to be the horse’s best friend! 🐎👑
Thank you, this is really helpful.