Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Niel Asher Education

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

via Niel Asher Education

Overview

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.

.nat-webinar-product{--nat-red:#a51f24;--nat-black:#12151a;--nat-grey:#f3f4f4;--nat-line:#d8dada;--nat-muted:#5f6468;width:100%;max-width:720px;margin:0 auto;color:#25282c;font-family:"DM Sans",Arial,sans-serif}.nat-webinar-product,.nat-webinar-product *{box-sizing:border-box}.nat-webinar-product h2,.nat-webinar-product h3{font-family:"Manrope",Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:-.03em}.nat-webinar-product__intro{padding:42px 0 34px;border-top:4px solid var(--nat-red)}.nat-webinar-product__eyebrow{margin:0 0 14px;color:var(--nat-red);font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.15em;line-height:1.45;text-transform:uppercase}.nat-webinar-product__intro h2{margin:0 0 12px;color:var(--nat-black)!important;font-size:clamp(34px,5.4vw,46px);line-height:1.08}.nat-webinar-product__subtitle{margin:0 0 22px;color:var(--nat-red);font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.45}.nat-webinar-product__lead{margin:0;color:var(--nat-muted);font-size:18px;line-height:1.68}.nat-webinar-product__facts{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;margin-top:34px;border-top:1px solid var(--nat-line);border-left:1px solid var(--nat-line)}.nat-webinar-product__facts>div{min-width:0;padding:22px 19px;border-right:1px solid var(--nat-line);border-bottom:1px solid var(--nat-line)}.nat-webinar-product__facts small,.nat-webinar-product__facts strong,.nat-webinar-product__facts span{display:block}.nat-webinar-product__facts small{margin-bottom:12px;color:var(--nat-red);font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.11em;line-height:1.4}.nat-webinar-product__facts strong{margin-bottom:6px;color:var(--nat-black);font-size:18px;line-height:1.3}.nat-webinar-product__facts span{color:var(--nat-muted);font-size:14px;line-height:1.48}.nat-webinar-product__price{padding:30px 28px;background:var(--nat-black);color:#fff}.nat-webinar-product__price .nat-webinar-product__eyebrow{color:#e14a50}.nat-webinar-product__price h3{margin:0 0 14px;color:#fff!important;font-size:26px;line-height:1.25}.nat-webinar-product__price>p{margin:0;color:#d1d3d5;font-size:16px;line-height:1.62}.nat-webinar-product__price strong{color:#fff}.nat-webinar-product__content{padding:52px 0}.nat-webinar-product__section{padding:0 0 42px;margin:0 0 42px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--nat-line)}.nat-webinar-product__section:last-child{margin-bottom:42px}.nat-webinar-product__section h3,.nat-webinar-product__aside h3,.nat-webinar-product__ce h3,.nat-webinar-product__safety h3{margin:0 0 19px;color:var(--nat-black)!important;font-size:28px;line-height:1.18}.nat-webinar-product__section p,.nat-webinar-product__aside p,.nat-webinar-product__safety p{margin:0 0 17px;color:var(--nat-muted);font-size:17px;line-height:1.68}.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__section ul{display:grid!important;gap:10px!important;margin:0!important;padding:0!important;border:0!important;list-style:none!important}.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__section li,.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__section li:first-child,.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__section li:last-child{position:relative!important;margin:0!important;padding:15px 16px 15px 42px!important;border:0!important;background:var(--nat-grey)!important;color:#42464a;font-size:16px;line-height:1.58;list-style:none!important}.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__section li:before{position:absolute;top:24px!important;left:18px!important;width:7px;height:7px;background:var(--nat-red);content:""}.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__included{display:grid!important;gap:10px!important;border:0!important}.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__included>div,.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__included>div:first-child,.nat-webinar-product .nat-webinar-product__included>div:last-child{margin:0!important;padding:19px 20px!important;border:0!important;background:var(--nat-grey)!important}.nat-webinar-product__included strong,.nat-webinar-product__included span{display:block}.nat-webinar-product__included strong{margin-bottom:7px;color:var(--nat-black);font-size:17px}.nat-webinar-product__included span{color:var(--nat-muted);font-size:15px;line-height:1.58}.nat-webinar-product__aside{padding:30px 28px;background:var(--nat-grey)}.nat-webinar-product__aside h3{font-size:27px}.nat-webinar-product__note{margin-top:25px;padding-top:23px;border-top:1px solid var(--nat-line)}.nat-webinar-product__note strong{display:block;margin-bottom:7px;color:var(--nat-red);font-size:16px}.nat-webinar-product__note p{margin:0;font-size:15px}.nat-webinar-product__safety{margin-top:28px;padding:30px 28px;border-left:4px solid var(--nat-red);background:#fff;border-top:1px solid var(--nat-line);border-right:1px solid var(--nat-line);border-bottom:1px solid var(--nat-line)}.nat-webinar-product__safety p:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.nat-webinar-product__ce{margin-top:14px;padding:32px 28px;border-left:4px solid var(--nat-red);background:var(--nat-grey)}.nat-webinar-product__ce h3{margin:0 0 15px;font-size:27px}.nat-webinar-product__ce>p{margin:0;color:var(--nat-muted);font-size:16px;line-height:1.65} @media(max-width:520px){.nat-webinar-product__intro{padding:36px 0 30px}.nat-webinar-product__intro h2{font-size:34px}.nat-webinar-product__lead{font-size:17px}.nat-webinar-product__facts{grid-template-columns:1fr}.nat-webinar-product__price{padding:27px 22px}.nat-webinar-product__price h3{font-size:24px}.nat-webinar-product__content{padding:44px 0}.nat-webinar-product__section{padding-bottom:36px;margin-bottom:36px}.nat-webinar-product__section:last-child{margin-bottom:36px}.nat-webinar-product__section h3,.nat-webinar-product__aside h3,.nat-webinar-product__ce h3,.nat-webinar-product__safety h3{font-size:25px}.nat-webinar-product__section p,.nat-webinar-product__aside p,.nat-webinar-product__safety p{font-size:16px}.nat-webinar-product__aside,.nat-webinar-product__ce,.nat-webinar-product__safety{padding:27px 22px}}

Reviews

Start your review of Listening Hands: An Introduction to Equine Bodywork Horse Massage for Owners and Manual Therapists

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.