Riders with greater experience also benefit. Even at most clinic events, where instruction is primarily in a group setting, riders do have plenty of opportunity to focus on and get ideas as to how to improve places where they may be "stuck". Dr. Deb is joyously interested in helping all riders to break through to new levels of awareness and feel. "If it's already good, it can only get better." Riders of all disciplines have benefitted -- dressage, reining, gaited horses, trail horses -- all breeds and styles are welcome.

Dr. Deb uses a somewhat unusual clinic format, in that almost 50% of the time is spent in the classroom. Here students learn the details, the history, and the techniques of finer horsemanship. We study videotapes showing master-level work from many cultures around the world. We crawl on the floor and we do dance steps together to understand straightness, bending, balance, figures, and the three classes of lateral work. We examine tack and equipment to see how it works, we study anatomical drawings to appreciate the movement going on beneath the saddle, and we work with biomechanical models so as to bring home to each rider the proper "feel".

To find out where Dr. Deb is going to be this year, please click here to go to our "Schedules" section.

Dr. Deb's Horsemanship Philosophy

Dr. Deb teaches "perjustice". Perjustice is a new term for the very old art and science of using the horse's movement as an aid in maintaining his soundness, and to develop him as an excellent riding horse.

Perjustice addresses horse and human as whole creatures - not just caring for the physical body, but for the internal mental and emotional life as well.

Events with Dr. Deb are, essentially "intelligent conversations" about horsemanship - and the conversation goes on all day every day - whether in the classroom, the roundpen, or the training arena. Dr. Deb seeks to get students interested in the concepts and techniques of classical riding - not the very limited "classical" repertory advertised in shows, but the old and great Art of creating the Educated Horse which has been practiced by all civilized cultures since mankind first discovered the horse's ability to collect under a rider. All Dr. Deb's students learn certain very old movements and maneuvers, as well as concepts that shed light on their horse's reactions and their way of learning. These things, some of which might at first seem subtle, are the real keys to horsemanship. Without them, no finer riding is possible; with them, even maneuvers which before seemed difficult become simple, clear, and easy.

Included in our horsemanship "conversation" will be the horses themselves. Dr. Deb teaches students how to communicate with horses, and how to perceive when something is of concern or interest to your horse. To advance your abilities, it is crucial that you learn to see through your horse's eyes. This gives you the ability to know what your horse is going to do before he does it, which is not only the true basis for safety around horses, but the foundation of your ability to educate your horse.

All horsemanship sessions involve working both in hand and under saddle. Dr. Deb's ultimate goal is to help you create a horse from which you can request all the energy he has to put to work - with NO accompanying increase in tension. This is the way to create a horse who becomes your partner, your best helper - a horse you can call on and trust when the chips are down.

Anatomy

Dr. Deb teaches equine anatomy all over the world. Fifteen years ago, she "invented" the concept of providing real fresh carcass material and sponsoring dissection classes open to the general public. Today, the program has grown to the point that you can study anatomy with Dr. Deb in several locations in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. You do not need any prior preparation - you do not need to be a "vet" student or enrolled in college - to participate in these classes.

Who is Eligible to Enroll?

Our courses are open to people from all walks of life. You do not need to be a veterinary student or enrolled in a college or university, and there are no prerequisites.

We welcome owners, riders, breeders, farriers, professional and amateur trainers, farm managers, horseshoers, equine dentists, para-veterinary and veterinary-prep students, High School and Junior College students with an interest in agriculture or biology, animal artists, and those who are seeking to complete training in a wide variety of massage and alternative-care modalities. We enjoy the dialogue that arises out of the variety of interests present in each class, and we encourage networking at all levels.

When Do Classes Meet?

Please click here for a list of currently scheduled classes. All courses include a lecture-concept component and the actual full-body dissection. A minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty students may enroll in any given class.

What Will I Learn?

Courses include the following core content: basic anatomical parts; cell and tissue structure and function; development and integration of body systems; bone and muscle physiology; biomechanical principles and the application of these to common problems and situations in riding, training, para-veterinary care, injuries and lameness, equine dentistry, and horseshoeing. Dr. Deb's courses emphasize the musculo-skeletal system, but an overview of the circulatory, digestive, nervous, endocrine and energy systems form a regular part of every course. Basic concepts in embryological development are also covered. Since we are most interested in anatomy study as an aid to helping the living animal, the teaching approach is systems study rather than surgical anatomy.

Will Anatomy Study Help My Career in the Horse Industry?

Yes. Dr. Deb's anatomy classes are a great opportunity -- absolutely unique and available nowhere else. There is a practical emphasis throughout; anatomical parts and biomechanical concepts are taught in the context of real-life training and therapy situations. All anatomy courses are directly applicable to a variety of massage and energy techniques, and our coursework is recognized or required by massage, alternative-therapy, equine dentistry, and horseshoeing schools.

How to Enroll

We are affiliated with Equinology, Inc., which sponsors many of our anatomy classes. Equinology students receive credit toward certification by their participation in each anatomy session. Enrollment for Equinology-sponsored classes is handled through the Equinology office. Within the U.S., please telephone them at (866) 829-2086, or worldwide you may Email office@equinology.com. Enrollment for a few of our classes (see the listing below) is handled directly through the Equine Studies Institute office, or else by another sponsoring organization. For these classes, please click on the contact information given in the list below, and we will give you all the pertinent information concerning fees, road directions, overnight accommodations, airports, etc

Anatomy Classes for 2007

See full descriptions of all these classes by clicking on Dr. Deb's Schedule at this website. Brief descriptions are given here, plus the PayPal button for those interested in enrolling in the Farriers Special Anatomy.

Outside the U.S.:

March 23-27 - Alberta. 3/5 day format; Equinology students may receive credit for the 5-day class, but it is also open to anyone, and the three-day option is nice for farriers, equine dentists, and private owners. This class tends to fill rather quickly. Please contact bitspur@telusplanet.net to enroll.

April 11-15 - New Zealand, South Island. Please contact horsemanshipnz@xtra.co.nz. Equinology students can receive credit, but the class is open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis.

May 11-15 - Australia, Brisbane area. Please contact kfaul@powerup.com.au. This is our flagship Australian Equinology-sponsored class, so for more information you can also contact office@equinology.com.

May 16-18 - Australia, Brisbane area. This is a special head-and-neck "only" class designed for equine dentists. Please contact kfaul@powerup.com.au and/or the Equinology office office@equinology.com.

Inside the U.S.:

August 18-19 - Anatomy lectures by Dr. Deb at the national convention in Lexington, Kentucky of the International Association of Equine Dentists (I.A.E.D.). Go to www.iaed.com for more information.

October 13-15 - Farriers Special Anatomy Class at the Equine Studies Institute facility in California. This class is sponsored directly by E.S.I. Here is the complete class description:

• A three day class starting 9:00 a.m. Saturday, October 13th and finishing up 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 15th.
• Meets at the Equine Studies Institute lab facility near Turlock, California.
• An exciting schedule featuring complete fore and hind limbs, taken from the carcass NOT by cutting through the knee and hock, as is usually done, but by removing them all the way at the top -- shoulder and haunch. This enables you, as nothing else can, to appreciate how ALL the structures within the limb work.
• This class is intensive. We cover every major structure within the limbs, including bone, joints, muscle/tendon, ligament, nerve, blood vessels....all the components of the hoof and within the hoof....and the important biomechanics, including stance, reciprocation, check and stay systems, and whole-body dynamics including the "Woody" model and the "Ring of Muscles" model.
• Class protocol includes morning lecture/concept and afternoon dissection of fresh-frozen carcass limbs.
• Includes field trip to a local stable, to learn accurate methods for assessing conformation.
• Enrollment is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is $180 per day X 3 days = $540.
• All students in this class receive a thick workbook or set of handouts as a free take-home. You will also receive our 2003 "Orthopedics in Horseshoeing" CD-disk for free.
• Road directions, travel/airport suggestions, and other helpful information will be sent to you by Email when you enroll. Thank you for your interest in this class!

Enroll now in Farriers Special Anatomy Class

November 26-30 - Our flagship North American Equinology-sponsored 5-day full-body class. Held at the Equine Studies Institute lab in central California. For information on this class and to enroll, please Email office@equinology.com or telephone toll-free (866) 829-2086.

December 2-4 - The most "fun" class on the anatomy schedule - "Skeleton class" - in which students get to help create a standing mount of a real horse skeleton. Held at the Equine Studies Institute lab in central California. For information on this class and to enroll, please Email office@equinology.com or telephone toll-free (866) 829-2086