Equine Touch is a non-diagnostic, noninvasive, energy and connective soft tissue discipline which works at a complete holistic level; that is, it addresses the equine as a whole without paying any particular attention to any named problem as such.
On a practical level Equine Touch consists of a series of gentle vibrational moves performed over specific points in specific chreographed patterns, some of which may be interspersed with observation periods to allow the equine to recognizes and process the effects of these subtle procedures.
These soft tissue vibrations when performed correctly with the ET move have the effect of releasing spasms, distortions and adhesions in the connective tissue, and smooth muscle of organs. In synergy they stimulate the body's natural inclination towards balance and harmony in its structure and function as well as creating awareness of placement and motion within the equide.
For instance such a soft tissue correction can very quickly restore the compromised saddle area of the horse to its full pain -free-mechanical function or at the very least relieve or reduce the current level of pain giving it a better quality of life.
"Only a gentle hand can calm a nervous horse" (Xenophon, 370 B.C.)
Jock
Jock (John) Ruddock, the pioneer and founder of ET, is a former Police Officer who spent 28 years of his life as an international professional wrestler and part time body worker. On retiring from the ring he turned to the world of complementary health qualifying as a clinical hypnotherapy.
During his 28 years as a globe-trotting wrestler he had earned himself a reputation as a 'bone setter', the laws of the wrestling world being 'if you hurt me, fix me'. While learning practical chiropractic and osteopathic manipulations at the hands of his fellow matmen in New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and Japan. Jock formally trained in Aikido, Dynamic Ki, Hypertonex, Kinesiology and Bowen. His first steps into the world of teaching was as an unarmed combat instructor in the Police. Later he taught street kids in Auckland, New Zealand the art of cabaret and stagecraft before moving to Australia where among his private pupils was the international recording star Natalie Umbruglia. In 1981 he was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia for his services to entertainment. In 2006 he was created a Tuhonga (medicine man) by the Tuhoe tribe in New Zealand when he and Ivana journeyed into the Mangapohatu Mountains to visit with the horse whisperers of Aotearoa.
In 1996 Jock began to research, develop and choreograph a complete new modality partially based upon the principles of bodywork as pioneered by Tom Bowen and Lauren Berry. He discovered that by vibrating the muscles in a certain sequence and at specific points in the body using his own Aikido based move, the entire body would slip into a state of medical chaos and confusion. The syndrome is something similar to an entire orchestra tuning up prior to a concert. Out of this cellular and holistic confusion and what is now termed as medical chaos, order emerges and within the body homeostasis is attained. After considerable studying and fine-tuning of this new approach, Jock decided to name it The Vibromuscular Harmonization Technique (VHT). VHT is now being taught world wide from Norway to New Zealand and although he has disassociated himself from the mainstream of Bowen by deciding not to use Tom's name and no longer teaches BT as such, his teaching of VHT and Equine Touch been accepted eagerly with open arms by Bowen associations and Bowen therapists (horse and human) internationally.
In 1997 using his unique VHT move he began to work professionally as an Equine Body worker on horses. From a simple beginning at a stable in Aberdeen Scotland the Equine Touch has now grown to a pont where it is one of the most successful and acclaimed Equine Bodywork systems in the world, used by vets, horse owners, trainers, riders, ET students and professional Equine Bodyworkers it can be found practiced successfully from log pulling horses in Norway to eventers in the south of New Zealand.
Arguably one of the most sought after and busiest clinicians in the world Jock has been recognized as pioneering and teaching VHT and The Equine Touch in Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Spain, Latvia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, USA, Hawaii, Holland, New Zealand, Australia and now Canada.
Ivana
MVDr. Ivana Ruddock the Director in charge of Education is a qualified veterinary surgeon from the Czech Republic and a member of the AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association). A consummate researcher, she is also a qualified university lecturer in anatomy and physiology who brings with her a wealth of training and knowledge from the orthodox veterinary world.
Ivana first studied the Equine Touch in 1999 with Jock and after they married in January 2000 has partnered him worldwide in the research, development and teaching of this unique discipline. Together they have taken it to a standard where it was recognized as the first complementary equine healing modality by the Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM) and the British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA) (when they originally recognized animal modalities) and the first to be given national educational accreditation and recognition in the United Kingdom.
As a result of the international success of the Equine Touch on other animals she researched and developed a gentle non-invasive modality for dogs (The Canine Touch), using the unique VHT move, alongside a unique move which she developed solely for dog. CT is now taught to dog lovers and owners in a two day seminar. Ivana's teaching technique has been described as enthusiastically brilliant. She leaves no answerable question unanswered with her unique knowledge of allopathic, energy and many other practical healing techniques for the equine and small animal. Her knowledge of the horse, its requirements and the elements of Influence which have an effect upon its health and well-being have impressed not only her students but equine professionals worldwide.
Her book and accompanying DVD ' The Canine Touch' (available through Equine Touch Instructors and National Coordination Centers) has been acclaimed by all vets, dog handlers and trainers who have read this valuable and comprehensive work.
Her Level 3 lectures on 'The Elements of Influence': saddles, teeth, feet, rider, training, environment, backed up with an all new Power Point presentation have been described as 'inspiring, brilliant and information filled' or as one vet student said, " I was gob smacked, I learned more in four mornings with her than I ever learned in varsity".
Ivana's teaching style is in a direct and yet complementary contrast to Jock' making them as Debranne Pattilo, the president of Equinology states " The most unique teaching team in the Equine World." Jock the intuitive showman body worker and Ivana the researcher backing up his work with hard proven facts.
Her wholehearted commitment to improving the standard of life of the horse has earned her the respect not only as a practitioner and instructor but as a guide to all horse lovers wishing to provide a better quality of life for their horses.
Please note: While Ivana is a qualified veterinary Surgeon in Czech Republic and a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association she does not, and will not, practice any form whatsoever of veterinary procedures in any country outside of the Czech Republic in which she is not licensed to do so.
