Do a Correspondence Course....

Ten years ago a dressage rider asked Catherine Bird to use the same aromatherapy oils on her horse as she had been using in her weekly massages for herself. This began her looking more closely at how horses responded to the essential oils and she documented her case histories. The local riding school in the suburbs of Randwick and the NSW Mounted Police horses were visited every week and offered essential oils.

Catherine’s knowledge of essential oils and their application was already extensive as she was one of the first aromatherapists and highly respected in Sydney. She had taught the subject successfully for five years to students at the NSW School of Therapeutic Massage, beauty therapists who were customers of Select Botanicals, and took aromatherapy into nursing homes and to staff of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

After self publishing her first book “Horse Scents – Making Sense With Your Horse Using Aromatherapy” (which is now out of print but hopefully a cd ebook soon), Catherine received requests from around the world from people wanting to study her techniques. From this came the writing of the course material and the course was released in 1999. Since then graduates have successfully completed the course from Australia, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and South Africa. The first graduates from Canada and Japan are due to finish their course work in 2004.

This course is designed to give the student a working knowledge of essential oils with horses. To show they have comprehended the notes and recommended reading, there is an assignment to be completed and returned with the cover sheet provided. It is suggested that each student complete each assignment within a calendar month.

The objectives of this course is to give the student confidence with the practical application of essential oils to work with horses on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. To ensure they obtain support students have access to their private email community to discuss amongst themselves areas they need guidance on. The list is monitored and information is posted on a regular basis. When articles that support their material have been published they are then provided to the students via this medium. Catherine Bird is also available to assist students with matters that they may not wish to discuss on the list.

Student’s assignments are kept on file, with a comments sheet mailed back to be filed with their own copy of the assignment. Most students complete a home study assignment each month and complete the assignments within 6 to 8 months, however they are given the option to take up to a year to complete their work.  Each Segment is designed to take the student 20 to 30 hours external study minimum with Segment Six to take in 15 to 20 hours external practical application. Each segment comprises of 30 to 40 pages of typed material.

Cost per segment is $150.00 if paid for separately, totalling $900.00. If students purchase the material for the six segments the fee is $750.00.

Once all the assignments are completed they can then request to sit an open book examination which much be post marked by a requested date to be assessed.  Examination fee is $30.

This date is calculated to include mailing time back and forth and then a fair and reasonable time allocated depending on student’s circumstances, this is usually three weeks from when they are expected to receive the examination to when they post mark their envelope. If the student passes the examination to the satisfaction of the marker, then a certificate of completion is issued.

Supporting text is available for students to purchase - A Healthy Horse the Natural Way by Catherine Bird.

Most graduates are encouraged to study some form of equine bodywork with horses or intend to at some stage to be able to have further applications of the essential oils. As we begin to work with natural therapies, the quest is one that continues as our own work evolves, no matter what we have studied in the past or look to studying, there is always another perspective or opportunity to learn along our journey.

The student can expect to competently use aromatherapy with horses in a professional manner and achieve desired results. This course is aimed at the serious horse owner or the practitioner. It is a stand-alone course however combines well with any of the healing modalities a student may have already studied. The student is encouraged to develop an approach so they can easily interpret from material written about aromatherapy for a human application so as to determine if an essential oil would be suitable to use with horses or if it is one to be cautious of.

Segment One

The History of Aromatherapy

Discusses the use of aromatherapy with horses and traces a historical timeline in relation to the use of essential oils for human therapeutics.

Anatomy of the Skin

Looks at the theory behind absorption of essential oils via the hair follicle.

The Olfactory Nervous System

The major action of essential oils is how the scent molecule triggers a response within the limbic system of the brain and then how the hypothalamus and the endocrine system respond. There is also discussion on how the essential oils constituents may be absorbed via the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract.

Basic Horse Behaviour

Some of the students do not have extensive horse experience so a section has been included to assist them.

Horse Health

The importance of understanding the vital signs of a horse and when to call the veterinarian.

Supporting articles supplied with notes.

Segment Two

Materia Medica of essential oils

List 25 essential oils, their suggested uses with human therapy, along with pharmcognosy of each essential oil. Then the students are shown how to translate this information to be used with horses, and part of their assessment is to research other essential oils for human therapy and then show how they would use with horses.

Safe use of essential oils

Details cautions.

Sourcing quality products

How to select quality essential oils and carriers.

Supporting articles supplied with notes.

Segment Three

Selecting Essential Oils

Discussion on using various methods of selecting essential oils. Including kinesiology, studied knowledge of pharmacognosy, intuition, and asking the horse.

Blending procedures.

Blending essential oils for topical applications and deciding whether to use the perfumer’s note, odour intensity or by the intensity of the horse’s interest; and when each of the methods is most applicable.

Supporting articles supplied with notes.

Segment Four

The Sensation of Touch

Combining the use of essential oils with tactile therapies.

Discussion on appropriate massage techniques

An outline of a basic massage routine with photographs.

Knowing your limits and ethical practice

Discussion of what an aromatherapist’s responsibilities are to the owner of the horse, the horse himself, and the legal restrictions. The student is also required to show how they would set up a network for referrals and promote their business.

Supporting articles supplied with notes.

Segment Five

Subtle Body Anatomy

Within this section students are introduced to the anatomy of energy and how essential oils work on this level as well as the physical and emotional layers of an issue.

Understanding Energy

This expands on segment three where the student becomes aware of how his/her intention along with thoughts and emotions can affect the horse and how essential oils can be used to minimise the effect of negativity.

The Spiritual Application of Essential Oils

Details several essential oils and discusses how they can be used on an energetic level.

Making your own creams and gels

Students are taken through the steps of making their own creams and base gels.

Supporting articles supplied with notes.

Segment Six

Submitting case histories with explanation and reasoning.

Students are required to submit six case histories. Each case history must be of an individual horse and may include several consultations. They must explain their reasoning as they detail each case history.

Appendix of other therapies that work well with aromatherapy

This includes how homoeopathy, Bach flower and Australian bush flower essences, and biochemic salts can be combined with aromatherapy. A discussion on the emergence of using hydrosols from waste product to medicinal tool.

Supporting articles supplied with notes.

Examination

This is designed to test the student’s confidence in the subject and to see how they would use aromatherapy with horses. It deliberately requests the student to step outside the restraints of the course notes and explore their own knowledge.  If a question is not answered adequately, the student is given the opportunity to redress that question before a pass is determined.

Student Testimonial

I have just completed Catherine Birds Equine Aromatherapy correspondence course and I would have to say that I thought it was fantastic!!

I have been addicted to aromatherapy for just over 10 years, completing various courses on the subject, and also massage and herbs. I also run herbal and aromatherapy craft workshops.
I found Catherine course just so interesting with loads of new information that I just couldn’t stop until I finished it!!!
The whole course really got me thinking from start to finish and the best thing was that I knew that I could email the group and Catherine any time I had a question. The information I learnt from previous questions and replies on the email group was great as well. 

The results that I have had from using essential oils on horses have been amazing. I have been so impressed by how the horses have improved in various ways – one horse had almost a complete personality change (bad PMT I think!)! Essential oils have been used on people for years with wonderful results – try Equine Aromatherapy – it is just as wonderful. After completing Catherine’s course, your horse will certainly thank you.
Thank you again Catherine for a wonderful course.

Sarah Linton

New Zealand

Colleague Testimonial

As a practicing Aromatherapist on both humans and equines in the UK, I felt very privileged that Catherine Bird sent me, hot off the press as it were, a copy of her much awaited equine aromatherapy/massage course for my attention.
If you have an interest in using essential oils and massage in treating either your own horse or as an extension to your current massage therapy practice you must really consider completing this course compiled by Catherine. I honestly couldn't put it down and have burned the midnight oil studying every segment.

The content of the course is interesting and informative, covering as it does every method of essential oils application, useful massage techniques and even the vibrational effects. We are led through the somewhat scary maze of oils selections, using cross-referencing methods including kinesiology and olfactory selection. This enables you to apply the right oil in the right place at the right time and there is as much scientific information as you would need to know to practice safely. The chemical constituents of 25 essential oils are fully detailed with full information of the effects on the body and mind of the horse (and rider!!) There are case histories, horse physiology, advice on setting up a practice, discussions on methods of applications, making up of blends, the use of carrier oils and even information on making up your own creams and gels for application.

At the end of every section is an assignment that is not so much examining what you have learnt, but allowing you to put into practice what you have learnt from that particular segment and positively encouraging you to investigate further.
Catherine has a wealth of experience in the holistic treatment of the horse and the person; she has been a tutor and lecturer as well as a practitioner, an author, a convention speaker and a dedicated healer. Her style is easy to understand, very detailed but concise. If you were to dedicate yourself to this course for six months, you will have saved the trauma of years of treatments and case studies which has been the only way to learn this skill and most of all you will be effective.
The resource is now here, very reasonably priced (especially if you are in Europe or American with the way the exchange rate is at the moment!) and Catherine is only an email away to give you support and encouragement. I only wish it had been there for me when I first started out.

Lyn Palmer ITEC (Dip)
Glastonbury UK

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