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Gillian Higgins

One of Gillian Higgins' painted horses

Profile

  • Age: 27
  • Favourite Horse: A toss up between Freddie Fox (the famous painted horse!) and Quake (my retired advanced eventer)
  • Greatest Moment: There have been lots of great moments including: completing my first Advanced event on Quake (now retired), winning at Gatcombe Horse Trials on Freddie Fox; publishing my book; representing GB and winning individual gold at the Student Riders' Nations Cup '06
  • Words of Wisdom: Understanding more about how the horse works can help to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury
  • Star Sign: Libra
  • Essential Piece of Kit: Mobile phone and sat nav!
  • Aim for 2010: Continue to provide educational opportunities for horse owners and riders with lecture demonstrations; to continue to learn as much as possible about horses, their anatomy and biomechanics; have a good season eventing with Freddie Fox including competing in a CCI** and compete my youngster; plan an adventure!
  • Hero or Heroine: Jean-Marie Denoix (Equine Anatomist) and Leonardo Da Vinci

Biography

As a professional therapist specialising in mobilising muscles, improving performance and educating horse owners, I recently started a business in equine and human sports, remedial massage and manipulation and 'Horses Inside Out' seminars.

Originally from the Midlands, I graduated with a first class Honours Degree from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, having already obtained qualifications as a human sports and remedial massage and manipulation therapist and as an equine sports massage therapist. I also graduated as a McTimoney-Corley animal manipulator.

I love to learn and continually attend courses in all my fields of interest - physiotherapy, anatomy and biomechanics. I work in close collaboration with vets and regularly attend veterinary seminars and conferences. I am also a BHS Intermediate Instructor and Stable Manager.

I have represented the BHS in Sweden as part of the prestigious Leonardo Exchange programme which aims to share knowledge with our European counterparts. I have also studied the equine industry in Kentucky, France and Germany. This has given me invaluable insight into alternative methods of training and treatments, the best of which I incorporate into my own practices. I hope to go on more busman’s holidays in the future!

On a more personal note, I compete at British Eventing from Pre Novice to Advanced level, BSJA and Team Chasing. I currently own two horses, with whom I compete and who are my painted models!

With Horses Inside Out, I do equine lecture demos which offer an insight into how the horse works through understanding equine anatomy, biomechanics and physiology. Painting the skeleton and musculature on the side of horses really helps to bring this subject to life and essentially, I am interested in improving performance, reducing injury and maintaining top condition in performance horses. I have worked with renowned practitioners such as Dr Gerd Heuschmann and have written a book 'How Your Horse Moves' and produced a DVD 'Horses Inside Out'.

I love travelling all around the country doing teaching and I hope to visit other countries soon, as this would combine with my passion for seeing the world!

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