Jackie Romero
EQUISSAGE Internations, INC. Certified Animal Sports Massage Therapist
Hello and Welcome to Animal Sports Massage!!!
I may be a little animal crazy but I would say its the best type of crazy. I grew-up with a love for dogs and horses. During grade school I road at a Hunter/Jumper show barn, trail road during college, road Dressage during graduate school and for several summers, practiced ranch sorting. My passion is older animals and I someday want an equine retirement and rescue facility. While in college, I struggled in finding the "just right" retirement pasture for my childhood show horses. This struggle creates my desire to build the "just right" facility. I believe that since my horses gave me their best years, the least I could do is to take care of them in their old age.
I firsthand understand the benefits of massage. I have had my fair share of horse falls combined with (genetic) poor posture that perfectly contributed to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). The pain through my back has put me to my knees crying more than once. I spent years trying to just "deal" with the pain. Doctors seemed more interested in assisting me with medication and chiropractors were not getting to the cause, only providing temporary relief. I have found real relief in working with a neck and back specialist who taught me that my issue was not skeletal but muscular. I have areas were my muscles and fascia (connective tissue) are too tight causing their counter muscle groups to be strained. Myofascial release (through massage, foam rolling, massage balls) combine with simple exercises have been my saving grace.
Realizing my improvements through massage, I searched the internet for Animal Massage. I found many amazing massage schools and decided that if I was going to learn, I would go to the best. Mary Shreiber founded and incorporated EQUISSAGE in 1989 and is one of the founding pioneers in the field. Mary has been perfecting her technique over the years and spent a week teaching me as much as she possibly could. I was able to meet many horses who have benefited from sports massage and was amazed how intune these horses had become with their own bodies. I had never seen horses stretch so much on their own and be in such peace.
EDUCATION:
I may be a little animal crazy but I would say its the best type of crazy. I grew-up with a love for dogs and horses. During grade school I road at a Hunter/Jumper show barn, trail road during college, road Dressage during graduate school and for several summers, practiced ranch sorting. My passion is older animals and I someday want an equine retirement and rescue facility. While in college, I struggled in finding the "just right" retirement pasture for my childhood show horses. This struggle creates my desire to build the "just right" facility. I believe that since my horses gave me their best years, the least I could do is to take care of them in their old age.
I firsthand understand the benefits of massage. I have had my fair share of horse falls combined with (genetic) poor posture that perfectly contributed to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). The pain through my back has put me to my knees crying more than once. I spent years trying to just "deal" with the pain. Doctors seemed more interested in assisting me with medication and chiropractors were not getting to the cause, only providing temporary relief. I have found real relief in working with a neck and back specialist who taught me that my issue was not skeletal but muscular. I have areas were my muscles and fascia (connective tissue) are too tight causing their counter muscle groups to be strained. Myofascial release (through massage, foam rolling, massage balls) combine with simple exercises have been my saving grace.
Realizing my improvements through massage, I searched the internet for Animal Massage. I found many amazing massage schools and decided that if I was going to learn, I would go to the best. Mary Shreiber founded and incorporated EQUISSAGE in 1989 and is one of the founding pioneers in the field. Mary has been perfecting her technique over the years and spent a week teaching me as much as she possibly could. I was able to meet many horses who have benefited from sports massage and was amazed how intune these horses had become with their own bodies. I had never seen horses stretch so much on their own and be in such peace.
EDUCATION:
- BS in Animal Science and Biology from UC Davis
- Teaching Credential from Chapman University, Orange
- Science teacher for the past 5 years
- Equine and Canine EQUISSAGE certificate (50 hours)