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Bio for presentation
I grew up in West Central Wisconsin on a dairy and horse farm. My parents are from Switzerland. My father brought with him his cavalry education and love of horses from Switzerland, so I benefited from the classical training and horse husbandry that the Swiss military is famous for. I sure learned about work ethic there and also a love for the natural world around me. I graduated from U of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in 1993. Upon graduation, I completed a wonderful internship with Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, CA where I continued to practice until I moved to Northern California in 1995. My interest in alternative therapies began in college around 1986, when I worked as a racetrack veterinary assistant. I was introduced to acupuncture by Dr. Marvin Cain, who is considered to be the “father of equine acupuncture” in the United States. I remember watching the relationship between him and the horses he was working on and observing the communication that happened between them. I realized that this is how I want horses to feel about me and how I wanted to have my hands on them, not just be limited to the conventional wisdom. I continued learning from Dr. Cain when I moved to Northern California and began incorporating acupuncture in my performance practice. I received further education from the Chi Institute in Florida (specifically Dr. Shen Xie, a 5th generation Chinese acupuncturist and herbal therapist) which is a satellite school of the University of Beijing, China. After many years of study with Dr. Xie, I became certified as a Traditional Chinese Practitioner, Herbal Practitioner, and Tui-Na Practitioner through the University of Beijing China. Traditional Chinese Medicine incorporates a whole body approach using acupuncture, herbal therapy, physical therapy (such as Qi Gong and Tai Qi), massage therapy, chiropractics (Tui-Na) and food therapy to heal and balance the body. I have also added the use of homeopathic and essential oil therapy to my practice. In addition to my performance practice here in Northern California (H.A.P.P.E.E. Horses, Inc. in Clements,CA), I am currently on staff for the Chi Institute and assist in teaching the acupuncture labs. I look forward to starting my Masters program in Traditional Chinese Medicine where I can pursue some of my studies in China in the near future, and build on the education I currently have obtained.
My husband, Mike, and 10 yr old son Josef enjoy raising horses on our ranch in Clements. We are true horse enthusiasts with my husband competing on his Dutch Warmblood in jumpers and my son riding his QH and TB ponies Copper and Jessie in pony club. I love to raise, train and compete on my TB-Welsh-Spanish Arab crosses in hunters, jumpers and dressage. I also enjoy team roping in the winter months and am also learning to compete in the Working Cow Horse division on my Quarter Horse gelding. My husband Mike shows our sport horse in-hand horses also, and with my Spanish Arabian gelding was 2006 Sport Horse National Champion In-Hand.
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