MC the Equine Bodyworker

My name is Siena Bergounous I am 13 years old and a 4th year member in Range View 4-H Horse Project. My gelding Stetson is approximately 19 years old and was having some body issues. Our 4-H project group had the pleasure of learning about body work through a series of group clinics with Mary Catherine Kidd also known as (MC), Equine Bodywork by MC.

MC has been an equine bodyworker for 25 years. When she was a kid, she always wanted her own horse. She hung out and worked at stables in exchange for lessons. As an adult she dug her heels back in and worked at a farm so she could ride horses.

MC was 28 years old and going to Hygiene School for Humans when her mom got sick and she was then taking care of her. MC was very athletic, was in the dental field, and always wanted to work with horses, but she did not want to be a veterinarian. She did not have the time to own a horse, and she needed to earn money with horses. When she saw a body worker advertisement, as an athlete she was struck by the idea of working with horses and getting paid. She starting looking into going to school at 29 years old, and was purpose driven for her second career, and then she found Equinology. She says, “she felt the calling.”

Now that she was in the therapy career, she had to decide which career she wanted to pursue. She loved them both, and she chose equine bodywork.

In the beginning it was very hard work, especially the top layer of the horse. Today, her favorite part about bodywork is getting to meet each horse, and getting to have that kind of connection with them. Communication through touch is her favorite part.

MC was trained by Equine Massage Therapy. Today, she specializes in releasing the entire horse, opening the entire posture up, releasing the skeleton, instead of just treating one specific area.

Bodywork is important because we are asking the body to work. The very nature of a horse standing up, it will go through changes. Humans do crazy things to their bodies, and then do not think about their bodies. Horses structurally break down. The horse is fine until they are not. Any body that you are asking to work, deserves body work.

MC says, “If you are really interested in body work and ready to go to school, research Equinology. Even if you are not ready to go into school, you should still investigate it. Reach out. Point your sites and heart there.”

My experience with MC encouraged me to consider choosing a career that works with horses.