The Equissage California Signature Certification
A program built on legacy, elevated by modern education
Equissage California is one of the oldest and most trusted names in equine massage education, with over 1,000 students trained and certified since 2007. This is a hybrid, in-depth certification, not a casual or abbreviated course, designed for people who are serious about learning this work correctly, thoroughly, and responsibly.
You'll begin with immediate, lifetime access to our online training platform, where foundational concepts are introduced through structured lessons, anatomy modules, and technique demonstrations. That online portion makes sure you arrive at your hands-on days already prepared. From there, you'll join us in Vista, California for four days of hands-on instruction in small groups, working directly on multiple horses under close instructor supervision.
Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on equine anatomy, biomechanics, movement, pain recognition, and professional application, so you leave understanding the horse as an athlete, not just a set of techniques.
Three stages, one certification
A hybrid format so you arrive at your hands-on days already prepared, not starting from zero.
Online Coursework
Start any time, ideally 4 to 6 weeks before your hands-on dates. Includes reading, lectures, how-to videos, quizzes, and optional Zoom time with your instructor.
Hands-On Work
Join us in Vista, California. An instructor guides you through the full Equissage Sequence and other techniques on different horses, with direct feedback as you go.
Practical & Certification
Complete your online course, hands-on course, and case studies, and you become a Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist.
Official 2026 Hands-On Schedule
Students begin online as soon as they enroll, then join one of the hands-on dates above for 4 full days of in-person instruction in Vista, California, generally 9:00 AM to around 4:00 PM.
Winter / Spring 2027
Enroll in a Winter or Spring 2027 course before tuition increases.
What you'll learn
At the core of our curriculum is the respected Equissage methodology, trusted for decades by horse owners, trainers, and professionals worldwide, expanded with the education working with horses truly requires today.
Anatomy & Biomechanics
In-depth equine anatomy so you understand how the horse's body is designed to move, compensate, and respond to hands-on work, so your sessions are purposeful rather than guesswork.
Technique & the Equissage Sequence
Foundational and advanced massage techniques plus modern modalities, so you can adapt your work to different horses, disciplines, and physical needs.
Stretching & Mobility
A full sequence of stretches and core-strengthening exercises covering every major muscle group, taking the benefits of massage to another level.
Saddle Fit Education
Learn to evaluate and fit a saddle properly. Incorrect saddle fit is one of the most common causes of back issues and behavioral problems in horses.
Business Education
Ethics, client communication, professionalism, marketing, soap notes, and the real-world business side of building a sustainable practice.
Case Studies
Apply your skills to performance horses with real issues. Evaluate, treat, and reassess as a class, and watch the difference you've made firsthand.
Stretches
You'll learn how to safely and effectively take a horse through a sequence of stretches and core-strengthening exercises involving every major muscle group. This is taught through reading material, demonstration, and hands-on practice, and the horses absolutely love it.
Case Studies
You'll apply your skills to performance horses with real-life issues. Each student is assigned a horse, works through evaluation, massage, and stretching, and shares results with the class. We evaluate each horse before and after, so the differences are easy to see, which helps you start your new career with confidence.
Saddle Fitting
You'll learn to properly evaluate and fit a saddle to a horse. Left unrecognized, poor saddle fit can lead to back pain and a range of other physical and behavioral problems. This section covers the anatomy of the equine back and the saddle, and how to pair the two correctly.
Starting Your Business
We close the course with an honest look at what it takes to succeed in this field. Every student's goals are different, and this is an open, collaborative space to learn from instructors and past students, including what's worked, what hasn't, and how to market your services well.
What it actually felt like
"I will cherish this learning experience for the rest of my life. Sabrina and Natalie took us from zero to sixty, and the case study portion left me confident to go home and put it all into practice."
Thank you for the most incredible seven days. The hands-on training was wonderful, and the encouragement made it easy to enjoy the process of learning about horse behavior and communication.
I was nervous about learning so much in such a short window, but they made it stick. Patient, welcoming, and happy to answer anything I asked, I'd recommend this course without hesitation.
What it costs to get started
Tuition increases to $2,995 on January 1st, 2027. Enroll before then to lock in the current rate.
Good to know
About the Course
It's the therapeutic application of hands-on massage techniques to increase circulation, relax muscle spasms, relieve tension, enhance muscle tone, and increase range of motion in high-performance horses. It's used both to reduce the risk of injury and to support recovery after one.
In most states, no. There are currently no state regulations governing certification of equine sports massage therapists in California.
Every horse person, owner, trainer, or rider, knows the horse is the ultimate athlete. Just as human athletes rely on sports massage, more and more horsemen are incorporating this therapy as an integral part of their horse's ongoing healthcare.
The in-person portion runs 4 days in Vista, California, generally 9:00 AM to around 4:00 PM. See the current schedule above for upcoming dates.
Enrollment & Policies
A $750 deposit reserves your spot in class. Class sizes are limited to 6 to 8 students, so seats are confirmed on a first-come basis once your deposit is submitted.
Tuition becomes non-refundable once you've been given access to your online materials or your seat in an in-person class is confirmed. If you need to change your course date, you're welcome to transfer once to a future date, just give us at least 30 days notice. (A $300 transfer fee applies if you're inside that 30-day window.) If we ever need to cancel a class ourselves, you'll be offered a full refund or the option to reschedule.
We'd rather you finish confident than finish fast. If you need more practice to meet our certification standards, you'll be given additional time and up to two extra days of instruction at no additional charge, scheduling permitting.
Your online access is yours to keep and revisit for life, it's a great study resource long after class ends. Course materials are for your own personal educational use, so we ask that they not be shared, copied, or redistributed, they're the intellectual property of Equissage California.
Submit Your Application Here
Facebook
Instagram