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Welcome to the

Association for Equine Hanna Somatics® Education (AEHSE)

Equine Hanna Somatics® Education is an emerging profession pioneered by creator Eleanor Criswell Ed.D, with applications in the fields of horse training, education, and various complimentary or alternative therapies. Join us!

Associate Membership

For equine and somatic professionals, DVMs, trainers, riders, owners and other people interested in supporting the perpetuation and continued development of Eleanor Criswell's important work with horses & dogs!

$50/year

Student Membership

Open to all enrolled students of any module (1, 2 or 3) of the Equine Hanna Somatics Professional Training Program.

Includes CE/CPD, business development, exclusive events, more...

$75/year

Certified Membership

Open to EHS Educators who have completed all 3 modules of the EHS Professional Training Program and have been assessed and Certified by Eleanor Criswell and/or Alissa Mayer.

$175/year

Our Purpose

The purpose of the AEHSE is to grow the emerging field of Equine Hanna Somatics (EHS) Education.

We aim to support and provide continuing education and a forum for professional discussion for our enrolled students, graduates and certified members; provide community and professional networking; a public EHS Practitioners Directory; promote Equine and Canine Hanna Somatics and our Members, Practitioners, Students, the EHS Professional Training Program and our Equine Hanna Somatics: Session 1 instructional video; to provide education about EHS to the general horse public; and ultimately to make the world a better place for horses by educating via EHSE to enhance the function, quality and length of life for all horses.

As with all established professions, we have a Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics to articulate exemplary behavior to abide by. These are living documents (read them below) that will be refined according to the needs of our profession, in the months and years ahead.

Our Practitioners

Certified Equine Hanna Somatics® Educators (C-EHSEs) have completed extensive training with Eleanor Criswell Ed.D (creator of EHS) and Alissa Mayer BSc(Equine) EHSE-C (founder of the AEHSE), in the only Equine Hanna Somatics Professional Training program in the world, sponsored by the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training.

Equine Hanna Somatics is NOT bodywork, but is a movement-based training method that helps horses access the part of their brains that regulate chronic muscular tension. By inviting horses to voluntarily participate in EHS movements, we facilitate the horse in resetting their own resting muscle tone. We truly work WITH, not ON, horses.

Our Online Practitioner Directory includes both certified and student practitioners who have completed 1, 2 or all 3 training modules of the certification program, and who are already out serving the horses of the world, or completing their self-study practicum requirements.

EHSEs who are also Association (AEHSE) members are indicated by a star below their name in the directory, and may include the appropriate membership badge on their website, social media profiles and marketing materials.

Our practitioners come from varied and fascinating backgrounds in both the human and equine training, movement, healing and bodywork fields. They use the unique technique of Voluntary Pandiculation, combined with knowledge of anatomy, neuro-muscular physiology, somatic horse handling and an understanding of natural healthy movement and biomechanics to help their clients rapidly achieve the highest levels of brain-body integration, homeostasis and profoundly deep horse-human bonding experiences.

Membership

Membership in the AEHSE means you are committed to continuing education and staying connected to the source of EHS, current industry trends and the natural evolution and development of this emerging field.

AEHSE Membership is open to enrolled students or graduates of the Equine Hanna Somatics Professional Training Program, and to individuals interested in supporting the continuation of Eleanor Criswell's important work.

There are three levels of membership available:

Student EHSE, Certified EHSE, and Associate.

Associate Membership includes a periodic email newsletter, early notification of training dates and registration, exclusive discounts on in-person events, and our gratitude for your support!

Benefits of Student/Certified Membership include:

  • Ongoing professional support from the EHS Teaching Team & Networking with peers in a private online community

  • Priority Scheduling for 1-1 Mentoring with Alissa Mayer

  • Case-Conferencing Events with EHSE Colleagues

  • Practice-Building Workshops to grow your business

  • Case-Study Templates and Consultation

  • Networking and Promotion on the AEHSE Social Channels

  • Publication of your EHS clinics/workshops and online classes on the EHS Global Calendar on the AEHSE website

  • Opportunity to publish case studies on the EHS Blog

  • An Expanded Practitioner Directory Listing that includes:

    • Social Media icons and live link to your website

    • Pop-up with detailed Bio & link to a scheduling app or offer

  • AEHSE Membership Badge for your website and promo materials

  • Enhanced professional online presence and industry credibility

  • Discounts from allied professionals and businesses

  • Affiliate Commission on referral sales of the EHS Session 1 video

EHS Scope of Practice

This scope of practice is based upon the theoretical and applied principles of Hanna Somatic Education and Equine Hanna Somatics Education as they are taught under the auspices of Eleanor Criswell and the Novato Institute for Somatic Research & Training.

Equine Hanna Somatics Educators provide verbal or hands-on somatic education services for individual clients or groups in order to improve the central integration of the execution of their sensory-motor activities.

This may include but not necessarily be limited to endeavoring to:

• Apply the EHS specific clinical processes of "means-whereby", "kinetic mirroring" and "pandiculation" during their sessions and classes.

• Educate and train individuals or groups in self-performed motor skill improvement processes, i.e. Somatic Exercises and Explorations, with their own body or hands-on with their own horse(s).

• Disseminate educational materials to the public, including, but not limited to EHS Exercises and related somatic arts, sciences, philosophy and principles through lectures, seminars, training programs IF specifically licensed as a trainer by the Novato Institute, conventions, publications, audio or video materials, or otherwise.

• Develop, encourage and/or provide public benefit classes and instruction in somatic movement, relaxation, re-education forms and in somatic principles.

• Generally promote and develop somatic movement arts, science, philosophy and principles.

Equine Hanna Somatics Education does NOT include:

• psycho- or physical therapy

• bodywork

• massage therapy

• diagnosis of medical conditions

• prescription of medications

EHS Code of Ethics

Adherence to this Code is a prerequisite for admission to and continued membership in the AEHSE, and agreed to by all EHS Education students and graduates.

This code of ethics provides governance for three main domains of concern:

First, it specifies professional standards which allow for the proper discharge of Equine Hanna Somatics Educators' responsibilities to the clients they are serving; Secondly, it protects the integrity of Equine Hanna Somatics® Education (EHS) and the professionally certified EHS Education Practitioners; and Finally, it safeguards the interests and persons of the clients under the care of Equine Hanna Somatics® Education practitioners.

All Certified Equine Hanna Somatics Practitioners, Licensed Teachers of EHS, or Equine Practitioners-in-Training practicing under the limitations imposed upon pre-certified students of EHS, agree to:

• Hold a sincere commitment to providing the highest quality of care to all equines and persons who seek out their professional services.

• Accurately represent professional qualifications, including education and professional affiliations, and provide only those services which they qualified to perform by training and experience.

• Inform the general public, clients, and other health care practitioners accurately about the scope and limitations of EHS practices.

• Acknowledge the limitations of and contraindications to the application of EHS practices, and refer clients to appropriate health professionals as needed.

• Provide EHS only when there is a reasonable expectation that it will be advantageous to the client.

• Maintain and improve professional certifications, knowledge, and skills through ongoing assessment of professional strengths and weaknesses, and through continued education and training.

• Observe honesty and integrity in conducting all business and professional activities, and refuse to unjustly discriminate against clients or other ethical health professionals.

• Safeguard the confidentiality of all client information unless disclosure is authorized by the client, required by law or court order, or absolutely necessary for the protection of the public at large.

• Respect the client's right to receive care with informed and voluntary consent. The consent may be either written, verbal or non-verbal and will be obtained before providing any EHS education.

• Honor the client's right to refuse, request modification of, or terminate a session regardless of prior consent given.

• Ensure the safety, comfort, and privacy of all clients in their provision of care.

• Exercise their right to refuse to work with an equine/person or part of the body for reasonable cause.

• Refrain, under any circumstances, from initiating or engaging in any sexual conduct, activities, or sexualizing behavior involving a client, even if the client attempts to sexualize the relationship.

• Avoid any influences, activities or interests which might conflict with their obligation to always act in the best interests of their clients or profession.

• Clearly identify and give credit to ideas, techniques, and principles derived from other people, disciplines and methods within the field when teaching or sharing them, particularly in regards to written publications, dissertation research and training program curricula that integrate different methods of somatic movement education.

• Respect existing publishing rights, intellectual property and copyright laws, both nationally and internationally.

• Obey all applicable local, regional and national laws, including obtaining and maintaining business licensing and professional registration required by the nation, state, province, or local jurisdiction in which they practice;

DIY Instructional Video

For owners/riders who want to learn a basic full-body EHS session to help any horse.

Hands-on Guidance

Find a Certified or Student EHS Practitioner to work with you and your horse

Professional Training

Bodyworkers/vets/trainers/owners: Learn how to become a Certified Equine Hanna Somatics® Educator

Disclaimer: Equine Hanna Somatics® is not bodywork and is not a diagnostic or treatment tool. The information included on this website and in any affiliated programs is not meant to take the place of professional veterinary or medical advice, may not be current, and is subject to change without notice.

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