EQ900: Anatomy Discovery Workshop (Clay & Hands-On)

*This course has been approved for 56 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.

Learning equine anatomy should be fun and interactive. It should not entail memorizing! After this class, when someone asks about a muscle, you will actively recall building it on the Equiken® model in clay. You will remember where and how you felt it on the horse (or located for deeper muscles). Memorization is just not the way most brains work! Experience (build, associate, palpate), store (your brain makes notes) and then recall – that’s the ticket. This course utilizes the brilliant system developed by Jon Zahourek, founder of ANATOMY IN CLAY® Learning Systems.

We have a blast at this course! Some participants may consider it an art class, but artistic skills are not necessary. So much information is shared among the participants, loads of questions are explored, light bulbs are constantly going on and huge smiles of comprehension continue throughout the duration of the workshop.

The difference between the average equine bodyworker and a great one is accuracy. Anyone in the equine healthcare profession – whether you use your hands, tools or machines – will find this is a great opportunity to expand and enhance skills. This course is also useful for the trainer or rider because analytical skills are honed after understanding the structure of the horse. This knowledge improves your riding and teaching skills.

This seven-day course is taught in increments in a study group format with a hands-on approach. It is run in 3 days on, one day off for self-study and finishes with another 3 days on. Using bones, models, visuals, books, hand-outs, reference material and live horses, Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW will lead and direct the group. Students will work in teams of two, building the muscles on the Equiken® models at a comfortable pace, researching each muscle as the building progresses. Students become very familiar with various published books, publications and internet resources during the course, thus enabling them to better research anatomy. Students will have a chance to ensure they have understood the information by completing a self-assessment before the beginning of each class. Students are responsible for attending all six days of class in the classroom and are expected to spend the off day reviewing material for at least 8 hours.

This is not like those anatomy classes you’ve attended with a dry lecturer reciting from a book. Debranne’s wit and style make this a fun course. She uses various approaches that leave you with the increased knowledge to continue on in your own studies. Past students rave about this course and return year after year.

Please note that registration for this class closes 30 days prior to the course start date to ensure the appropriate number of models are ordered.

*This class runs from 8:00am-5:30pm daily with 30 minutes for lunch and an additional 3 hours of evening studies.  Day 4 is spent out-of-class for independent study.

The Equiken® models used for the course were created by Jon Zahourek of Anatomy in Clay® Learning Systems. Anatomy in Clay offers several courses at their Colorado, USA base. Have a look at www.anatomyinclay.com for additional courses on equine, canine and human anatomy. Please register directly with them for those courses or write to info@anatomyinclay.com for dates and costs. The 6-day courses that are taught there are suitable for the required anatomy modules for continued education.

ANATOMY IN CLAY® and EQUIKEN® are registered trademarks of Zahourek Systems, Inc. or affiliates in the US or other countries. Authorization for limited trademark use licensed by Zahourek Systems, Inc., a sole provider of Anatomy in Clay® Learning System. www.anatomyinclay.com or as otherwise requested by Zahourek.

© Zahourek Systems, Inc. and affiliates. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied, rewritten, broadcasted, or redistributed. Authorization for limited copyright use licensed by Zahourek Systems, Inc., a sole provider of Anatomy in Clay® Learning System. www.anatomyinclay.com or as otherwise requested by Zahourek.

Vocabulary

• Anatomy Vocabulary
• Directional Terms
• Veterinary Terms

Skeletal Structure

• Form and Function
• Skeletal  Organization
• Thoracic and Pelvic Appendicular System
• Axial Skeletal System
• Bony Landmark and Surface Anatomy Identification

Muscle Structure

• Function and Form
• Intrinsic and Extrinsic Muscles
• Relationship to Orientation
• Deep, Middle and Superficial Layer Major Muscles
• Reciprocal Apparatus
• Passive Stay Apparatus of the Hind and Forelimb
• Injuries and Issues Relating to Muscles

Course Practicals:

• Building Individual Muscles in Clay Using the Equiken® Professional Model
• Locating and Marking the Bony Landmarks on the Horse
• Locating, Isolating and Marking the Muscles on the Horse

Students must review the veterinary vocabulary and terms, skeletal anatomy and bony landmarks in the EQ50 Equine Anatomy Precourse Distance Study course prior to attending the EQ900. (This is the precourse used for the Equinology® Equine Body Worker Certification Courses so it is not necessary to redo for those having participated in the EEBW course.)

If you feel you are already well versed in vocabulary and the musculoskeletal system, please contact the office to waive this prerequisite.

*This course is required for the Equinology ® Equine Body Worker Level II certification. A second anatomy course is required for the Equinology ® Master Equine Body Worker certification.

Required Text:
Students should bring either the Anatomy of Equine Bodywork: The Equinology Approach textbook by Debranne Pattillo
(may be purchased here) OR the Equinology Equine Anatomy Learning Aid (available in the app store).  Many students find it helpful to have the app on their phone for reference during the hands-on labs.

Course Materials (included in tuition):
Rental of Equiken® Model and Clay Supplies
Course Workbook & Handouts

Externship (included in tuition):
Externship Grading (Case Studies and Visual Presentation)

If possible, please bring at least one of the following anatomy books to class:
Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy: The Horse Volume 2 by Ashdown and Done
Atlas of Equine Anatomy by Chris Pasquini
Clinical Anatomy of the Horse by Clayton and Flood

Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW, MSc.(h.c.), ASTR

Debranne’s unique vision blends the precision of a bodyworker with the creativity of an artist, allowing her to perceive equine anatomy through a dual lens. Her teaching is a joyful fusion of the meticulous anatomical accuracy required for expert bodywork and the lively unpredictability of working with living, breathing, and often opinionated horses. With an artist’s eye, Debranne can deconstruct the equine body from skin to bone and then reassemble it—whether through detailed drawings, “air massages,” building the muscles inside out in clay with the Equiken® Learning System, or vibrant chalk paintings on live horses. This distinctive approach fuels her passion as a practitioner of equine bodywork and sports massage, making her a highly sought-after instructor. Her renowned “Painted Horse,” a cornerstone of Equinology since its inception in 1994, was even featured on the UK’s BBC program “Countryfile” in 2001.

Her book, Anatomy of Equine Bodywork: The Equinology® Approach, first published in 2018, encapsulates over 30 years of her experience, knowledge, techniques, and applications. The book includes contributions from esteemed professionals such as Dr. Peter Flood, Dr. Kerry Ridgway, Dr. Barb Crabbe, Kalyani Premkumar, and Dr. Joanna Robson. The text is brought to life by fresh illustrations from Celia Strain, Laurie O’Keefe, and Catherine Twomey, all acclaimed medical illustrators. In 2019, she launched the Equine Anatomy Learning Aid app, which complements both the book and Equinology courses. A canine version is expected to be released in late 2025, along with several eBooks and online courses tailored for professionals, trainers, and owners.

Since 1994, Debranne has been the lead instructor for more than 400 equine sports massage and anatomy courses, teaching over 4,000 participants across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., South Africa, New Zealand, and beyond. She holds the Equinology® Master Equine Body Worker Certification, a rigorous qualification requiring over 2,000 hours of coursework. Debranne is the author and facilitator of the unique Equinology® Equine Body Worker Certification Course, the signature program of Equinology. This course serves as a professional qualification within the BSc in Equine Sports Therapy presented by Writtle Agricultural College and the University of Essex in the U.K. In recognition of her contributions to equine education, Writtle University awarded Debranne an Honorary Master of Sciences Degree in 2019.

Debranne is also the co-founder and past Chair of the U.S. division of the International Equine Body Worker Association (IEBWA), an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting ethical practices in equine bodywork. She currently serves as the Division Head of the IEBWA for the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. A regularly invited lecturer and guest speaker, Debranne has given presentations on anatomy, stretching, and massage at colleges, universities, private educational institutions, and various equestrian venues.

In addition to authoring Equinology’s certification courses, Debranne has been featured in numerous international publications. Her work has also been highlighted in regional newspapers and on various websites.

A $350 deposit is required to hold your spot in a course – the remainder of the tuition is due at least 45 days prior to the course start date (60 days for international instructors). The $350 deposit is nonrefundable and nontransferable, and is credited to the total tuition for the course. Confirmation letters, course outlines, required pre-study (if applicable), directions and lodging options will be sent when the $350 deposit has been received.