The Equicizer™ is used by many of the world's top equestrians - learn how it might help you!

 

Click on the area of riding that most interests you and meet some of our Experts:

• Western Riders

• English Riders

• Therapeutic

• Racing

• Exercise & Fitness

• Centered Riding Instructors

 

Western Riders

 

 

 

 

English Riders

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Dr. Maria Katsamanis is a horse trainer, clinician and psychologist. This combination has helped her work with horse and human alike. Her equine background is broad.  She studied in Greece, France, and the United States and was influenced by classical trainers such as Dominique Barbier and Walter Zettl.  Her early equestrian career included working as an exercise rider for a French racing barn.  Her riding career has been largely as an  exhibition rider.  Katsamanis is part of a select few trainers, outside of India, that have worked with the rare and exotic Marwari horses.  She co-authored the book "The Alchemy of Lightness" where the concept of Molecular Equitation is introduced to the equestrian community.  She is able to help demystify and explain the elements of equitation that are key in helping riders establish the ultimate connection with their  horses.  Her explanations of the barriers and myths that block the path between horse and rider help to free the rider to connect with their mounts, making the dance accessible to anyone regardless of age or breed.  Maria uses the Equicizer as a staple in the multiple clinics she holds throughout the year. To learn more about Dr. Maria Katsamanis, please visit: http://www.mariakatsamanis.com/

 

 

 

Therapeutic

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Brent Applegate 

Brent Applegate, who is a physical therapist, grew up on a Texas farm but it wasn’t until his preparation for physical therapy school years later that he became reacquainted with horses through the largely unknown world of  ‘hippotherapy’. After five years of working as a clinical therapist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, he was asked to begin a hippotherapy program for them and hasn’t looked back since. In 2005 Brent started My Heroes, llc at  Chastain Horse Park in Atlanta, GA and in the fall of 2011 he moved his family  to the front range of Colorado to begin a second program at the Equine Center at  Colorado State University.​ Brent is a big fan of the Equicizer and uses it extensively throughout his program. To learn more about Brent Applegate and his organization, please visit: http://www.myheroestherapy.com/

 

Lisa Wysocky

Lisa Wysocky is an Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies Expert. Along with this, she is an author, equine clinician, and motivational speaker who also trains horses for and consults with therapeutic riding programs across the country. Born in Minneapolis and raised in a nearby suburb, in her teens a riding instructor taught Lisa that by striving to be the best you can be, you often become the best anyone can be. That concept of success, and the instructor's insistence that how you won in the show ring--or in life--was more important than what you won, changed her life. To learn more about Lisa, visit: LisaWysocky.com

 

Chithra Rogers

Chithra Rogers passion for horses started as early as her childhood days. She is highly experienced in horse riding, horse stable management and special needs training. Her training in special needs comes from years of volunteering and working closely with mild to severe autistic children in various organizations in both Singapore and Australia. After completing her academic qualifications in Learning Disorders Management and Child Psychology as well as in Special Education, she is now waiting to pursue her Masters in Special Education. She is a member of PATH International and an EAL Facilitator trainee from Strides to Success in Indiana (USA) where she is enrolled in the HorseWork Facilitator Training program.

Driven by her strong desire and passion to help children with special needs, Chithra has opened the first of it's kind, safe and highly innovative indoor therapeutic horse riding school using the Equicizer. The training uses a holistic approach incorporating medical, emotional and financial needs of the family and children involved. Click here to learn more about Chithra and how the Equicizer is used as a main component in her program "Healing Horses Singapore".

 

Sandy Lovato

Sandy Lovato was a life-long horseman, mother of 3 and wife of Equicizer creator, Frankie Lovato, Jr. Her passion for horses and helping others was the inspiration behind the founding of Stampede of Dreams Therapeutic Riding Program in Norwalk, Ohio. There Sandy served as the Program Director and PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor from 2009 to 2014, when she suddenly passed away in a car accident. Sandy is missed dearly by all. You may enjoy this video demonstration made by Sandy on the Equicizer and it's use in EAAT: The Equicizer being used for Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies VIDEO

  

 

Now that you have met some of our Experts using the Equicizer for therapeutic purposes,

click here to visit our page dedicated to Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies for Programs, Homes & Clinical Uses.

 

Racing

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Frank Lovato, Jr.

Frank Lovato, Jr., known as "Frankie," was a professional jockey for 25 years. In 1980 he won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, one of horse racing's highest honors. After a riding accident left him with a broken leg in 1981, unable to find something that could get him race-fit again without the risk of getting on real horses, he created a wooden mechanical horse to help with his rehabilitation. This was the birth of the Equicizer, which is now used by all kinds of riders all over the world for exercise, training and therapy. Upon his retirement in 2004, Lovato devoted himself entirely to making Equicizers and continuing to educate those wanted to make a career out of or learn more about the horse racing industry.

In 2009 Lovato created his now annual "Jockey Camp" where students of all ages come from around the nation to learn more about the racing industry, including what it takes to become jockeys and exercise riders. In 2010 he released his "What It Takes To Be A Jockey" DVD and his travel size "Frank Lovato, Jr's Racing Terminology Booklet" with over 450 racing terms. In 2011 Lovato founded "Jockey World" a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization that provides knowledge, including guidance in health and safety, for those desiring to have a career or just learn more about the racing industry, and an educational radio program - "Jockey World Radio" - frequently featuring top industry leaders as guests.

Lovato is constantly coming up with fun and exciting educational tools for racing enthusiasts and in 2013, he took on a "365 Days of Racing Terminology" video series challenge, using terms from his term booklet.

 

Exercise & Fitness

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Heather Sansom 

Heather Sansom is a certified personal trainer and equestrian coach and has been involved in fitness and competitive sport for over 25 years, and in equestrianism for just over 30 years. Heather's equestrian involvement includes some experiences in eventing, competitive trail and endurance training, hunter, fox-hunting, polo, natural horsemanship and her core discipline: classical dressage.  She and her current horse were provincial champion at the Jeux Equestres du Quebec in 2004 in Level 2.  She is currently training in Dressage at Level 4. In addition to training clients and conducting clinics and workshops, Heather speaks on topics related to fitness for all ages, as well as sport conditioning specifically for equestrians. Heather has published over 100 articles in national and international online and print magazines on topics related to sport conditioning and fitness. Heather is also an Equine Canada Competition Coach (English disciplines) and a Certified Level 1 Centered Riding Instructor. Learn more at Equifitt.com.

 

Centered Riding^® Instructors

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Kathy Culler

Her Equicizer “Tuxedo II” has proven to be a popular and valuable teaching tool. In Kathy's own words, "Riders are often amazed at the enhanced awareness and sensitivity that they experience on the Equicizer. Also, because it doesn’t fidget, spook, buck or bolt, it provides the ideal platform for performing rider bodywork and gives the riders complete freedom to explore their own alignment and balance—while still or in motion. Riders can take what they learn on the Equicizer directly into the next ride on their own horse." Contact Kathy at kathyculler@verizon.net.