Equine Flexion Therapy taught by Dan Marcum

EFT 4 Day Clinics

See Calendar of Events for dates

Day 1

EFT Treatments 

$200.00 each horse

2 hours per horse. Dan Marcum will perform

Flexion Therapy on your horse.

Day 2

EFT - A System for Horse Owners Clinic

$200.00 each person

8 hours class, Dan will teach horse owners how to

perform EFT on their OWN horse.

more information below

Days 3 & 4

EFT School

$600.00 per person

3 days class, 8 hours per day. Days 2, 3, 4 complete this class.

Dan will teach you to massage by hand,

perform flexion exams and deep motion flexing.

You will receive a certificate for this course.

more information below

If at the end of the clinic you decide to further your training,

you may apply the $200 towards the 3 day

$600 course and attend day 3 & 4 that weekend.

Equine Flexion Therapy- A System for Horse Owners

$200.00 - 8 hour clinic

See Calendar of Events for dates.

Even the most cared for horse can have performance issues from time to time.

Does any of this sound familiar?

            Stiffness (maybe worse on one side)

            Problems bending

            Sore back

            Tail Switching

            Short striding

            High head

            Hard to get leads

If your horse exhibits any of these behaviors, he may benefit from Equine Flexion Therapy.

Learn how you can keep your horse flexible and supple; more comfortable and able to perform better. Using techniques including deep motion flexing and massage you can keep your horse feeling his best. Flexing is for normal problems such as stiffness, irritability, tail switching, and stifle problems. As well as for saddle soreness for riding and handling feet; it is excellent for event, lame or foundered horses.

Equine Flexion Therapy

3 day school

See Calendar of Events for dates.

Equine Flexion Therapist Requirements

You will receive an EFT Certificate.   $600.00

1. Must attend either an Equine Flexion Therapy clinic, or an Equine Flexion Therapy, a system for horse owner's clinic.

2. Must take Basic Massage course.

3. Must have a strong basic knowledge of the musculoskeletal system.

4. Must have the ability  to do a basic EFT examination

5. Must be capable and knowledgeable to do Deep Motion Flexing.

6. Must be able to identify muscles and their action (can refer to literature)

7. Must be able to massage a horse by hand.

8. Must be able to pass Examination, hands on, and written tests.

Certified Equine Flexion Therapist Requirements (CEFT)

You will receive an EFT Certification.  $600.00

1. Must be an equine Flexion Therapist for one (1) year by attending the previous 3 day class.

2. Must have knowledge of tendons, ligaments, and bones from the knee of the front leg, and the hock down.

3. Must be able to identify major muscle groups and their actions without referring to any literature.

4. Must be able to perform an advanced examination on a horse.

5. Must have knowledge and a working understanding of basic gaits of a horse.

6. Must be able to speak publically and talk about Equine Flexion Therapy, the skeleton and its purpose, muscles and their actions and what Equine Therapy can do for them, and their horse.

7. Must document exams and therapy of 120 horses.

Certified Journeyman Equine Flexion Therapist Requirements (JEFT)

You will receive an EFT Certification.  $600.00

1. Must be a Certified Equine Flexion Therapist for one (1) year by attending the previous 3 day classes.

2. Must be able to do various clinical and flexion tests on joints.

3. Must be able to perform hock tests, stifle tests, hip tests and be able to check for sore tendons and ligaments.

4. Must be ale to understand and identify causes and effects.

5. Must be able to identify superficial and deep muscles and their actions.

6. Must be able to give Equine Flexion Therapy hands on clinics.

7. Must have and advanced working knowledge of pressure points, stress points, and some acupressure points.

Master Equine Flexion Therapist Requirements (MEFT)

You will receive an EFT Certification.  $600.00

1. Must be a Certified Journeyman Flexion Therapist for two (2) years by attending the previous 3 day classes

2. Must have experience in public relations, and/or media, and/or advertizing, and/or organizing clinics, and/or etc.

3. Must have experience in giving clinics.

4. Must have experience in testing and evaluating students.

Required: The book "Beating Muscles" by Jack Meager. All students will need to purchase their own book separate from the fee and Dan will give the information on where and how to purchase.

About Dan Marcum

  Dan Marcum was born in Driggs, Idaho where he grew up working with horses. In the winter he drove sleighs and spent his summers packing in the mountains. In 1980, he moved to Texas and by 1989 had settled in Kirbyville. He married his wife Kathy in 1992. Dan's daughter, Annie, works for them as a trainer and Kathy's son, Travis, helps out with the maintenance. Karen Ross and Hannah Brook round out the training staff.

  The Marcum's operate an all breed training barn, working with a wide variety of horses. They especially enjoy the Pleasure type Pintos. They attended their first Pinto show in 1994 at the Pinto National Show, and have been back every year since then. One of the things they love about Pintos is the diversity. It fits in with their "specialty" all around horses.

  From 1995-2000, the Marcum's competed with Oshquah , a half-Arabian stallion co-owned by them and Mimi Hoppe Wolf. Over those years, he won the PtHA High Point Pleasure type saddle four times and racked up eleven National World titles and 20 Reserve titles. He was also a PtHA Supreme Champion. Many of his offspring are already following in his footsteps, earning PtHA World Champion titles themselves. 

  Dan is a professional Farrier certified by the BWFA (Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association) and an Equine Adjuster who has devoted his career to the care of the overall horse. This has led him to develop the EFT (Equine Flexion Therapy) techniques.

Also Taught by Dan Marcum

6 Steps for Exercising and Controlling Your Horse

$200.00 per owner with your horse & tack-8 hour class

See Calendar of Events for dates.

Not every horse can be an all around horse, but with the training program utilized by Dan Marcum, the ultimate goal is to produce a horse that is calm, willing, supple and able to perform well in whatever discipline he is suited for.

Many of the horses started with Marcum can easily walk, trot and canter with control at the end of 30 days.

These "Six Warm Up Exercises"  developed by Dan is a series of movements that teach the horse balance and lateral work.

Step 1: Walk On A Circle

The horse should travel in a large circle with both front and back feet traveling in the same track. All angles of the steps should be the same. The key is to use inside pressure with a dominant outside rein and gentle rhythmic tugs to keep the head down. The goal is to raise the horse's back, lower his head, and turn with the outside rein.

Step 2: Bend to the Inside

Bend the horse until the head and neck drop and the nose comes in slightly at a 30 degree angle to the circle. Use a soft rein, with the horses' legs staying on the circle. The key is to use the inside leg pressure with the dominant inside rein pulling toward the rider's inside hip. The goal is to get the horse flexible and obedient to the aids.

Step 3: Double Circles

Begin with step 2, and then push the haunches to the outside of the circle. The front legs travel on the circle, the back legs on a slightly larger circle. The key is to use the inside leg pressure behind the girth, with a dominant inside rein pulling toward the rider's inside hip. The goal is to encourage the horse to reach under more with his inside hind leg and move his legs laterally.

Step 4: Uni-lateral Leg Yield

Begin with step 2, and then push the horse so he is leading with his outside shoulder into a larger circle. The key is to use the inside leg pressure while moving the inside rein to the rider's outside shoulder. The goal is to keep the horse flexible and obedient to the aids.

Step 5: Bi-lateral Leg Yield

Begin with step 1, and then push the horse laterally out, evenly on the circle. The key is to use the inside leg pressure with equal reins moving slightly to the inside. The goal is to collect the horse and make him obedient to aids.

Step 6: Hindquarter Circles

Begin with step 1, and then turn the horse so that the haunches remain in a small circle, yet the shoulders rotate around. The key is to use the outside leg pressure behind the girth with a dominant outside rein. Keep the inside leg off the horse. The goal is to make the horse obedient to aids.

All of these exercises help build a solid foundation for the horse. They are also an excellent way for a new rider to learn how to control their horse and how much rein or leg pressure is needed for certain maneuvers.