Get one-on-one support by booking a session with a certified Balance Through Movement Method™ Instructor
Whether you are trying to reach the next level of your training or are just starting out, our certified instructors will meet you and your horse where you are in your journey to offer tailored guidance.
Our community tag-teams on all cases, so whoever you choose to work with, you will have the support of the entire BTMM network behind you!
Celeste Lazaris is a biomechanical lameness specialist, an expert in equine movement and muscle development and a pioneer for developing the physical body to protect the nervous system.
Her primary focuses are releasing nerve impingements in the horse that cause restrictions and undiagnosed lameness, and teaching owners how to develop their horses body both in-hand and under saddle utilizing intrinsic motivation and proper movement to prevent injury and further nerve related problems.
She is highly valued by Veterinarians around the world for her ability to help them utilize a more holistic approach for lasting changes and because of her background as a professional trainer and competitive rider, she is approachable and easy to understand for trainers and adult amateurs alike.
Her work is truly revolutionary for equine performance, lameness prevention and helping the horse-human dynamic.
Best Suited For:
Complex Cases
Nerve Impingements
Veterinarians/Physiotherapists
Upper Level Competitive Riders
Advanced BTMM Exercises
BTMM SPECIALTY INSTRUCTORS
KATHERINE LOWRY
Rider Biomechanics Master, Yoga Teacher, Classical Dressage Instructor
BENSON, AZ, USA
katherine@btmmteam.com
Best Suited For:
Dressage Riders
Neurologic Cases
Riders with Complex Injuries
Horses with Complex Hind-End Injuries
Advanced BTMM Exercises
Katherine Lowry is a second generation equine professional. Her original passion was classical Dressage for its spiritual, theoretical, and philosophical advantages in the development of horse and rider. After pursuing training in a number of different disciplines including Combined Driving Western Dressage, Reining, and Eventing she developed an interdisciplinary program and has run a successful boarding and training facility for over 12 years.
After suffering an accident that left her with an injured back, concussion, and debilitating nerve pain, Katherine was pushed to look outside of equines due to a poor prognosis for recovery. She dove into how to heal with movement and massage.
Through the process of rebuilding her own body from injury she found that stepping away from the realm of classical and modern riding modalities and into more ancient movement practices allowed her - and eventually her students - to find a deeper core balance and strengthen as riders. Katherine has created a human path starting with developing connection to yourself and the world around you through breath, building to engagement and receptivity of the spine, and ending with rotational movement of the pelvis.
Katherine is available for Distance Sessions, Clinics or in-person sessions at her home ranch in Benson, Arizona.
TARA DAVIS
Master R+ And Liberty Trainer, Expert In Herd Management And Equine Psychology
HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA, USA
tara@btmmteam.com
Best Suited For:
Liberty/R+
Complex Behavior Cases
Classical Dressage Riders
Equine Lifestyle Management
With a passion for unbridled movement at the core of everything she does, Tara Davis is an equine professional who focuses on restoring balance, power, and joy to the horses through her unique horsemanship approach. With a strong foundation in classical dressage and a focus on equine psychology, she combines energetic connection and emotional development into an approach that blends science and spirituality.
Her work with rehabilitating horses has led her to a deep practice of trauma informed care for both horse and human. Tara believes in meeting each horse/human pair wherever they are at in their journey and will facilitate both “traditional” learning modalities (pressure/release based) as well as positive reinforcement and liberty horsemanship with her clients with no judgement. Her clients come to her from all fields of horsemanship, with the knowledge that better understanding our horse’s behavior and expanding our connection can help refine communication no matter what modality is used.
Tara is available for Distance Sessions and R+ clinics.
BTMM APPRENTICE INSTRUCTORS
BTMM Instructors provide 1-1 support for Pillar work in hand and under saddle. All BTMM Instructors are also certified in Lazaris Nerve Release Technique.
Best Suited For:
Behavior Cases
Connection Work
Kissing Spine
Competitive Barrel Racers
Betsy Vonda
Behavioral Specialist
Posture/Performance Educator
Apprentice BTMM Instructor
ONTARIO, CANADA
betsy@btmmteam.com
Betsy Vonda is an Equine Postural, Performance, and Behavioral Consultant residing in Ontario, Canada with a focus on equine rehabilitation, as well as starting and training horses for longevity and soundness. Betsy grew up competing in western performance disciplines and went on to being a successful competitive rider in barrel racing and pole bending.
As a coach and clinician she teaches owners how to recognize proper movement patterns and development, as well as how to improve their relationship and communication with their equine partner no matter the chosen discipline. Betsy is also a Paramedic and an Emergency Service Education Coordinator. This unique background coupled with her specialized horsemanship skills has enabled her to develop thorough physical assessment and observational skills, training in de-escalation and regulation of the nervous system, as well as a formal education in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology.
All of these things along with her kind and approachable demeanor for equestrians of all levels makes her the perfect addition to our BTMM team.
Betsy is available for Distance Sessions, Clinics.and in-person sessions in her area.
Heather Kornemann
Californio Vaquero Trainer
Hoof Expert
Apprentice BTMM Instructor
BENICIA, CA, USA
heather@btmmteam.com
Best Suited For:
All Levels
Complex Hoof and Posture Cases
General BTMM Exercises
Heather Kornemann, BTMM Certified Trainer and Instructor, Certified in Lazaris Techniques Nerve Release, California Vaquero Bridlehorseman, hoof care specialist, Owner/Trainer/Clinician and Instructor at X bar 7 Livestock and Equine Services and a full time cowboy. Yes - a Cowboy!
Her 30+ years of experience in multiple facets of the equine industry, has developed her knowledge and shaped her passion for overall horse health and soundness. Heather focuses her program on the health and development of the whole horse. Bringing horses along to be balanced in body, mind and spirit. Rehabilitating horses who suffer from postural dysfunction, anxiety, trauma and other mental/physical pain related behaviors. She places the upmost importance on educating horse owners on everything from proper hoof care to how to recognize tension and anxiety and early signs of dysfunction.
The Balance Though Movement Method is a foundational component of all training and rehabilitation. Heather is committed to her belief that training for soundness is the way to a better future for horses and their humans. Along with her continued passion for teaching the art of the Californio Bridlehorse Heather is now expanding her business to join Celeste and her team of experts to bring the BTMM to the world!
Heather is available for Distance Sessions for hoof and body evaluations and clinics on BTMM and Bridlehorse.
Best Suited For:
All Levels
In-Hand or Under Saddle
Stacia Strong
Dressage and Biomechanics Trainer
Apprentice BTMM Instructor
MOORESVILLE, NC, USA
stacia@btmmteam.com
Stacia Strong resides in Mooresville NC, where she is the owner and trainer of Southern Tier Equestrian Center. She turned her love for horses into a career at the age of 22 when she opened her first boarding and lesson barn. Fast forward through 20+ years of trials and tribulations of training and teaching in traditional methods with a background in dressage, Stacia found herself looking “outside the box” for better ways to teach her students and improve the relationship with their horses.
Her personal journey has allowed her program to evolve into mindful horsemanship, with science based rider biomechanics, that is always advocating for the betterment of the horse. Stacias kind and nurturing approach for equestrians of all levels along with her rider biomechanics experience makes her an incredible asset to the BTTM team.
Stacia is available for Distance Sessions, Clinics or in-person sessions at or near her home ranch in Mooresville, NC
Best Suited For:
Complex Bodywork Cases
In-Hand Postural Training
Under Saddle Connection Work
Yasmin Stuart
Professional Trainer
Equine Physiotherapist
Apprentice BTMM Instructor
BISHOPS STORTFORD, UNITED KINGDOM
yasmin@btmmteam.com
Yasmin Stuart is an Equine Physiotherapist and Lazaris Nerve Release Practitioner based in the UK. She is particularly passionate about the relationship between manual therapy and movement therapy to help rehabilitate from compensatory injuries such as kissing spines and sacroiliac disease, which is where Nerve Release blends beautifully into her practice.
The welfare of the horse is paramount to Yasmin's practice and she strongly believes that compassionate application of evidence based techniques is the key to a happy, healthy horse. This includes teaching movement therapies with a solid underpinning of equitation science, and manual therapies founded upon a firm understanding of equine anatomy and research around the efficacy of their application.
Yasmin is available for clinics and currently offers bodywork and lessons.
Best Suited For:
Complex Bodywork Cases
In-Hand Postural Training
Under Saddle Connection Work
Jolene Duncan
Dressage and Rider Biomechanics
Vaquero Horsemanship - Bridle Horse Progression
Colt Starting
Apprentice BTMM Instructor
SNOHOMISH, WA USA
jolene@btmmteam.com
Jolene trains horses and coaches riders, emphasizing how to progress the horse for long term soundness, both physically and mentally.
She has been horse crazy since she could talk, and although her ownership of horses was limited as a child, the exposure she had left her thinking there must be a better way.
As an adult, she pursued horsemanship. Studying and riding with some of the best in the world, Buck Brannaman, Joe Wolter, Jaton Lord, and several others, who rode and studied with the late greats, Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt.
She has also ridden with dressage clinicians, such as Henrik Johansen, and Dr. Gerd Heuschmann.
Her adoptive parents were both Physical Therapists and her lens of working with horse and rider bodies was largely impacted by her parents' passionate knowledge of how a body in motion is designed to function. The "how" and "when" different modalities contribute, or destabilize healthy movement has been an integral part of how she's approached each human and equine partnership.
As her horsemanship knowledge deepened, she realized that most horses were not being started in a way that was physically beneficial. And in fact, sometimes downright harmful. She pursued colt starting as a result of this realization, with a goal of changing how the horse world, as a whole, approaches the most influential time in a horse's career.
Niki Gibbs Wilde Broadhead
Cowboy Dressage Judge
Professional Trainer
Apprentice BTMM Instructor
HONEYVILLE, UT, USA
Best Suited For:
Cowboy Dressage Enthusiasts
Youth/Beginner BTMM Sessions
In-Hand Postural Work
Niki Wilde Broadhead has been studying Horsemanship for over 25 years. After completing the levels in the Parelli Program and riding on Pat’s Savvy Team in 2005, she continued on her journey to learn from world renowned horsemen and women such as, Karen Rohlf, Eitan Beth-Halachmy, Lyn Ringrose-Moe, Garn Walker, Jeff Sanders, Dr. Robert Miller, the legendary Jack Brainard, Craig Johnson and even traveled to Portugal to learn Classical Dressage from Señor Luis Valenca and his talented family. Most recently, Niki has been studying Celeste Leilani Lazaris’ Balance Through Movement Method. Niki graduated the BTMM Nerve Release Course, can teach the Pillars on the ground, and is currently apprenticing to be able to teach them while riding.
Niki is an Endorsed Cowboy Dressage Clinician and Judge, recently judging at Cowboy Dressage World Finals. She continues to travel around the world to teach people and their horses. Niki has been focused on every facet of a horse’s life; handling hundreds of foals and young horses to starting them under saddle, and working with hundreds more problem horses and their owners. While her study of horses is extensive, it is not her primary objective. She wants to help others to be able to train and enjoy their own horses. Her intense study and real world practice led her to make a promise she would have a place where anyone, and any horse, could come to learn.
Her motto is; “Where the horse, not the sport, comes first” and it is still her guiding principle.
She wants to empower other people to become students of the horse. She wants to help you find the love, peace, and joy in helping your horse overcome the obstacles that could be in the way of building a partnership where anything is possible.
Niki is available for clinics and lessons.
Jodi Pierce
Equine Massage Therapist
Apprentice BTMM Instructor
BRISTOL, VT, USA
Best Suited For:
In-Hand Work
Bodywork, Muscles, Biomechanics
Communication Techniques
Jodi Pierce resides in Bristol, VT where she owns & operates Better Horse Bodyworks. As a horseless rider, she has worked in many different facilities, with different breeds, training methods, and disciplines. The highlights include Dude Ranches, OSU Polo club (where she met her spouse), an Equine Assisted Therapy barn for emotionally challenged kids, and Legerte Dressage Pedagogy Student training.
For the past seven years, ever since she bought her first horse, her focus has been on Holistic Horse Management, Bodywork, & Biomechanics. She left her career as a Science Teacher to become certified in Equine Massage Therapy. Since then she has continued to educate herself and added Canine Massage, Reiki, & Lazaris Nerve Technique certifications. Her approach with horses (and dogs) is hands-on, intuitive, heart-centered, and horse-led. She is excited and honored to be a BTMM trainer and excels at In-hand Halter & Bridle Pillars while she continues to train in the Under Saddle work.
Jodi is available for Distance Sessions, Clinics or in-person sessions around Bristol, VT and surrounding areas.
BTMM TRANSITION COACH
DANIELLE CROWELL
Balance through Movement Method™ Transition Coach and Certified Lazaris Nerve Release Technique™ Practitioner
NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
danielle@btmmteam.com
Best Suited For Equestrians:
Looking to connect to their body, breath, and emotions
Struggling with not riding or their identity as an equestrian
Feeling stuck
Ready to work on themselves, rather than just their horse
Danielle Crowell is a registered 500-hour Yoga Teacher, Pilates Instructor, and Personal Trainer. She is also a certified Life Coach and Girl's Self-Esteem Coach™, studying to become an NLP practitioner, and a Lazaris Nerve Release Technique™ certified practitioner.
Growing up in a traditional equestrian environment of weekly riding lessons, Pony Club, and summers spent at local hunter/jumper competitions, Danielle’s experience as a horse owner was flipped on its head when her mare Sota came into her life in 2018. As her then four-year-old mare slowly deteriorated mentally and physically, Danielle felt powerless not knowing how to help. The pair spent four years struggling to find answers from a slew of professionals. While her young horse became increasingly aggressive and sore, Danielle dealt with feelings of guilt, shame, helplessness, loneliness, and anxiety. She lost confidence in her abilities, lost trust in her intuition, and looked to others for answers. After discovering BTMM in February 2022, the pair started a whole new journey together. Today, Danielle and Sota have an undeniable bond… but it didn’t come without a lot of inner work on Danielle’s end.
Danielle’s journey involved connecting with her body, breath, and inner thoughts. It required her to reflect on her identity as an equestrian, the role that her ego played in her emotions, and to understand her worth and her horse’s worth - regardless of whether or not riding was involved. Today, Danielle’s intention is to help other horse owners and equestrians through their journey. She understands the emotions that are intertwined in our equine relationships and wants to help others “work through the muck,” as she calls it, of inner work in order to come out stronger on the other side. Her sessions can involve a blend of no-judgement discussion, breathwork, journaling prompts, and mind-body connection. They can be done with your horse or without (ideally in a safe space you can feel comfortable releasing emotion and moving if needed).
Danielle is available for distance sessions, events, and in-person sessions in her area.
