History of Tellington TTouch®
Linda Tellington-Jones began to develop Tellington TTouch® Method 32 years ago. The method is nowadays a recognized approach to handling, training and rehabilitation of all living beings of the world. Over the years the method has developed, expanded and enriched on the basis of positive effects.
Origins of the method were passed to Linda by her grandfather, Will Caywood. He presented her ancient horse massage technique of Russian Gypsies in the 1960s. Linda's grandfather got to know the massage technique during his work in Russia where he used it on daily on racing horses he cared for. Soon he realized that massaged horses achieved better results in races. He received the title of Leading Trainer at the Moscow Hippodrome Racetrack for his unique work with horses.
Linda used the massage, composed of short, sliding strokes on her performance horses for faster recovery after different types of competitions.
In 1975, Linda attended training of Feldenkrais method for people in order to improve athletic ability of her riders. The usefulness of the method has impressed her and it did not take long that she applied the techniques to horses as well. The method improved responses and behavior of the horse.
Linda combined her grandfather’s method and the Feldenkrais method, and connected horses’ unwanted behavioral patterns with pain, fear and stress, which gave her a completely different insight into the horses’ physical and emotional nature. With this knowledge, Linda has developed a new, different system of approach to training and care of the horses known as TEAM® (Tellington Equine Awareness Method). TEAM® Method based on the identification of horse's behavior, conditioned by the physical welfare of the horse and also on learning and training horses without force.
The main turning point in the history of Tellington TTouch® Method was in 1980 when Linda put her hands on the mare, which responded to petting, grooming and saddling with nervousness and aggression (ears were laid back, she gnashed with her teeth and tried to kick). Linda intended to carry out some Feldenkrais technique on the mare, but her fingers suddenly began to move the horse's skin in a circle and the quarter. The response of mare was surprising. Mare relaxed, accepted Linda's touch, dropped her head and took a deep breath. When the surprised owner of the mare asked what she was doing, she instinctively replied: "I am eliminating the fear at the cellular level." At that time, something like that was unthinkable but subsequent researches have proven the impact of Tellington TTouch® touches on the cellular level.
After this event, Linda dedicated more and more consideration and attention to circular motion and its impact on the body of the horse. She started to develop a variety of circular techniques. In 1983, the special touches and ground work got the formal name, known as Tellington TTouch®.
Initially the method was intended for horses - Tellington TTouch® for horses. Due to the positive effects and good responses of horses and owners, the method also began to be used on other animals under the name of Tellington TTouch® for dogs and other animals.
Linda’s sister Robyn Hood accompanies her on TTouch® path, and she is closely involved in the development of methods. With her realistic approach Robyn has had big influence on the scientific aspect of the method.
Numerous studies regarding the impact of Tellington TTouch® Method on the body have been conducted in the past years. Research has shown the strong effect on the cellular level and the impact on brain waves as well.
More research can be found on the official website: http://www.ttouch.com/researchStudies.shtml.
After the influence of the method on physical body was scientifically proven, they stared to apply it on humans, and is currently used by people all around the world. So now we have three branches of Tellington TTouch® Method: Tellington TTouch® Method for horses, Tellington TTouch® Method for dogs and other animals, and Tellington TTouch® Method for you.
Origins of the method were passed to Linda by her grandfather, Will Caywood. He presented her ancient horse massage technique of Russian Gypsies in the 1960s. Linda's grandfather got to know the massage technique during his work in Russia where he used it on daily on racing horses he cared for. Soon he realized that massaged horses achieved better results in races. He received the title of Leading Trainer at the Moscow Hippodrome Racetrack for his unique work with horses.
Linda used the massage, composed of short, sliding strokes on her performance horses for faster recovery after different types of competitions.
In 1975, Linda attended training of Feldenkrais method for people in order to improve athletic ability of her riders. The usefulness of the method has impressed her and it did not take long that she applied the techniques to horses as well. The method improved responses and behavior of the horse.
Linda combined her grandfather’s method and the Feldenkrais method, and connected horses’ unwanted behavioral patterns with pain, fear and stress, which gave her a completely different insight into the horses’ physical and emotional nature. With this knowledge, Linda has developed a new, different system of approach to training and care of the horses known as TEAM® (Tellington Equine Awareness Method). TEAM® Method based on the identification of horse's behavior, conditioned by the physical welfare of the horse and also on learning and training horses without force.
The main turning point in the history of Tellington TTouch® Method was in 1980 when Linda put her hands on the mare, which responded to petting, grooming and saddling with nervousness and aggression (ears were laid back, she gnashed with her teeth and tried to kick). Linda intended to carry out some Feldenkrais technique on the mare, but her fingers suddenly began to move the horse's skin in a circle and the quarter. The response of mare was surprising. Mare relaxed, accepted Linda's touch, dropped her head and took a deep breath. When the surprised owner of the mare asked what she was doing, she instinctively replied: "I am eliminating the fear at the cellular level." At that time, something like that was unthinkable but subsequent researches have proven the impact of Tellington TTouch® touches on the cellular level.
After this event, Linda dedicated more and more consideration and attention to circular motion and its impact on the body of the horse. She started to develop a variety of circular techniques. In 1983, the special touches and ground work got the formal name, known as Tellington TTouch®.
Initially the method was intended for horses - Tellington TTouch® for horses. Due to the positive effects and good responses of horses and owners, the method also began to be used on other animals under the name of Tellington TTouch® for dogs and other animals.
Linda’s sister Robyn Hood accompanies her on TTouch® path, and she is closely involved in the development of methods. With her realistic approach Robyn has had big influence on the scientific aspect of the method.
Numerous studies regarding the impact of Tellington TTouch® Method on the body have been conducted in the past years. Research has shown the strong effect on the cellular level and the impact on brain waves as well.
More research can be found on the official website: http://www.ttouch.com/researchStudies.shtml.
After the influence of the method on physical body was scientifically proven, they stared to apply it on humans, and is currently used by people all around the world. So now we have three branches of Tellington TTouch® Method: Tellington TTouch® Method for horses, Tellington TTouch® Method for dogs and other animals, and Tellington TTouch® Method for you.