To keep your horse happy and healthy, and able to train and compete to the best of his ability, a regimen that regularly includes effective bodywork can be truly beneficial for maintaining optimum health and decreasing time spent recovering from injury.
Mandy Collier, BS, ESMT, MMCP
Equine Bodyworker & Lifelong Horse Girl
Mandy owns and operates Optimum Equine LLC providing integrated equine bodywork in the Pittsburgh area and its surrounding communities. Her practice focuses on hands-on techniques based on the principles of traditional sports massage therapy and the well-known Masterson Method. Bodywork sessions are enhanced by the use of SureFoot equine balance pads and red/near-infrared light therapy.
Mandy was first inspired to pursue a career in equine massage therapy by her heart horse, Charlie Brown, who benefited greatly from a variety of therapies to help him feel his best while competing in dressage. The pair earned their USDF Bronze Medal together and competed at the US Dressage Finals in 2014.
It was her young mare that inspired her to learn more about healing at a deeper, nervous system-level and Mandy began to pursue her Masterson Method certification and to integrate alternate modalities and therapies like SureFoot equine balance pads. These methods have become important tools in her bodywork practice, enabling deeper healing with horses who are anxious, sensitive to touch, or have become so guarded and braced in their bodies that these gentler techniques are the only way to unlock them and reach the parasympathetic nervous system to let relaxation and healing begin.
Mandy holds a neuroscience degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and frequently experiences satisfying full circle moments while working on horses and revisiting her nervous system anatomy and physiology roots. In addition to her bodywork business, she works in a mental health research lab and enjoys the not-always-obvious connections between emotional and physical healing, even across species.
Education & Awards
2008: Competed at IHSA Regional Finals
Received NIMH Undergraduate Research Fellowship
2009: Competed at IHSA Regional & Zone Finals
Completed Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh
2010: Competed in dressage for the first time, received Year End Award at Training Level
2014: Competed at USDF Regionals and Finals at Training Level
2015: Competed at USDF Regionals at First Level
2016: Earned USDF Bronze Medal with her own Charlie Brown
2017: Trained in equine sports massage therapy with Mary Schreiber and received ESMT certification (Round Hill, VA)
2021: Completed Masterson Method Equine Integrated Bodywork weekend course (Portland, OR)
Completed Masterson Method Advanced Training Course with Coralie Hughes (Indianapolis, IN)
2022: Trained in the use of SureFoot equine balance pad system for proprioceptive therapy with Wendy Murdoch (Gettysburg, PA)
Completed Masterson Method Fieldwork Block 1 with Becky Tenges and Block 1 Coaching with Terry Crisafulli (Pittsburgh, PA)
2023: Completed SureFoot case study program and received 1HOOF Practitioner certification
Completed Masterson Method Fieldwork Block 2 with Becky Tenges and Block 2 Coaching with Terry Crisafulli (Olean, NY)
Enrolled in Balance Through Movement Method Masterclass with Celeste Lazaris
Completed Masterson Method Fieldwork Block 3 with Becky Tenges and Block 2 Coaching (Cedarburg, WI)
Successfully passed Masterson Method Certification Testing (Cedarburg, WI)
Began private lessons in the Balance Through Movement Method with Stacia Strong
2024: Attended Healthy Training Up the Levels Dressage Symposium with Master Manolo Mendez and Jillian Kreinbring (Reston, VA)
Enrolled in the Balance Through Movement Method Nerve Release Course with Celeste Lazaris and Katherine Lowry