Tellington TTouch^®: The Touch That Teaches and TTEAM^®

Linda Tellington-Jones developed TTEAM - the Tellington TTouch Equine Awareness Method - and Tellington TTouch to help you create a more wonderful partnership with your horse, dog, cat, bird, bunny or another animal companion. Her method develops a deeper understanding of animals and ourselves and helps to heal our relationships with each other, nature and the environment. TTEAM and TTouch are successful with:

• Horses
• Dogs
• Cats
• Birds
• Ferrets
• Bunnies
• Reptiles
• Camelids
• Pocket Pets
• Farm Animals
• Wildlife and Zoo Animals
• Any other Animal
• "TTouch for You!" (We humans too!)

WHAT IS TTOUCH?

Tellington TTouch is a gentle, hands-on method that

• Improves behavior
• Enhances healing and health
• Develops an animal's ability to learn without fear or force
• Deepens the bond between humans and animals

The cornerstone of TTouch is bodywork including circular movements and lifts all over the body. Although it might look a bit like massage, the intent of the TTouch is to work at the cellular level to increase an animal's awareness and enhance his or her ability to learn and focus.

In addition to the bodywork, animals may go through a Confidence Course (the Playground of Higher Learning) that involves obstacles and ground exercises that promote balance and coordination, concentration, obedience and willingness to cooperate. The work also incorporates body wraps and other tools to aid in reaching these goals.

There are dozens of TTouches - most have been given animal names to create a visual image for each TTouch and make them fun and easy to learn. Each TTouch is used for a different purpose. For example, Clouded Leopard TTouches (using the finger pads) develop awareness of the whole body and release fear. Abalone TTouches (whole hand) promote relaxation and trust. Raccoon TTouches (finger tips) help reduce swelling and pain.

HOW TO DO TTOUCH

The Clouded Leopard TTouch is one of the basic TTouches. Imagine the face of a clock on your animal's body, with 6 o'clock toward the ground. Place the pads of your lightly curved fingers softly on the body at 6 o'clock, and your thumb 2 to 3 inches from the fingers. Using the fingerpads, push the skin in a circle and a quarter (leaving the thumb in place) around the face of the imaginary clock. Go past the point where you started and stop at 9 o'clock. Place your other hand lightly on the body for support and connection between the two hands.

Maintain a steady rhythm around the circle and keep a light pressure - not more than you would use to push the skin of your eyelid in a circle. Pay attention to the regularity of your breathing and the roundness of each circle in order to keep your hand relaxed.

If your animal does not enjoy the circles, you may be using too much pressure, stiffening your hand, or holding your breath. Practice on yourself, a friend or family member to find the right TTouch. Remember the intent is to communicate with the cells rather than manipulating the muscles.

WHAT IS TTEAM?

TTEAM - the Tellington TTouch Equine Awareness Method - is a holistic way of training, healing and overcoming common resistance in horses, affecting the body, mind and spirit and recognizing the individuality of each horse. TTEAM horses demonstrate marked improvement in athletic skills and increased willingness and ability to learn. Not only does the horse benefit, but also a deeper rapport grows between horse and rider because of increased understanding and more effective communication.

The method of TTEAM includes three phases: a series of Ground Exercises that enable a horse to override old patterns and to learn without fear or force; TTouch that allows you to find areas in a horse's body that indicate tension, fear of contact, soreness or discomfort, to improve self-image, and to affect attitude and behavior; and third, learning how the TTEAM riding equipment - Training Bit, Balance Rein, Promise Rope - improves performance under saddle.

WHO USES TTEAM?

Amateurs and professionals, trainers, breeders, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, competitors in all equine disciplines find TTEAM highly effective. Some of these people attend one or two clinics and incorporate TTEAM into their own training programs or their horse-related activities. Some make major improvements in behavior and health simply from reading a TTEAM book or watching a video. Others become TTEAM Practitioners. TTEAM guides its users to approach each horse as an individual, to train without pain or force and to form a partnership without domination.

LEARN MORE

The beauty in the work is its simplicity and the fact that it's possible to make a difference in your animal's performance, behavior or health from following the information in a TTEAM and/or TTouch book or video. More focused results can be attained by attending a training or by working with a certified practitioner in private sessions. A few minutes a day can result in improvements in behavior and health and well-being. Many people report an unexpected benefit of relaxation and stress reduction in themselves as they practice TTEAM and Tellington TTouch

Since 1978 the Tellington TTouch Method has grown, and is now practiced in 30 countries on almost every species of domestic animals. It is used by companion animal guardians, trainers, breeders, veterinarians, Humane Societies, zoos and in wild life rehabilitation programs. There are over 500 hundred certified TTeam and Tellington TTouch practitioners for companion animals and horses in 12 countries. There are ten books in 11 languages and 19 videos about TTEAM and TTouch.

Visit our website www.TellingtonTTouch.com for more information, a listing of TTeam and TTouch practitioners, a schedule of workshops, or to order one of the many helpful books or videos. For information about the Professional Training and Certification program for companion animals or horses, call 800-854-8326, e-mail info@TellingtonTTouch.com or write Tellington TTouch Training, P.O. Box 3793, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

Click on the books and videos to learn more.