Help Your Own Horse Or Animal
We thank the animals that teach us what we need to learn
Meet the Foundation of FIT
Dave Collins, Founder and Principal of the British Columbia College of Equine Therapy, created ©Foundation of Integrated Therapy for Animals (FIT for Animals) in 2011.
Dave has been around horses his entire life and for more than two decades has provided therapy to horses, other animals and people. Dave has a background in ranch work, farrier work, showing both APHA and AQHA, breeding and training. Dave’s background and his sincere
desire to help, led him to his studies in the various healing arts. As the demand grew, the need arose for a reputable teaching facility to teach various aspects of therapy for the equine. In 1995, the British Columbia College of Equine Therapy was born. He also saw a demand for horse owners wanting to help and learn more about their own horses without becoming an equine therapist. So as a result, in 2011 the Foundation of Integrated Therapy for Animals (FIT for Animals or just FIT) program was created!
Dave holds certificates from the Northern Institute of Physical Therapies, Blackpool, England, the Northern Institute of Massage, Blackpool, England and the Western College of Remedial Massage Therapies, Regina, Saskatchewan. He is certified by the London and Counties Society of Physiologists (L.C.S.P. Phys) and the Natural Health Care Practitioners of Canada. Dave also holds certificates in Touch for Health, Emotional Polarity Therapy, Body Talk Animal Access and Levels One and Two, Chakra Therapy and Reiki Levels One and Two.
Dave and his wife Dawn are very excited to partner with Janelle and Brenda to bring new ideas and education to the industry.
Janelle Lukan, Founder and Principal of the Natural Touch Therapy Institute – Sask. Campus. Co-owner ©Foundation of Integrated Therapy for Animals (FIT for Animals).
Janelle is a Certified Equine Sports Therapist through the BC College of Equine Therapy and has established Natural Balance Equine Therapy. Janelle is always seeking out clinics and further education in order to continually grow and develop her skills as an Equine Sports Therapist. Since graduating from BCCET, this desire has taken her back to BC for several postgrad classes such as Hoof Balance, Advanced Emotional Therapy and BioMagnetic Pair Therapy. Janelle is a Sanctioned FIT For Animals Instructor. She has also added Positional Hepads and Access Bars through Access Consciousness and Equine Applied Kinesiology to her repertoire. She has sights set on adding EcoSomatics Equine through Upledger Institute to her education.
She enjoys helping horse owners learn more about their horse’s health and well-being through hands on teaching. Janelle’s passion for providing horse owners with the information and skills to aid their own horses is what drew her to develop the Natural Touch Therapy Institute with her business partner, Brenda Fitzgerald.
Brenda Fitzgerald, Founder and Principal of the Natural Touch Therapy Institute – Ab. Campus. Co-owner ©Foundation of Integrated Therapy for Animals (FIT for Animals).
Brenda trained and worked as a Dental Assistant and then discovered her love for knowledge and anatomy. She is a Registered Massage Therapist through the Alberta College of Massage Therapy graduating with Honours, and a current student of the Manual Osteopathic Therapy Program through the Manual Osteopathic College of Canada. Brenda graduated from the B.C.
College of Equine Therapy with Honours of Distinction. Brenda is a Sanctioned Instructor with the Foundation of Integrated Therapies For Animals. She has also added CranioSacral Therapy Level 1 & 2, SomatoEmotional Release Level 1 & 2, EcoSomatics Equine Level 1-3 and
Teaching Assistant Qualified for EcoSomatics Equine Level 1-3 from the Upledger Institute to her list of accomplishments.
Brenda owns and operates Just A Touch Therapy, in which she divides her time between humans and horses. Her focus in treatment is to facilitate a wholistic balance of the body, physically, mentally and emotionally. Love for learning has Brenda travelling throughout Canada and the United States to access high caliber therapy programs and courses in which to further her knowledge and abilities as a multi-modality therapist. Her interest in anatomy provides her with unique and easy ways to conquer this often over-whelming topic for many students.
Brenda’s true passion lies in sharing her knowledge of therapy to increase the quality of life for our valued ‘fur family’ members.
The next phase of the journey for Brenda and Janelle will be working alongside Dave Collins at the BC College of Equine Therapy, where they are sure to bring their unique perspectives to the table. The partnership between BCCET and NTTI will be a benefit to the future of equine
therapy and advanced education.