Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute

Amy Snow
Kim Bauer
Nancy Zidonis
Caroline Dalkin
Shauna Cantwell
Turie Norman
Marie Soderberg
Laura Minor
Beth Taylor

Amy Snow, Founder & Instructor

       Amy Snow, founder of Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute, is the co-author of Equine Acupressure: A Working Manual, The Well-Connected Dog: A Guide to Canine Acupressure and, Acu-Cat: A Guide to Feline Acupressure. Amy is the lead instructor for Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute Practitioner Certification Training Program, and, over the last 10 years, has taught throughout the United States, Canada, England, Israel, and Australia.
       She began her career in acupressure in the 1970’s studying with Jin Shin Jyutsu, a Japanese form of acupressure, with Mary Burmeister. She studied Traditional Chinese Medicine at the International Institute of Chinese Medicine (IICM) in Denver, Colorado. Very recently, Amy studied at the Chi Institute directed by Dr. Huisheng Xie, the leading veterinary Chinese Medicine Doctor in the US. These courses included: Basic Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tui Na, Chinese Herbs, Food as Medicine.
       Amy is a Certified Acupressure Practitioner from the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California. Over the years she has taken numerous clinics and courses in complementary healthcare and animal-related study, including; Feldenkrais; Reiki; Master Hong Qi Gong; Tellington Touch; herbal remedies; High Touch Network Training; dog training and showing skills; dog-language with Turid Rugaas; years of riding and working with horses, and most recently, Traditional Chinese Medicine at the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in Denver,Colorado. She has brought this training to work with animals.
       As the co-author of numerous articles for national and international publications, Amy has helped to expand the awareness of animal acupressure. She is a member of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork (IAAMB).

Kim Bauer - Instructor

     Kim Bauer is an Instructor and Practitioner for Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She was a middle and elementary school classroom teacher for 14 years before choosing to blend her teaching abilities with her love of animals.
       Kim began her career in animal acupressure in 1999. Since then she has received dual certification in both large and small animal acupressure from Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute. She also holds certificates in both large and small animal massage from the Northwest School of Animal Massage. She has studied acupressure, massage and flower essences extensively with Diana Thompson of Hands-On Horse Care. Beginning in 2004, she has continued her study of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Sean Fannin of the Center For Traditional Health Arts.
       In 2005, Kim created her own business, Animal Ease Therapies, LLC. She works with clients to create individualized plans for each animal that blends her knowledge of acupressure, massage and flower essences. Many of her most rewarding clients are rehabilitation cases and geriatric animals. While the majority of her clients are horses, dogs and cats she also works on quite a few alpacas.
       Kim’s time is split between her business, working part time as a Veterinary Assistant at All Animal Care Clinic in Hood River, OR and a busy travel schedule teaching acupressure and massage classes throughout the United States and Canada.

Nancy Zidonis, Founder & Instructor

Nancy Zidonis, founder of Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute, is one of the pioneers in the field of animal acupressure. Over 19 years ago, she worked with a veterinarian and an acupressure practitioner to develop the system of transpositional acupressure meridians and points for horses and, a few years later, for dogs. After thorough study and careful documentation, Nancy wrote her first handbooks entitled, Equine Acupressure, A Treatment Work Book and Canine Acupressure, A Treatment Work Book. Nancy went on to develop training clinics for people interested in caring for their horses and dogs using acupressure. She has continued to expand and refine the training programs both online and hands-on and teaches worldwide.
       Nancy and Amy Snow collaborated on an expanded edition of Equine Acupressure: A Working Manual which will be in its 5 th edition in the fall of 2007. They also co-authored of The Well-Connected Dog: A Guide to Canine Acupressure, and, Acu-Cat: A Guide to Feline Acupressure. She is responsible for the creation and publication of a series of animal acupressure meridian charts which highlight key acupressure points on each meridian.
       Most recently, Nancy has authored and produced three new DVDs and educational programs: Introduction to Equine Acupressure; Equine Landmark Anatomy& Acupoint Energetics; and, Canine Landmark Anatomy & Acupoint Energetics.
       Nancy has studied Traditional Chinese Medicine at the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in Denver, Colorado. She holds a certificate in AMMA Massage and is a graduate of the British Institute of Homeopathy with an emphasis in animals. In 2007, Nancy attended courses at the Chi Institute directed by Dr. Huisheng Xie, the leading veterinary Chinese Medicine Doctor in the US. These courses included: Basic Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tui Na, Chinese Herbs, Food as Medicine.
       Other studies include: Reiki – Second Degree; Medical Qi Gong with Master Haung Lo and Dahn Hok. Nancy was a Founding Member of the Board of the International Alliance of Animal Therapy and Healing (IAATH) and a current member of the International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork. Additionally, she is Adjunct Faculty at Hocking College in Their Equine Alternative Therapies Certificate Program.
        Nancy co-authors articles for publications worldwide such as: Equine Wellness, Animal Wellness, Holistic Horse, Natural Horse, The Whole dog Journal, Animal Fair, and many others.

Caroline Dalkin - Instructor

Caroline Dalkin has studied equine and canine acupressure with Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute in England and the United States. She has successfully completed her training and has worked as an Instructor in both canine and equine acupressure as well as her practitioner certifications in both disciplines.
Caroline has trained both competition and pleasure horses for over fifteen years and manages her own livery yard, Liberation Farm. The focus of the yard is on horses being able to live their own lives in a more natural environment. The success of Liberation Farm has led to the opening of a second barn specifically designed for horses in need of physical or emotional healing. Her experience with dogs is life-long and she worked with many dogs as an acupressure practitioner.

Shauna Cantwell, DVM, Instructor, Tui Na: Chinese Meridian Massage

       Dr. Shauna Cantwell graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Canada in 1989. She practiced in mixed animal, then small animal and emergency medicine until 1995. Returning to university after practice, she specialized in Anesthesiology and pain management and became board certified in 2000. She is currently on faculty at the University of Florida veterinary college where she teaches anesthesiology. She also has a complementary and alternative medicine practice for horses and small animals called Medicine Wheel Veterinary Services in Newberry , Florida .
       As well as teaching Tui Na for Tallgrass, Shauna teaches equine acupuncture and Tui Na at the Chi Institute of TCVM in Florida . Additionally, she lectures on pain management and teaches chiropractic techniques at the Healing Oasis School of veterinary spinal manipulative therapy in Wisconsin .
       Dr. Cantwell has been studying Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine since 2001, when she investigated acupuncture as a pain management modality. She recently studied veterinary chiropractic and incorporates this into her private practice. Her research at the university is in the field of the benefit of acupuncture and the incorporation into conventional medicine. She is also doing clinical research in the area of veterinary chiropractic. She has written articles on pain management including Equine Analgesia, a chapter in Equine Surgery veterinary textbook, and Ancillary and Alternative Pain Management for Small Animals in the BSAVA textbook of veterinary anesthesiology. Her career goal in addition to improving the well-being of individual animals is to demonstrate that alternative medicines can be integrated with conventional medicine to create a new and better veterinary medicine.

Turie Norman, DVM – Anatomy Instructor & Contributing Technical Editor

       Turie Norman, DVM, has been a practicing veterinarian for over 10 years in the state of Colorado. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture and Chinese herbs. She continues to study with Dr. Xie, who is the only Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor who trained in China and is teaching equine acupuncture in the United States. Turie’s practice is located in Boulder, CO where she sees dogs, cats and horses.
       Dr. Norman uses an integrated approach to working with animals by blending her knowledge of conventional western medicine with Traditional Chinese Medicine and other complementary healing modalities such as Flower Essences and nutritional medicine. Turie states: “I believe in the power of Chinese Medicine to stimulate and facilitate the body to heal itself. I have seen it do some miraculous things over the years.”
       Presently, Dr. Norman lives with her husband and two young sons in Boulder County, CO. She and her dog walk every day and she rides once a week.

Marie Soderberg, Equine Acupressure Instructor

       Marie Soderberg worked with Nancy Zidonis to develop a method of understanding and teaching the ancient healing art of acupressure for people who want to contribute to the health and well-being of their animals. She was actively involved in preparing equine and canine meridian charts, and she co-authored the original equine and canine acupressure handbooks. Additionally, Marie and Nancy released a new DVD, Introduction to Equine Acupressure, a 52-minute training video.
       Over the years, Marie has been featured as a presenter/demonstrator for numerous equine events throughout the United States.
       Marie teaches Introduction to Equine Acupressure - Five Element Theory, and Alternative Modalities Clinics for Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute. Her training includes: Advanced Acupressure with Dr. Cain; Acupressure and Meridian Energetics; 3rd Level - Da Nak, Reiki Level II, and she is a Certified AMMA Massage Therapist. She has over 30 years of bodywork and alternative healing experience, and has worked as a horse and dog acupressure practitioner for many years.

Laura Minor, Equine & Small Animal Introductory Course Instructor

       Over a seven years period, Laura trained with Nancy Zidonis, Amy Snow and Marie Soderberg, the lead instructors for Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute. She completed her Practitioner Certification in 2005 and her Instructor Training in 2006.
       Laura is certified in both Equine and Small Animal Acupressure as a practitioner, and she is qualified to teach Introduction to Equine and Small Animal Acupressure & Traditional Chinese Medicine. She maintains an active Animal Acupressure practice in Western New York. Her practice also encompasses animal communication and nutritional consultation for her animal clients.
       Laura has worked as a Veterinary Technician in New Zealand, and served as a caretaker at a private zoo in Northern California, caring for exotic animals for over ten years. In addition to her training in Animal Acupressure, she has trained in Tellington TTouch, Reiki, and Tai Chi. Laura lives on a horse farm in Geneseo, New York, where she trains in dressage and fox hunts with The Genesee Valley Hunt.

Beth Taylor , Instructor, Food Therapy

       Beth has had a lifelong interest in food, nutrition, and health. Her desire to always try to understand the “Why is that?” concerning any topic. She spent twenty years in the mental health field before she found her first Golden Retriever, who introduced her to the world of dogs.
       Social work was replaced with teaching dog training. Increasing awareness of the health problems of animals led to nine years of assisting an animal chiropractor, five years with Steve's Real Food as Regional Director and Director of Veterinary Programs, and into sharing with others what she has learned about nutrition.
       Beth is involved in animal acupressure and chiropractic. Her services include individual and group health coaching and training. She is a frequent speaker at dog clubs, animal health gatherings, junior colleges, and conferences, and does diet and lifestyle consultation for pet caretakers. Beth is co-author with Steve Brown of See Spot Live Longer.
       Currently, Beth is working on a series of booklets on common health concerns encountered by dog and cat guardians with Karen Becker, DVM. The first booklet, Fresh Food for Dogs, is available now.

Our instructors hold clinics throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Holland, Australia, England, and Israel. If you would like to host a clinic in your area contact us for more information.