Educational Center for Riders and Horses
Serene Equine: Bodywork and Biomechanics is run by Certified Equine Massage Therapist Kelly McGhee and has a home base at the private facility Serenity Farm in Berthoud, CO. Kelly earned her CEMT from the Animal Rehab Institute in Florida. She earned her first KT certification in 2020 and is working on her second KT certification as well as other continuing education topics.
Kelly grew up in central New York riding and learning equine safety and horsemanship under the tutelage of Katie and Jeff Aiken at Gentle Hill Farm. There she learned how to use her body rather than the reins to steer her horse, the beginnings of her biomechanics fascination. She also learned safety, horsemanship, and to treat the whole horse for long term soundness and wellbeing (mental and physical). Their teachings still make up the foundation of her horsemanship philosophy. In Arkansas Kelly studied under Oklahoma based USDF instructor Sherry Guess, who was invaluable as a trainer and mentor in developing her understanding of body control and biomechanics for both rider and horse. To this day Kelly tells students the most sore after a lesson she has ever been was a walk lesson with Sherry.
During the last decade, Kelly noticed how working on the horses’ muscles before and after a riding session not just made for a better partnership but improved how the horse used himself. After 10 years of teaching fundamental dressage lessons, she decided to formalize her education on bodywork during the 2020 pandemic and was certified at the Animal Rehab Institute in Florida. Her teaching background and her body work background make a fantastic springboard to develop correct muscles for the horse and rider while helping those muscles recover faster and remain healthy.
Kelly has taken courses in taping to help the bodywork sessions last a bit longer and help the healing process. Her background in science helps deepen her understanding of how anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology work together to enhance both the equine bodywork and rider/horse biomechanics.
Kelly also cares for the 7 horses at Serenity Farm that re-located with her and her husband from Arkansas in October 2021. She is the secretary for the Northern Colorado Dressage Association. Outside of the horse world, she is an instructor for Northwest Arkansas Community College where she teaches astronomy (remote now, of course).
Education
2012: M.S. Space and Planetary Sciences, University of Arkansas
2008: B.A. Geological Sciences, State University of New York at Geneseo
Recent College Accredited Courses (for continuing education)
Biomechanics Fall 2023 (in progress)
Anatomical Kinesiology Spring 2023
Anatomy & Physiology II Fall 2022
Kinesiology Spring 2022
Anatomy & Physiology I Fall 2021
Certification
2023: Sozo Equine Kinesiology Taping Certification
2021: Certified Equine Massage Therapist through Animal Rehab Institute
2020: Certified Equine Kinesiology Taping Practitioner through Back 2 The Bush
2015: American Riding Instructor Association Certified Instructor Level 2 Recreational Riding
2015: American Riding Instructor Association Certified Instructor Level 2 Dressage
2023 Continuing Professional Development Certificates:
The Vet Rehab Summit 2023: Myofascial Chains
Completed 11 hours November 10-11, 2023
Understanding the Tendons and Ligaments of the Lower Limb
Completed 3 hours March 24, 2023
Use and Application of Ground and Raised Poles: A Biomechanical Perspective with Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Completed 2 hours March 2, 2023
Do Training Aids Provide a Biomechanical Advantage to the Horse with Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Completed 2 hours Feb. 2, 2023
2022 Continuing Professional Development Certificates:
Striving for Straightness with Gillian Higgins
Completed 2.5 hours Dec. 7, 2022
The Biomechanics of Transitions with Gillian Higgins
Completed 2.5 hours November 2, 2022
Use of Modalities in Equine Rehabilitation: What do we know? with Sybille Molle
Completed 1 hour July 26, 2022
Thoracolumbar Rehabilitation in Horses with Kevin Haussler
Completed 1 hour July 25, 2022
Thoracolumbar Pathology with Kevin Haussler
Completed 1 hour July 22, 2022
Understanding and Improving Engagement and Collection with Gillian Higgins
Completed 2.5 hours May 4th, 2022
The Biomechanics of Bending with Gillian Higgins
Completed 3 hours April 6, 2022
Proprioception: What Is It and Can It Benefit Performance & Rehabilitation with Prof. Hilary Clayton
Completed 2 hours March 12, 2022
Horses Inside and Out- Head Anatomy with Gillian Higgins
Completed 3 hours March 9, 2022
Fascinating Fascia- A Key to Understanding Locomotor Disorders in Horses with Marta Kulikowska
Completed 1 hour Feb. 26, 2022
Structure and Function of the Equine Locomotor System with Dr. Hilary M. Clayton
Completed 1 hour Jan. 27, 2022
Rehabilitation of Soft Tissue Injuries with Lesley Goff
Completed 1 hour Jan. 21, 2022