Michel Kaplan has been actively involved with horses since 1944. Now in his late seventies, he remains passionately involved with horsemastership and Equestrian Arts.
Over the last 40 years, he has become a highly skilled world-class Equestrian Sports Massage and Manipulation expert. His palmares is very impressive. He has helped in the recovery of more than a dozen horses given up on by veterinarians and some by academic institutions.
He has restored the neuro-kinesiological functions of several persons who had long been impaired by partial paralysis or severe disorders.
Michel has helped many human and equine athletes improve their performance, often to win, even to become world-class champions.
Since 1987, these include:
- A Junior Pan American Games Jumping Gold Medalist
- A U.S. Lightweight Division Endurance Champion
- A Kentucky Walker World Champion
- A French Dressage Freestyle Champion
- A World Dressage Champion who has won Gold Medals at World Equestrian Games, World Cups and Olympic Games
Conscientious and methodical in his work, Michel evaluates riders and horses for impediments to their "Awareness, Balance, and Coordination." A very important phase he calls "The ABC of equitation".
He uses logical thinking and in-depth observations to devise solutions to eliminate these impediments. And, always tests to validate the results. If a positive and permanent solution seems impossible, he suggests a mitigating strategy with the horse's well being in mind..
He continuously seeks to consult with knowledgable people in the fields that may help him progress in his research. Holding advanced degrees in Engineering and Management, and 4 units in Applied Kinesiology, Michel hosts a high respect for academic knowledge.
He teaches Imprinting Neuro-Kinesiology (INK), the study of motion and its control as well as its application to massage and manipulation to small groups of interested equestrians.
Michel Kaplan is one of the founders of the Equine Well-Being Institute (EWBI).
He is also one of the owners and founders of Beau Geste S.O.A.R. that stables its last horse in Sonoma County, California. With the help of coowner and cofounder Patricia Senseney, highly skilled in centered equitation, he specializes in rehabilitation and improvement of horses and riders for educational purpose and for Equestrian Arts performances.
