About – equisensomotoric.com

About Johanna Thanheiser

Horse trainer specializing in health maintenance
Author of Equisensomotoric® Training and TTT Stress Release for horses
Since 2024, lecturer on biomechanics, health maintenance, and husbandry of riding horses at the University of Agricultural and Environmental Education Vienna in the Applied Hippology and HIPS® Riding Therapy courses.
2014-2024: Lecturer and examiner for biomechanics, horse training, and desensitization training in nationwide training programs for riding instructors at agricultural training institutes.
Federally certified holistic riding instructor according to Dellmour GRIPS® and FEBS® with the Association of Austrian Riding Instructors & Therapists.
2006-2019: Participation in numerous courses on health maintenance and biomechanics in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and online from the USA (including Celeste Lazaris’ BTMM – Balance Through Movement Method Masterclass, Marijke de Jong’s Mastery Course in Straightness Training at the Academy of Equestrian Art, Karen Rohlfs’ Dressage Naturally, and IHTC Science of Motion by Jean-Luc Cornille and Konstanze Kopta), as well as 12 visits and a three-week stay with my own horse as a working student at the Bückeburg Riding School.
Master’s degree in Artistic Studies from the Master Class at the University of Fine Arts Vienna (Spatial Relationships, Proportions, model making, kinetic art)
Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Farm Animal Ethology, Animal Husbandry, Animal Breeding, Biochemistry, Animal Nutrition, Zoology, Feed Science, Botany, Grass Identification, Pasture Management of Horses / Veterinary Medicine)
Agricultural specialist
Basic pedagogical training (Mera Education Forum Vienna) with nonviolent communication

Equisensomotoric Training (ESM) evolved from many years of mobile teaching, advanced training with highly skilled instructors, and the specific health challenges my own three horses faced, which my existing knowledge at the time couldn’t fully resolve.

Through daily, meticulous analysis of movement—the very “senso” of motor skills—one of my horses ultimately showed me the path to sustainable equine health. To my delight, I discovered that this approach also helped my clients’ horses muscle build up and develop healthy movement patterns.

The Equisensomotoric method, therefore, doesn’t focus on spectacular movements but rather on sustainable health goals similar to human sensorimotor function: building strength, improving joint stability, balance, and muscular symmetry.

The Equisensomotoric online course now offers what I myself had long sought: logical explanations of biomechanical relationships and concrete, practical instructions for maintaining equine health.

Looking back, I wish I’d had all the knowledge contained in this online course from the very beginning with my first horse – I would have saved a lot of time and money and been able to help my horses achieve health much sooner. Now, I hope this knowledge will benefit you and your horses as early as possible.

♥️🐴Johanna