Dr. Nicole Rombach
APM (ITEC), MEEBW, CCBW, PG AM, MSc., PhD
From 2003 to 2009 she was based in São Paulo, Brazil, where she worked in direct liaison with various veterinary clinics, focusing on complementary therapies for sports performance horses to Olympic level. She travelled to national competition centres and private clients throughout Brazil and in other South American countries. In addition, she carried out infrared thermographic imaging (thermography) in conjunction with equine veterinarians to aid their diagnostic procedures. Thermography was also used to assess hoof balance, saddlefit and changes in thermal patterns following sports therapy sessions. In addition, she regularly worked with an established clientele of dogs in her canine sports therapy practice.
Nicole regularly lectures at various universities and for professional associations, presenting evidence-based courses on equine and canine spinal dysfunction with an emphasis on neuromuscular rehabilitation techniques. All courses include theoretical and practical modules, and Nicole also leads whole-horse dissection workshops. Nicole is the chief instructor and examiner for Neurokinetic Therapy Equine (NKT) and Canine courses worldwide.
Together with her business partners, Debranne Pattillo, and Dr Carrie Schlachter, Nicole owns the USA-based Academy of Animal Sport Science.
In her equine sport therapy practice she works in direct veterinary liaison to design individualized therapeutic programmes for sport horses in various disciplines, with a particular focus on neuromuscular conditioning and movement retraining for spinal dysfunction. In her human kinesiology practice, she likes to combine assessment of horse and rider combinations. Her main focus is on neuromuscular facilitation and movement retraining, with an emphasis on incorporation of neurokinetic therapy.
Nicole is the co-founder of the International Equine Body Worker Association (est. 2003), the worldwide regulatory body for student and graduate equine and canine bodyworkers.
In her spare time she produces her own horses for dressage and showjumping competition, and she holds Brazilian state and national amateur titles.
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- Anatomy, Physiology and Massage (ITEC)
- Equinology Equine Body Worker® certification course with Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW
- Advanced Equine Sports Massage Techniques with Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW
- Equine Stretching and Range of Motion Techniques with Debranne Pattillo, MEEBW
- Equine Biomechanics and Applied Anatomy with Dr Barbara Crabbe, DVM
- Equine Gait Abnormalities with Dr Robert Norrie, DVM
- Principles of Equine Dentistry with Lucy Smith, C Eq/D
- Principles of Saddle Fitting and Farrier Science with Dr Kerry Ridgway, DVM
- Farrier Science and the Latest Trends with Simon Curtis
- Foundation in Equine Acupressure with Susan Tenney, CMT
- Intensive Equine Anatomy with Zahourek Institute USA
- Equine CranioSacral Techniques with Upledger Institute USA
- Equine Neurology with Dr Chris Pasquini, DVM
- Equine Nutrition with Liz Warr, MSc Dr Catherine Dunnet and Sue Tracey, MSc
- Equine Neuromuscular Re-education and Ground Handling Skills with Terry Church
- Equine Exercise Physiology with Dr Hilary Clayton, MRCVS
- Caninology Canine Body Worker certification with Barbara Houlding, Grad.Dip Phys
- Veterinary Thermographic Imaging with Dr James Waldsmith and Dr Tracey Turner, USA
- Ultrasonography of Equine Articulations with Dr Jean-Marie Denoix
- Sports Medicine and Application with Dr David Marlin, PhD
- Equine Lameness and Back Problems with Dr Chris Colles, MRCVS
- Back and Tendon Diagnostics course with Dr Jean-Marie Denoix and Dr K. Allen
- Diagnosis of Poor Performance seminar with Dr Anne Couroucé-Malblanc and Dr. Elizabeth Hammer
- Monitoring of Health and Performance in Sports Horses seminar with Dr Anne Couroucé-Malblanc and Dr Arne Lindholm
Publications
Rombach N, Heleski C, Stubbs N, Clayton H (2012) A pilot study to develop an ethogram for assisting in the identification of equine neck pain during manual clinical assessment. 8th International Equitation Science Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, 8, 68.
Rombach N, Stubbs N, Clayton HM (2014) Gross anatomy of the deep perivertebral musculature in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 71(5), 433-440.
Rombach N, Stubbs N, Clayton HM (2014) Prevalence of osseous pathology in the articular process articulations in the equine cervical and cranial thoracic vertebrae. Equine Veterinary Journal, 46, S47, 10.
Rombach N, Pease A, Stubbs N (2014) Cross-sectional area measurement of cervical spinal muscles. Equine Veterinary Journal (Supplement S46), 46, 54.
Rombach N, Stubbs N (2014) Intra-operator and inter-operator reliability and repeatability of muscle measurement via ultrasonography in the equine cervical spine. Equine Veterinary Journal (Supplement 46), 46, 54-55.
Simons V, Weller R, Stubbs N, Rombach N, Pfau T (2015) Objective assessment of back kinematics and movement symmetry in horses: effect of elastic resistance band training. Equine Veterinary Journal (Supplement S48), 11.
Pfau T, Simons V, Rombach N, Stubbs N, Weller R (2017) Effect of a 4-week elastic resistance band training regimen on back kinematics in horses trotting in-hand and on the lunge. Equine Veterinary Journal doi: 10.1111/evj.12690.
Book Chapter
Invited Lecturer and/or Speaker
Motor control-based rehabilitation for equine spinal dysfunction
2021 – Online Pet Health – Vet Rehab Summit
Preparing your clinic for objective data collection
2021 – Online Pet Health
Movement retraining in rehabilitation for equine spinal dysfunction
2021 – Online Pet Health
The equine cervical spine: Functional anatomy, biomechanics, and clinical dysfunction
2021 – Centaur Biomechanics
A pain in the neck: Diagnosis and management of equine cervical dysfunction
2020 – Swedish Equine Veterinary Association Annual Conference
Equine spinal dysfunction: functional anatomy and biomechanics, pathology, and motor control in rehabilitation
2020 – Centaur Biomechanics Virtual Equine Sports Science Summit
Clinical Dysfunction In The Horse: a Neuromotor Control Approach to Therapeutic Intervention
2019 – Canadian Institute of Equine and Canine Body Works, Canada
Equine Spinal Dysfunction
2019 – Canadian Institute of Equine and Canine Body Works, Canada
NeuroKinetic Therapy Equine Level 1
2019 – Towcester, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Canine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2019 – Towcester, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Equine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2019 – Hamburg, Germany IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association) 2019 conference (keynote)
Equine and canine spinal dysfunction: functional anatomy and biomechanics, pathology, and motor control in rehabilitation
2019 – Eemnes, Netherlands
HorseConnect: NeuroKinetic Therapy Equine Level 1
2018 – Canadian Institute of Equine and Canine Body Works, Canada
Equine Stretching and Core Activation Techniques
2018 – Towcester, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Canine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2018 – Towcester, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Equine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2018 – In-hand Equine Therapy, Canada
NeuroKinetic Therapy Equine Level I
2018 – Writtle University College, United Kingdom
NeuroKinetic Therapy Equine Level I
2018 – Equicanis, South Africa
Advanced Equine Soft-tissue Mobilisation, Introduction to Spinal Mobilisation and Clinical Reasoning
2018 – Equicanis, South Africa
Equine Stretching and Core Activation Techniques
2018 – Schwaiganger, Germany
NeuroKinetic Therapy Equine Level I
2018 – Scandinavian Equine Clinics, Stockholm, Sweden
Equine Spinal Dysfunction
2018 – High Performance Sports Medicine Symposium, USA
Changing dysfunctional movement patterns in sport horse performance
2018 – United States Equestrian Association, Area VII, USA
Core conditioning for sport horse performance
2017 – Guadalajara, Mexico
Clinica Eqcovet: Equine Sports Medicine Seminar: Equine Spinal Dysfunction and Motor Control in Rehabilitation
2017 – Writtle, United Kingdom
NAVP (National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists): Canine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2017– Towcester, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Canine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2017 – Towcester, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Equine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2016 -São Paulo, Brazil
Ortho-Pets Brazil & South America: II Curso Internacional Teórico-Prático de Tecnicas de Mobilizaçao Articular, Manipulaçao Miofascial e Alongamentos
2016 – Writtle, United Kingdom
NAVP (National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists): Equine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2016 – New Jersey, USA
VetPD: Orthopedic & Respiratory Poor Performance & Rehabilitation of the Sports Horse: Physical therapy and rehabilitation for the equine thoracolumbar spine, sacro-iliac region and proximal fore- and hind limb injuries
2015 -São Paulo, Brazil
Ortho-Pets Brazil & South America: I Curso Internacional Teórico-Prático de Tecnicas de Mobilizaçao Articular, Manipulaçao Miofascial e Alongamentos
2015 – Essex, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Equine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining
2015 – Warwickshire, United Kingdom
2015 National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP) Conference (keynote speaker): Equine Spinal Dysfunction and Core Strength Conditioning
2014 – Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Practice): Equine Spinal Dysfunction: Functional Anatomy, Mobilisation Techniques & Movement Retraining.
2014 – 9th International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP), Chester, United Kingdom
Scientific research presentations: ‘Cross-sectional area measurement of cervical spinal muscles’; ‘Intra- and inter-operator reliability and repeatability of muscle measurement via ultrasonography in the equine cervical spine’
2014 – British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress, Birmingham, United Kingdom Invited speaker (CAT reviews) and scientific research presentation: ‘The prevalence of osseous pathology in the articular process articulations of the equine cervical and cranial thoracic spine’
2013 – London, United Kingdom
Royal Veterinary College: CPD: Equine Back Pain
2013 – Cascais, Portugal
International Veterinary Chiropractic Association Annual Conference (keynote speaker): The Myofascial System: The Role of the Muscular Connective Tissue in Equine and Canine Neck and Back Dysfunction.
2012 – Chester, United Kingdom
ICEEP (International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology) “Winning Ways” conference (keynote speaker)
2012 – Vienna, Austria
7th international conference: International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (keynote speaker)
2011 – Sao Paulo, Brazil
1st ‘BIOMEQ’ course: Equine Biomechanics, Applied Anatomy and Rehabilitation
2010 – Brasilia, Brazil
Equestrian Symposium SIMPEQ 2010
Invited speaker: Chiropractic and Complementary Therapies for the Sports Horse
2010 – Auburn, Alabama, USA
6th Symposium: International Association for Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (IAVRPT)
Poster presentation: The effect of elite level showjumping on equine distal limbs as assessed through infrared thermographic imaging
2009 – Sao Paulo – Brazil
Institute ‘Bioethicus’
Invited lecturer: post-graduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy
‘Review of Equine Anatomy’; ‘Equine Sports Massage, Stretching and Range of Motion Techniques’
2008 – various course locations – Brazil
University of Botucatu – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in conjunction with Institute ‘Bioethicus’
Invited lecturer: post-graduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy
‘Review of Equine Anatomy as relevant to Physical Therapy’
2008 – various course locations – Brazil
Institute ‘Bioethicus’
Invited lecturer: post-graduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy
‘Equine Sports Massage, Stretching and Range of Motion Techniques’
2008 – Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazilian Army – Cavalry Division – veterinary and training departments
Official course in Equine Stretching and Range of Motion techniques
2007 – Sao Paulo, Brazil
University of Botucatu – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in conjunction with Institute ‘Bioethicus’
‘Equine stretching and rehabilitative therapies’ for veterinarians and students of veterinary medicine
2007 – Sao Paulo State, Brazil
University of Botucatu – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Invited lecturer: post-graduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy
‘Sports Massage and Spinal Manipulation for Small and Large Animals’
2005 – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Federal University (FMU) – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
‘Sports Massage and Spinal Manipulation for Small and Large Animals’
2004 – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
‘Complementary Therapy for the Horse’
2004 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
V South American Veterinary Conference
Presentation: ‘Efficacy of equine osteopathic treatment as assessed through thermographic imaging and motion observation’
2004 – Oslo, Norway
Conference on Equine Sports Medicine and Science (CESMAS)
Presentation: ‘Efficacy of equine osteopathic treatment as assessed through thermographic imaging and motion observation’
2003 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
IV South American Veterinary Conference
‘Equine Sports Massage’; ‘Sports Massage and Range of Motion Techniques for Various Equine Pathologies’; ‘Practical Application of Equine Sports Massage and Range of Motion Techniques’
1999 – Exloo, Netherlands
Natural Horsemanship Days
‘Physical Therapy for the Horse’