Tellington TTouch
Linda Tellington-Jones is a horse trainer who has developed and taught techniques for handling and training animals (Tellington-Jones and Bruns 1988). Her TTEAM approach (originally Tellington-Jones Equine Awareness Method, later Tellington-Jones Every Animal Method or Tellington Touch Every Animal Method) has been taught at clinics in North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
It is also the subject of many subsequent books and videos (https://ttouch.com). The specific touches (referred to as TTouches) used with this technique have been shown to relax people and animals, including horses, llamas, dogs, goats, and various zoo species. Anxiety and stress appear to be reduced. Local circulation and neural transmission are said to be improved. The relaxed animal is easier to treat and it is more apt to recover from illness or injury because of its improved sense of wellbeing. Animals that have been hard to handle become quiet, self-confident, and cooperative. Try this on small children before dismissing the technique out of hand!TTouch bodywork does not involve petting. Instead, for the most basic touch a finger is placed on the skin and moved in a clockwise direction to complete more than a full circle (from 6 o'clock to 7 or 8 o’clock). The skin actually moves with the finger in the circle, and when the finger is lifted it is with a conscious effort to lift the skin also. Very light, quick circles over many parts of the body or around an injured area are done on nervous animals. The circles become slower and firmer as the animal relaxes.
The TTEAM approach also involves “working” the ears. This includes doing the basic touch on the base of the ears and gently pulling the ears. The tip of the ear (an acupunc- ture/acupressure point) is worked firmly between forefinger and thumb in cases of colic or shock. An additional facet of TTEAM is the use of ground exercises to improve the patient's balance and focus.
Some uses of TTEAM in equine and small animal practice have been reviewed (Harman 1998). There are several potential applications for TTEAM methods to goats, and case reports concerning goats appear occasionally in the newsletter. Both goats and their owners are apt to need the mutual relaxation afforded by the touch after traumatic experiences such as dog attacks. Hospitalized goats might eat better. First fresheners might learn sooner and with less spilled milk to stay on their feet during milking.