In 2017, Julie graduated from the Vluggen Institute of Equine Osteopathy and is now practicing osteopathy on both horse and rider. This new perspective, combined with her diverse approach to human rehab, will allows her to help both horse and rider reach their equestrian potentials in partnership.
Founder and principal instructor of The Vluggen Institute, Janek Vluggen D.O., MRO-EU, EDO® is recognized as the leading expert in the field of modern Equine Osteopathy.
Janek was born and raised in the Netherlands and has lived and practiced for thirty years in Germany. He graduated as a human osteopath D.O., from the International Academy of Osteopathy in Ghent Belgium, he was trained and taught extensively in the importance of the visceral system in relation to the skeleton system according the visceral concepts of Jean Pierre Barral D.O.MRO-F
His fellow student Pascal Evrard D.O. MRO-B author of the book: ’Introduction á l’osteopathie structurelle appliquée au cheval’, at that time was developing and modifying the structural techniques from the early equine osteopathy into safer and more applicable techniques.
The two innovators made a pact to bring the equine osteopathy to the highest possible standards considering all(!) pillars of the modern osteopathy: the parietal system, the cranio sacral system, and as it was longtime thought impossible on the equine, the visceral system.
It was Janek Vluggen’s merit to develop the modern visceral concept as a methodical application to the horse in relation to the autonomic nervous system, and the cranial sacral system.
As a researcher, innovator, thought-after therapist and popular lecturer in the United States as well as Europe for over two decades, he has built a significant following worldwide.