About Our Instructors
Linda Tellington-Jones
Founder of Tellington TTouch Training
Linda Tellington-Jones' highly effective and revolutionary approach to working with animals has brought her world wide recognition.
Her pioneering work has its roots in a philosophy that sees all beings -- humans and animals alike -- as reflections of a Divine Whole. The Tellington Method was first created 4 decades ago as a system of animal training, healing and communication that allows people to relate to animals in a deeper, more compassionate way -- a way that furthers inter-species connection and honors the body, mind and spirit of both animals and their people.
Learn more about Linda Tellington-Jones»Robyn Hood
Robyn
Hood, Senior Instructor of the Tellington TTouch Method, Editor of TTEAM Connections Newsletter and Linda's youngest sister, has been riding horses since before she could walk. She went
through Pony Club and showed as a junior competitor in Alberta. She
later attended and then instructed at the Pacific Coast School of
Horsemanship in California owned by her sister Linda Tellington-Jones.
Robyn competed successfully in hunter, jumper, three-day eventing,
endurance, western events and more recently in gaited horses.
In 1982 Robyn became involved full-time with the TTEAM and TTouch work which was developed by her sister Linda. For the past 17 years she has been the editor of the TTEAM Newsletter. Since 1986 she has been teaching TTEAM and TTouch on a full-time basis in Canada, the US, Europe and Australia and spends about 160 days a year traveling. Robyn has given demonstrations and lectures at various venues including Spruce Meadows; Equitana USA and Germany; Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan; International Humane Society Conference in Vienna and Murdoch University in Perth.
Besides teaching TTEAM and TTouch on the road and at her farm in Vernon, BC, she and her husband have been importing and breeding Icelandic horses since 1976. In addition to their Icelandic herd which numbers around 120, they also share their farm with their daughter Mandy and son Jesse, three cats, two dogs, three turtles and a very talented parrot named Frances.
Edie Jane Eaton
Born
in New Zealand, Edie Jane spent much of her childhood living in Ireland
where her father, a Canadian diplomat, was posted. One of her first
priorities upon arrival in Ireland was to find a way to get near
a horse, and eventually she persuaded her parents to buy her a pony
to join the donkey, a lamb, and various cats, dogs and a hamster.
Edie Jane's interest in horses was never quite outgrown and when she settled in Canada, she started a small teaching and thoroughbred breeding stable. In 1980 Edie Jane became intrigued by the Feldenkrais Method, having seen it's influence on human recovery from physical and mental impairments. A Feldenkrais Practitioner told her about Linda Tellington-Jones and a weekend demonstration in Toronto began her involvement with TTEAM and TTouch. Edie Jane's fascination with the Feldenkrais Method - the principles of which underlie the TTEAM and TTouch work - led her to become a Feldenkrais Practitioner. She also travels the world as a TTEAM and TTouch Instructor. When not traveling and teaching, Edie Jane keeps busy with her private Feldenkrais practice and workshops, and delights in being at home with her friends, family and her garden. For more information about Edie Jane, visit her website www.ListeningToWhispers.com.
Debby Potts
As one of Oregon's first board certified veterinary technicians, Debby has always been involved with animal health, behavior, and training. TTEAM and TTouch have allowed her to extend that care to include improving the lives of animals and their people on a physical, spiritual and emotional level.
Growing up breeding and showing horses has given Debby an extensive background in working with many different breeds and disciplines of horses. A filly born with severe neurological damage initially brought Debby to TTEAM and TTouch after the veterinarians had done all they could for her. The amazing progress the filly made inspired Debby to make this her life's work.
Debby is also passionate about helping companion animals, and she has been a popular speaker at various international conferences including the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the International Symposium on Rescue Dogs. She established TTouch in Japan and oversees the TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner Training there.
Recognizing the connection between people and their animals, Debby also offers her skills as a Certified Personal Coach. She often combines coaching and TTouch to help people be the best they can be, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Debby travels much of the year teaching workshops and working privately with individuals in North America, Europe, South Africa and Japan. She lives near Portland, Oregon with her human and animal family. For more information about Debby visit her website www.IntegratedAnimal.com.
Bibi Degn
TTEAM
and TTouch Instructor, Bibi Degn was born and raised in Austria.
Her involvement with and dedication to animals began early on. Colonel
Neufellner was her riding instructor in her childhood. Bibi earned
the Bronze Reitabzeichen at the State Stallion Stable Paura. She
participated at western trainings with Jean Claude Dysli. Her other
accomplishments in the equine world include: she is a trail ride
leader; she participated actively and successfully at several fox
hunts and long distance races, and won and placed second at several
long distance races both on the national and international levels.
Bibi earned a degree in studies Pedagogic as a elementary school teacher and she studied, extensively, veterinary medicine and Psychology without a degree.
Bibi also owned/managed a breeding and boarding stable for Arabs in Austria and kept the mare book for the Arab breeding club. The dog breed, Magyar viszlas from Hungary, was another specialty of Bibi's. At her farm, she took care of many horses and dogs and other species for many years.
During 1985 and 1986, Bibi stayed in Andalusia, Spain while she learned dressage and established many contacts in the riding style of southern Spain. Here to she participated in long-distance races and long trail rides.
1987 was a banner year for Bibi when she first came in contact with TTEAM during a long distance ride in the USA. She met the TTEAM Practitioner Tina Hutton with whom she spent many weeks during the following years. Bibi was introduced to Centered Riding and started incorporating this as well as TTEAM to her training. Bibi participated in many TTEAM Trainings, mainly with Linda Tellington-Jones in Germany and in the USA.
In 1996 Bibi took over the TTEAM Gilde Office in Germany and continues to manage it. She organizes the Practitioner training programs for dogs and horses in Germany and she teaches many courses for dogs and horses.
Bibi was awarded the TTEAM Instructor level for dogs and horses in 2002. She lives today with her partner Jossy Forberg and her three children at her farm in Westerwald with 10 Arabs, two dogs of mixed breeds and four cats.
Kathy Cascade
Having
graduated from Oregon State University with degrees in Health and
Physical Education, Kathy has been teaching in one form or another
for over twenty years. In 1984 she began a career in Physical Therapy,
where she has helped people from all walks of life in their efforts
to overcome disease and injury and reach their full potential.
Kathy has a keen interest in neurophysiology and the role of stress and traumatic experiences on health and behavior. She has completed post graduate training in Biofeedback, Sensory Integration, Myofascial Release, and Cranial Sacral Therapy.
Kathy's introduction to dog training began in 1991 when a slightly wild and wonderful Alaskan Malamute puppy came into her life! Kathy and Spirit's partnership lead them to the obedience ring, participation in flyball, agility, and as a visiting Therapy Dog/Handler team in hospitals and nursing homes. Searching for a truly respectful and gentle approach to working with animals, Kathy and Spirit attended their first Tellington TTouch workshop with Linda Tellington-Jones in 1994. The work resonated so much with Kathy that she went on to complete the first two-year TTouch Practitioner Certification Program, graduating in October 1996.
Kathy has since become an instructor in the program and has shared her creative and humorous teaching style in TTouch Trainings and workshops throughout the United States, in Canada, and Europe. Her compassionate and skillful approach to working with dogs with aggression issues has been a tremendous help to many people. Kathy currently resides in Stillwater, OK on a 40 acre "mini-farm" which is home to two dogs, three cats, and five horses.
Sarah Fisher
Sarah trained with Linda Tellington Jones and Robyn Hood and is the UK's highest qualified Equine and Companion Animal Instructor.
She runs the UK office for TTEAM and TTouch International, writes for national magazines and teaches one and two day workshops as well as working with private clients.
Sarah works with the Holly Hedge Sanctuary and Battersea Dogs Home. She also teaches staff workshops for many national animal charities including Wood Green, DogsTrust (NCDL) and the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre.
Sarah runs the teaching Centre for TTEAM and TTouch. For further information contact Sarah Fisher, Tilley Farm, Farmborough, Nr Bath Somerset BA2 0AB Email: sarahfisher@tteam.co.uk Telephone: 01761-471182.
Marty McGee Bennett
Marty McGee Bennett’s first llama jumped off the back of a pickup truck and into her heart in 1981. Since then Marty has devoted her professional life to the well being of llamas and alpacas and the education of camelid enthusiasts. After attending her first TTEAM demonstration in 1985 Marty attached herself to Linda for the next ten years learning the work with horses and adapting it for camelids.
In addition to her studies with Linda, Marty brings a variety of experience and qualifications to her work with camelids, including a B.S. degree in Animal Behavior and a professional background with fiber. This combination makes "Camelidynamics" the world’s most popular, and enduring training/handling system for camelids. Marty has taught the principles of camelid handling and the TTouch to veterinarians and veterinary students at veterinary schools around the county and was the only non-DVM invited to contribute to the Veterinary Clinics of North America series on Camelids.
Her books (including one co-authored with Linda), videos and training clinics have helped thousands of llama and alpaca owners more fully understand, appreciate and enjoy this magical animal. Marty’s most recent book "The Camelid Companion" published in 2001 has received rave reviews in publications worldwide.
Conducting hundreds of clinics in North America and around the world including numerous trips to Australia, New Zealand and Europe have kept Marty on the road for much of the past 20 years. Marty her husband Brad and their family of four-leggeds recently settled down in Bend Oregon. Marty and Brad have recently purchased a ranch in Bend and have opened a training center for camelids. 2004 marked the beginning of a practitioner program specifically for people interested in teaching Camelidynamics. For more information about Marty, clinics, and the practitioner program and products for camelids log on to www.camelidynamics.com.
Lucie Leclerc
Lucie’s third birthday gift demand of a real horse, with a stable to live in the backyard of their suburban home, was a foreshadowing of her desire to be with animals! Since she did not get the horse, after a bit of negotiation with her parents, she brought home feral cats and lost dogs instead. She has shared her life with animals ever since.
Some years later, while doing Equine Studies in Quebec she came to realize that horses were usually attached to people and detoured from her original dream -- to work with horses (alone on a mountain) -- and went on to learn, through life lessons, how to relate to people.
She soon realized that she liked to help people figure out what their dreams were and how to put them on paper in order to become reality. In her search to find a better balance in herself. she studied or experienced a variety of alternative therapies and eventually completed a Bachelor in Biology.
At a time when she was looking for an alternative approach to help one of her dogs with a health issue, she heard about Tellington TTouch. After reading a book she opted to go and see if it was just a beautiful story or if the method was as great in practice as on paper. Definitively the teachers were walking their talk and she just could not stop going to trainings from then on. As a TTouch and TTEAM student she never felt judged in her process of learning and to this day she applies that principle with animals and people alike. Her passion is looking for solutions and possibilities instead of problems, in animals as well as in people.
She relishes seeing the animals blossom towards their full potential and as a teacher loves finding ways to help people truly connect with the animals through the TTouches and understand the powerful impact that finding balance has on any being.
She brings TTouch and TTEAM to French speaking people in Quebec, and she is currently our only French-speaking Instructor.
