Become a Certified Equine or Small Animal Massage Therapist — Vermont Residents, VSAC Can Help!
- Dr. Angelique Barbara
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 30
If you’re a Vermont resident interested in becoming a certified equine or small animal massage therapist, there’s some excellent news: our program is approved through VSAC, the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. That means you may be eligible for grant funding that can help cover or reduce the cost of your training—and then launch your career in animal massage.
VSAC is Vermont’s state agency that helps students save, plan, and pay for college or career training. They offer a variety of financial aid tools—including grants, scholarships, and loans—for eligible students in Vermont. VSAC
Steps:
Visit the VSAC website to determine if you are eligible.
Vist our website to determine which track you would like to enroll in.
If you are eligible for the VSAC grant, fill out the application form on their website. If you are not eliible for the VSAC grant, fill out our finanical aid form.
Receive your funding and get started!
How You Can Build a Living Doing Animal Massage Therapy
Once you have your certification, here’s how you can turn that into a career—or enhance an existing one:
Pathway | What It Looks Like in Practice | Potential Income / Growth |
Private Practice | Work independently with horse owners, pet owners, barns, stables, dog daycare centers, etc. | You set your rates. Depending on regional demand, specialization (e.g. working with sporting or performance animals), and clientele, this can become a sustainable business. |
Mobile Services | Traveling to client locations (farms, homes, equine therapy centers) to provide massage services. | Allows you to serve clients who prefer convenience; can allow higher per‑session rates because of travel costs. |
Employment with Barns / Clinics / Rehab Centers | Some barns, equine therapy centers, veterinary clinics, or animal rehabilitation centers employ massage therapists or contract with them. | Steady work, maybe combined with other wellness or rehab services; possibly more predictable income. |
Workshops & Continuing Education | Teaching workshops for horse owners, pet owners, other therapists; leading continuing education sessions. | Adds supplementary income and builds your reputation. |
Specialization & Referral Work | If you pair massage skills with knowledge of anatomy, injury rehab, or complementary modalities (craniosacral, neuromyofascial release, cold laser, etc.), you may build referral networks with veterinarians or physical therapists. | Potentially higher rates, more specialized clients, more demand. |
The amount you earn depends on factors like your location (rural vs. urban), your reputation, your specialization, how many clients you take, and whether you work full time or part time. With good marketing, referrals, solid skill, and perhaps combining multiple income streams (private clients + workshops + contracts), many animal massage therapists build sustainable and even thriving practices.
Let’s Help You Get Started
If you’re in Vermont and serious about getting certified in equine or small animal massage, here’s what to do next:
Reach out to us with any questions about how our program works, schedule, what you’ll learn, etc.
Together we’ll check your eligibility for VSAC grant funding so you know what you’ll need to apply.
Once you’re accepted into the program and approved by VSAC, you can begin your training.
We’re excited to help you take this step toward a meaningful, hands‑on career helping animals & their humans. If you like, we can send you a packet or checklist of everything you need for the VSAC grant application so it’s as smooth as possible.
Have questions? E-mail us at admin@holisticanimalstudies.net
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