about Argamak Stud
Argamak Stud and Equine Services is a health and wellness company as well as an Akhal-Teke breeding operation. We specialize in therapeutic massage, combining it with athletic training, active rehabilitation, and nutritional consultation. We use deep tissue massage to treat a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. Our focus is on developing specialized health and wellness programs individualized to each client.
Our mission is to enable our customers to attain the state of health and fitness they desire, whether that is to return to a pre-injury level or to improve upon their previous level. Our vision is to relieve muscular pain and tension and to facilitate the healing and recovery of musculoskeletal injury as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
There is a demand for holistic health care in today’s market, but instead of looking at massage therapy as an alternative to western medicine, it can be integrated with traditional medicine. What Argamak Equine Services offers is an enhancement to the traditional western model of healing without the use of drugs. The healing basis uses established science and physiology integrated with a holistic outlook while working together with other medical practitioners.
Kerri-Jo Smithurst is a dedicated professional with a strong sports medicine background and will act as a liaison with the client’s health care professionals to ensure the best quality of care for her clients.
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About Kerri-Jo Stewart, BPE, MSc
Kerri-Jo received her massage therapy accreditation through Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton, AB. She is also an athletic trainer with a Bachelors degree in Health and Fitness from the University of British Columbia. Kerri-Jo completed a Masters degree in the area of Equine Exercise Physiology at the University of Guelph under Dr. Michael Lindinger and Dr. Ray Geor and with Gayle Ecker of Equine Guelph.
Kerri-Jo has worked with the UBC Braves Hockey team and a Vancouver Div. 1 soccer team and received the UBC Osborne Award for best trainer. Kerri-Jo worked with the Sport Medicine Council of B.C. both as a trainer and instructor for sports aid courses. She has also led physical training and taught anatomy and physiology courses as an instructor for the Canadian Forces. She was also on faculty at Malaspina University-College as the Intramural Coordinator.
Kerri-Jo was an assistant coach at Malaspina with varsity women’s basketball team and also coached the Highwood Girls Sr. varsity team for two seasons. She is currently working on complete level III certification in coaching. Kerri-Jo has also been a judge for national Competitive Trail and FEI endurance competitions.
Other accomplishments for Kerri-Jo include coming top 5 in North America in Sweepstakes money earning with Abu Dhan in Competitive Trail, being a marksman (AR-17) with the Canadian Forces, doing a 5,600 km cycling trip, and being the massage therapist (both human and equine) for Canada West at the 1999 Pan American Games.
During her post-secondary education, Kerri-Jo played college basketball, rowed in the UBC varsity eight and played goalie for the UBC varsity water polo team. She is currently involved in breeding and raising her amazing Akhal-Tekes.
After starting her family with Michael, now also including Emma Claire and Daniel Alexander and their greyhound Nina (see family page here), they also have embarked on a journey breeding these beautiful Argamaks.
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You can see our on-line family album at StewartClan.ca
About the Akhal-Tekes
Now that Kerri-Jo is returning to riding after having children she decided that she wanted to ride horses that were fun, versatile and responsive, but not reactive nor spooky. Ever since hearing about the breed in Estonia in 1992 she has had an interest in finding out more about these horses that are great endurance athletes while being calm and sensible. After importing her first mare, Darginka, she quickly fell in love with the breed and imported two more mares and a stallion for breeding from elite stock in Russia. Read about them on her Akhal-Teke blog.
About Photography
Kerri-Jo’s love of photography has started to become a good business producing special family portraiture to a book or unique artwork for display. Call and let her know what you want!
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CONTACT
Contact us directly about breeding, available horses, equine massage, photography services or anything at all really!
