ETS Leadership & Scientific Advisors

Co-Founder and CEO

Witnessing the safety risks of manually stretching a horse at his Tennessee family farm sparked Jay’s drive to bring human medical-grade innovation to the equine industry. A Harvard Business School graduate with 30 years of medical device leadership—including serving as President of Stryker Spinal—Jay applies his deep expertise in complex product development to ETS. While his team drives the hands-on design, Jay provides the strategic oversight across engineering, manufacturing, and the rigorous safety testing needed to bring their ideas to life. By pairing his human healthcare background with a passion for animals, he empowers the ETS team to create groundbreaking, ergonomic tools—like the ETS Therapy Band—that elevate safety and mobility for both horses and their caregivers.

Co-Founder and COO

Vanessa's passion for equine care and mobility began early in her riding career while managing her beloved thoroughbred's navicular syndrome when all we had was bandages, Bute, Bigeloil, and cold hosing. That experience sparked a lifelong pursuit of understanding equine movement, injury prevention, and recovery. Her journey took her from competitive riding on Long Island to training in Argentina and at Germany's renowned Egon von Neindorff Institute, ultimately becoming a classical dressage trainer.

Through decades of studying how horses thrive, Vanessa developed a deep appreciation for the connection between mobility, comfort, balance, and overall well-being. As Co-Founder and COO of ETS, she helps guide the company's mission to create horse-centric, science-backed mobility solutions that improve the lives of both horses and their caregivers. By combining practical horsemanship with a commitment to innovation, Vanessa champions tools like the ETS Safe Stretch Pro Therapy Band that promote safer, more effective approaches to equine wellness and performance.

LMT, ESMT, Primary Manual Therapy Researcher

Richard Valdez is a horse’s best friend. When he arrives, they know they will feel better soon. In his 25 years of equine manual therapy work, he has helped over 15,000 horses, including the US Endurance team at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez Spain. His awareness of the relationship between muscle restriction, mobility and circulation has driven some of the exciting discoveries the ETS team has made. As primary researcher, Richard ensured the safety and efficacy of the Safe Stretch Pro by rigorously evaluating it on over 250 horses over four years. By closely analyzing how releasing trigger points provides pain relief and restores natural movement, his evidence-based expertise ensures ETS innovations optimize equine recovery, 

performance, and overall well-being. 

Sr. Product Advisor

Managing her own farm instilled in Maureen a lifelong mission to provide the highest standard of equine care. Through three decades of leadership in international sport—including serving as USET's Director of Dressage—she managed global logistics for the Olympic, Pan American, and World Equestrian Games. Coordinating worldwide horse transportation and working alongside top veterinarians, farriers, and physiotherapists gave Maureen unparalleled exposure to complex injury management. This elite experience reinforced her belief that physical comfort is crucial for every horse, from high-performance competitors to beloved seniors. Pairing this high-level operational expertise with deep, hands-on horsemanship, Maureen joins her long-time friend Vanessa Rachmaninoff at ETS to create high-quality tools that prioritize lifelong equine well-being and support their dedicated caregivers.

VMD, DACVS | Scientific Advisor 

Dr. Fugaro is a board-certified equine surgeon who enjoys sports medicine and performance practice. He helps evaluate ETS designs, data, and research to determine the viability, safety, and usefulness of products and ensure high standards of animal welfare. As the founder of Mountain Pointe Equine Veterinary Services, he brings decades of veterinary, academic, and advisory experience to ETS. A significant focus of his career has been optimizing the health, soundness, and recovery of horses of all disciplines. Dedicated to advancing the next generation of equine science, he also previously served as a tenured full professor and resident veterinarian at Centenary University. Dr. Fugaro holds a VMD from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his surgical residency at Purdue University.

DVM Musculoskeletal Advisor

Dr. Amy Peterson is an integrative equine veterinarian certified in animal chiropractic by the AVCA and Credentialed in Veterinary Acupuncture by the IVAS based in Jamestown, NY. Originally from New Jersey, she is a lifelong horsewoman who brings a deep, intuitive understanding of equine biomechanics to her practice. As a Musculoskeletal Advisor for ETS, Dr. Peterson leverages her expertise in alternative therapies and holistic treatments to evaluate the physical impact of ETS designs. By combining her comprehensive medical training with her chiropractic knowledge, she ensures that ETS products support optimal health, comfort, and performance while meeting the highest standards of equine welfare.