The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork

The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork Improving performance, communication and relationship with your horse. The Masterson Method® is an integrated, multi-modality method of equine massage.
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It is a unique, interactive method of equine massage in which you learn to recognize and use the responses of the horse to your touch to find and release accumulated tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance. In contrast to most traditional modalities, it enables the horse to actively participate in the process of releasing tension. It is something you do with the horse, ra

ther than to the horse. This participation and interaction are what makes the method fascinating for those who use it. In fact, if you do not allow the horse to participate, it does not work!

10/29/2025

Why Wednesday ~ My horse has been a bit stiff in his back lately, and I have tried the Lateral Rocking technique from the Beyond Horse Massage book, but I can't get the movement through the back to his nose because he braces a little. Do you have any tips for doing this technique with him?

Answer: Many horses need a little extra time to let the motion travel from their hindquarters, through the spine, up to the neck and head. If your horse has been holding tension, has back discomfort or restriction, he might instinctively brace against the movement, especially if it’s too firm or not rhythmic enough.

Here’s a simple tweak: soften the rocking into a gentle wiggle, just like instructor Sandy Vreeburg demonstrates in this clip. Keep it subtle, smooth, and rhythmic for at least 30 seconds, giving your horse a chance to relax into it.

Tips to try:
🔹 Stand by the hip, place your rocking hand on the sacrum, and lightly hold the dock of the tail (no wagging!).
🔹 Start small side-to-side movements with your rocking hand until you find a rhythm that your horse responds to.
🔹 Bring in your helping hand to enhance the rolling motion. Imagine a wave traveling through his body. Stay relaxed and breathe!
🔹 Guide the motion toward areas that need extra attention, moving your helping hand along ribs that line up with tight spots.

If you stay light enough, long enough, as Jim usually says, your horse will often let go of more tension than you might expect!

Ready to take what you see here and feel it for yourself? Join a Weekend Course before October 31 and you’ll get the Home Study Course FREE, that’s a $179.99 bonus! Don’t miss the chance to connect deeper with your horse and bring these techniques to life.

👉 Click on the link below to find the course nearest you before the offer ends!
https://mastersonmethod.com/courses/


10/27/2025

The horse's poll is one of the first places tension shows up and often, the last place it lets go.

As Jim explains, the poll accumulates tension from all kinds of issues throughout the body: a sore back, tight hind end, sore front feet, or even ulcers. Every issue affecting the horse's body can show up here, too.

That’s why when you learn The Masterson Method, and especially on the Advanced 5-Day Course, you learn not only to see where the problem appears, but also where the origin can be. We listen to what the horse’s body is telling us, following the body's interconnections between the poll and the rest of the horse.

When we help a horse release tension at the poll, we’re not just creating relaxation. We’re helping the whole body go back to balance and comfort.

This is the last week Jim’s Birthday Sale is on! Get a Free Beyond Horse Massage Home Study Course (worth $179.99) with any Weekend or Advanced 5-Day Course until October 31 (plus bonus videos for Advanced students).

Sign up now:
https://f.mtr.cool/uhoawwcpbu

Many horse owners want to help their horses feel and perform their best, and often find themselves searching for that de...
10/24/2025

Many horse owners want to help their horses feel and perform their best, and often find themselves searching for that deeper, more effective way to do so.

Our latest blog post, “5 Reasons to Attend a Masterson Method® Course,” explores what happens when you step into a hands-on learning environment with your horse.

In this blog post, you’ll discover how attending a course can help you:

• Develop your feel through hands-on learning.
• Get direct expert feedback and grow confidence.
• Deepen your connection with your horse in ways you may not have imagined.
• Join a supportive community of fellow horse-lovers.

For many, attending a Masterson Method® course isn’t just educational, it’s transformational. It changes the way you see, listen to, and connect with horses. It’s an experience that often deepens not just your skills, but your understanding of your horse and yourself.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes the Masterson Method® unique, or simply want to understand your horse on a deeper level, this blog post offers a thoughtful look inside the experience.

👉 Read it here:
https://f.mtr.cool/cyqgmhitym

10/22/2025

Why Wednesday ~ My horse tends to feel tight through the shoulders when bending in both directions, especially to the right. After training, I like to do some Masterson Method® techniques, but when I try the Under the Scapula Technique, he tosses his head. What can I do to help him relax during this technique?

Answer: The Under the Scapula Technique is a wonderful way to help a horse let go of shoulder tension because it works on the deeper muscles that affect how the front legs, neck, and back move together. When a horse tosses his head during this technique, it’s often a sign that there’s tightness or discomfort under the scapula.

The key is to go very slowly. Keep your hands soft, and if you feel your horse start to tense or lift his head, just pause. Wait there until you feel him soften, then gently continue. Going at the horse’s pace helps him feel safe and avoids that fidgety reaction.

As Jim shows in this video, moving slowly and patiently allows the horse to stay relaxed while you work deeper into those shoulder muscles.

Want to learn these techniques hands-on? Now’s the perfect time! When you sign up for a Weekend Course before October 31, you’ll get the Home Study Course FREE (a $179.99 value)! It’s the best way to deepen your feel, gain confidence, and start using these techniques with your own horse.

👉 Click on the link below to find the course nearest you before the offer ends!
https://f.mtr.cool/pmoprktdjp


10/20/2025

“I thought it sounded like voodoo… but then it worked!” Listen to Khrystynna Hunsinger (once skeptical, now a Masterson Method instructor) share how she discovered The Masterson Method and the moment it all clicked.

Ready for your own breakthrough?

Sale still going through October 31, receive a FREE Home Study Course with any Weekend or Advanced 5-Day Course, plus get 3 Technique Breakdown videos for Advanced students.

Don’t miss your chance to transform your connection with horses!

Find out more here:
https://f.mtr.cool/tmzucwgwjv


10/18/2025

As Jim says, the Weekend Course is not only about learning the techniques, but also about learning the feel, learning to do the movement techniques in a relaxed state, and paying attention to what the horse is telling you. You’ll learn to recognize when the horse releases tension and how to connect through subtle responses and softness.

Enroll in a Weekend or Advanced 5-Day Course this month and get the Beyond Horse Massage Home Study Course FREE: a $179.99 value! 🎁

✨ Advanced students also receive exclusive bonus 3x Technique Breakdown videos!

📅 Offer ends October 31. Don’t miss your chance to build a better connection, get lasting results, and help your horse perform at their best. Click on the link below:

https://f.mtr.cool/tcqqjmapgm


Fall is here, and so is the October Masterson Method® Newsletter! This month’s issue feels especially personal. Jim shar...
10/17/2025

Fall is here, and so is the October Masterson Method® Newsletter! This month’s issue feels especially personal. Jim shares stories, laughter, and heartfelt gratitude for so many of the people who make The Masterson Method community what it is: from instructors and students to dedicated practitioners and horse lovers around the world. It’s one of those newsletters that makes you smile as much as it makes you think.

Jim’s celebrating his birthday with a special sale that runs through October 31, offering extra learning resources (Free BHM Home Study Course worth $179.99 plus extra videos for Advanced students) when you register for Weekend or Advanced Courses. It’s his way of giving back and, as he jokes, part of an “evil plot” to keep everyone practicing the techniques!

He also looks back on two Hand-in-Hand Clinics with Patrick King in Virginia, where bodywork and classical “In Hand” training came together beautifully. The theme that emerged, “The lighter you go, the deeper they feel it”, says it all.

You’ll also meet the winners of the “Call from Jim” Contest, who shared deeply touching stories about how this work has strengthened the bond between them and their horses. These are the kinds of stories that remind all of us why we do what we do.

There’s more to explore, too: a brand-new Weekend Course promo video, Jim’s feature in Saddle Up Magazine, MMCP Meike Aulich’s recognition in Germany, and MMES Julie Bandalin’s upcoming presentation on Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy.

You’ll also find the latest blog post, "5 Reasons to Attend a Masterson Method® Course", information on our newly certified practitioners, and the updated list of available courses.

Click on the link below to read all the details, enjoy the photos and videos, and stay up to date on everything Masterson Method!
https://f.mtr.cool/zrnfyuyebr

Remember, you can always find all our newsletters on the website under Resources, along with Free Educational Videos, the Bodywork Blog, Podcasts, and Articles. Not subscribed yet? Sign up on our website to stay updated:

https://f.mtr.cool/ibpbpyopia

10/15/2025

Why Wednesday ~ I enjoy practicing The Masterson Method with my horse, but I don’t always have a lot of time. What’s one Masterson Method technique I can do that helps improve overall performance?

Answer: The Scapula Release technique encourages the shoulder blade to drop and move freely, easing tension in the muscles that connect the forelimb, neck, and withers. This helps increase flexibility in the front legs, improves shock absorption through the shoulders, and allows for smoother, more coordinated motion.

Freeing up the shoulder and neck area enhances range of motion in the front end and helps prevent strain on the joints, ligaments, and muscles of the forelimb. The result is a longer, more fluid stride and improved balance. Watch Jim demonstrate the Scapula Release Down and Back to see how gentle the shoulder drop looks.

When tension in the neck–shoulder–withers junction releases, it also influences the poll and atlas. Releasing this area begins a chain reaction throughout the horse’s body, easing restrictions from front to back. The C7–T1 junction beneath the scapula also connects through the longissimus dorsi to the hindquarters, so freeing this area can help the hind end relax and engage more effectively.

👉 Want to learn more techniques like this? As part of Jim’s Birthday Sale, when you register for an in-person Weekend Course, you’ll receive the Home Study Course (a $179.95 value) for FREE — but only until October 31!

Find the course date and location that best fit your schedule here:
🔗 https://mastersonmethod.com/beyond-horse-massage-weekend-seminar/

10/13/2025

Keeping horses supple, balanced, and performing at their best isn’t just about conditioning; it’s also about understanding where tension hides and how to release it.

In this clip, Jim explains why issues like the hunter’s bump can develop. Learning how to use The Masterson Method® bodywork techniques can help you address the root cause by working with the horse’s feedback to restore comfort, movement, and performance.

You’ll also hear from one of our students, sharing how learning these techniques transformed her ability to help horses, from calming fire rescues to supporting performance horses in training. That’s the power of The Masterson Method®: it’s a tool that truly helps horses and the people who care for them.

🎁 Jim’s Birthday Sale (Sept 26 – Oct 31)
👉 Register for a Weekend Course = Get the Home Study Course FREE
👉 Register for an Advanced 5-Day Course = Get the Home Study Course + 3 Technique Breakdowns FREE

📅 Offer ends Oct 31 — take this step to help horses feel, move, and perform their best.
https://mastersonmethod.com/courses/

The Advanced 5-Day Course is where your Masterson Method skills really deepen. It’s more than just practicing techniques...
10/10/2025

The Advanced 5-Day Course is where your Masterson Method skills really deepen. It’s more than just practicing techniques; it’s about:

🔸 Gaining experience with horses from different disciplines and with a variety of issues
🔸 Sharpening your ability to feel and recognize where a horse is holding tension
🔸 Learning anatomy hands-on in a way that truly sticks
🔸 Growing the confidence to adapt your approach for each horse
🔸Learn evaluation techniques to spot biomechanical patterns
🔸Identify potential primary issues and their resulting secondary issues

After five days, you don’t just perform the techniques; you understand them on a deeper level, and your confidence grows alongside your skill.

🎁 Jim’s Birthday Sale continues through Oct 31st! Sign up for the Advanced 5-Day Course and receive the Home Study Course + 3 Technique Breakdown videos FREE.

Take your Masterson journey further by clicking on the link below and saving your spot today!

https://mastersonmethod.com/advanced-5-day-course/

10/08/2025

Why Wednesday ~ My horse is fine with the Hind Leg Release down and forward, but not down and back — he keeps lifting the leg. Why does that happen?

Answer: If a horse resists bringing the hind leg down and back, it often means there’s some tension or restriction in the hind end. This position is actually a powerful way to help release tightness related to soreness or imbalance in the lower back and pelvis.

Tips to help your horse find that release:

🔸Make sure he’s standing square before you start.
🔸Ask for the leg as if to clean the hoof, then gently guide it down until the toe touches the ground.
🔸Don’t pull — stay soft, and if he lifts, go with him and wait for relaxation.
🔸Avoid bringing the leg too far back, especially if he’s sore in the stifles.

Watch Jim demonstrate how to apply this technique safely and effectively.

👉 Want to learn more techniques like this? As part of Jim’s Birthday Sale, when you register for an in-person Weekend Course, you’ll receive the Home Study Course (a $179.95 value) for FREE — but only until October 31!

Find the course date and location that best fit your schedule here:
🔗 https://mastersonmethod.com/beyond-horse-massage-weekend-seminar/

Check out this video of Jim Masterson in collaboration with Horse & Rider Magazine and Absorbine! Jim talks about how is...
10/07/2025

Check out this video of Jim Masterson in collaboration with Horse & Rider Magazine and Absorbine! Jim talks about how issues like front-end stiffness, head shyness, or lead change trouble can all be signs of hidden tension in your horse.

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