The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork

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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!

07/02/2025

Why Wednesday ~ I’ve been trying the Lateral Rocking technique from the Beyond Horse Massage book, but my horse stays stiff, and his nose doesn’t move in little circles like it’s supposed to. What can I do to help him relax with this?

Answer: It’s actually pretty common for some horses to find it hard at first to let the movement travel all the way from their hindquarters through their spine to their neck and head. If your horse has had tension, back discomfort, or structural restrictions for a while, he may brace against the motion to protect himself if the motion isn't gentle enough or it doesn't have a rhythm.

If that’s the case, try softening the rocking motion — think of it more as a gentle wiggle, just like Jim shows in this video. Keep the movement subtle and rhythmic for at least 30 seconds, allowing your horse time to relax into it.

A few things to remember:
🔸 Stand at your horse’s hip, place your rocking hand on the sacrum, and hold the dock of the tail — but don’t wag it!
🔸 Use your rocking hand to start tiny side-to-side movements until you find a comfortable rhythm and feel him begin to soften.
🔸 Add your helping hand to enhance the wave-like motion — picture in your mind a rolling wave going through his body. And don’t forget to stay relaxed and breathe!
🔸 You can focus the motion on areas that need it by moving your helping hand forward with each wiggle, paying extra attention to ribs that line up with tight spots in his back.

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

Want more hands-on practice? Come join one of our Weekend Courses to learn The Masterson Method®️ in person — you’ll gain skills to help your horse feel better, move more freely, and deepen your bond. You’ll never look at horses the same way again!

https://f.mtr.cool/evbzkgpfyh

07/01/2025

Exciting News for Our Canadian Followers! Ready to start learning The Masterson Method? Now is the perfect time! From today until July 7th, enjoy $50 OFF when you sign up for many of our upcoming courses across Canada!

Whether you're in British Columbia, Alberta, or Quebec, we've got courses lined up just for you: the Beyond Horse Massage (BHM) and the Light to the Core Courses (LTC). Don't miss this chance to save and invest in your growth with your horse’s wellness and performance in mind.

Available Courses with $50 OFF include:

British Columbia & Alberta

🔹BHM Kelowna (Sep 27, 2025)

🔹LTC Sherwood Park (Sep 20, 2025)

🔹BHM Calgary (Oct 4, 2025)

🔹LTC Langley (Oct 18, 2025)

🔹BHM Campbell River (Oct 25, 2025)

Quebec:

🔹BHM Lac-Brome (Aug 23, 2025)

🔹BHM Rouyn-Noranda (Sep 6, 2025)

🔹BHM St-Honoré-de-Chicoutimi (Aug 31, 2025)

🔹LTC Sainte-Clotilde-de-Beauce (Sep 20, 2025)

🔹LTC Saint-Tite-des-Caps (May 23, 2026)

Spots are limited and filling fast — don’t wait! Sign up now, save $50 on the selected courses, and get ready to enhance your connection, communication, and care for your horse. Click on the link below to find the course taking place near you:

https://f.mtr.cool/beeyuaeeur

06/27/2025

Have you explored our blog library recently?

Over the years, we’ve created many informative blog posts to help you deepen your understanding of The Masterson Method®. Even older posts can offer fresh insights—especially as your feel and awareness evolve with practice.

One blog we love features Amelia and Willa and takes a closer look at the Sacroiliac Joint—a key area where horses often store tension. It’s a great reminder of how subtle changes in this area can lead to big releases.

Whether you're new to bodywork or already exploring new ways to support your horse’s wellness, there’s something for you in our blog archive. And if you’re curious about a topic you don’t see covered yet, send us an email! We’re always open to your questions.

Ready to discover a different way of connecting with your horse? Visit the blog section on our website to get started!
https://f.mtr.cool/eshpxponxq

06/25/2025

Why Wednesday: My horse loves it when I do the Bladder Meridian Technique with him, but movement techniques—like Lateral Cervical Flexion—make him tense up a little. Is it because he’s sore, or am I doing something wrong?

Answer: If you’ve ever asked yourself this, you’re not alone. Lateral Cervical Flexion (LCF) is a powerful technique, but if a horse has tension in the poll or neck, they might be a bit alert or guarded at the start.

In this clip, Jim works with a horse who initially braces during the technique. Instead of pushing through, he softens his hands, arms, and entire body, giving the horse space to process and release tension before trying again.

Key tips to remember when doing LCF:
🔹 Don’t over-focus on one area—too much pressure or repetition can cause bracing.
🔹 Soften when the horse tenses, then ask again.
🔹 Go side to side rather than sticking to one side.
🔹 If there’s a reactive area, skip it and come back later.
🔹 Keep your hand soft and your ask subtle.
🔹 If your horse pulls away, yield but stay in the neighborhood, as Jim often says.
🔹 And most importantly: You can never do it wrong. With practice, you can only do it better.

Very often, the key to success isn’t doing more—it’s doing less. Watch how softening creates trust—and how that trust opens the door to movement in a relaxed state, and eventually, tension release.

Want to learn more techniques like this, hands-on with expert guidance? Join us at a Weekend Course—the perfect first step into The Masterson Method®.
👉 https://f.mtr.cool/conugfehxt

06/20/2025

Jim’s back from another trip (yes, another one!), and this month’s newsletter is full of stories from the road—filming days, horse-filled gatherings, and even a peaceful boat ride with otters and sea lions.

One of the highlights? A special collaboration in California. Jim teamed up with Absorbine—truly a family-run company we've worked with for over a decade—to film new videos with Equine Network, and we’re excited to share them soon.

Another favorite moment: a day with Masterson Method Certified Practitioners in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The MMCP Day at Hunt Horses Ranch brought together 20 passionate practitioners to work on horses, swap stories, and enjoy the beauty of Garden Valley, CA. Huge thanks to Kalin Finsand for organizing such a special event!

And of course, no Jim travel tale is complete without a scenic detour—this time on a quiet electric boat tour of Elkhorn Bay with Monterey Bay Eco Tours. Seals, sea lions, otters, egrets, pelicans, and those under-the-water-swimming type birds… cormorants! It’s a peaceful, informative ride through a beautiful estuary that Jim highly recommends if you're ever in that part of the state.

There’s much more inside—from demos at the Western States Horse Expo to new courses in Australia, updates on our Pony Club Youth Program, and a couple of fun videos featuring the new ponies, Griffin and Banjo.

As always, you’ll also find the latest course updates and learning opportunities. Subscribe to receive the newsletter in your inbox each month!

https://f.mtr.cool/klybcymmsq

06/19/2025

Understanding your horse starts with understanding their brain — and that changes everything.

Join us July 11–13, 2025, at Happy Dog Ranch in Sedalia, Colorado, for a unique three-day experience that blends neuroscience, bodywork, and horsemanship to help us understand the equine mind on a deeper level.

Your Horse’s Brain: A Masterson Method Perspective is an immersive seminar for horse lovers who want to explore the connection between science, feel, and communication.

🔸 Dr. Steve Peters – Neuropsychologist, accomplished horseman, and co-author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship, will unpack how horses think, feel, and react
🔸 Mark Rashid – Celebrated horseman and author, sharing the subtle art of soft training through the lens of brain science
🔸 Jim Masterson – Founder of The Masterson Method®, demonstrating how light touch bodywork directly engages the horse’s nervous system

What you’ll experience:
✔️ Engaging lectures on equine brain function and behavior
✔️ Live horse demos showing bodywork and training in action
✔️ A rare opportunity to witness an actual equine brain dissection
✔️ In-depth discussion with all three presenters

This is more than a seminar — it’s an invitation to see the horse’s world from the inside out, and learn how to respond with empathy, precision, and partnership.

🎟️ Limited to just 50 participants and spots are going fast!
📩 To register, email [email protected]

06/18/2025

Why Wednesday: My show jumper seems to be restricted in the hind end, and he might be sore in the hocks. Is there a way I can help him with The Masterson Method?

Answer: Hock tension rarely shows up alone. The hind end works as a connected system. If the hocks are sore, the horse may begin to compensate using the hamstrings, which can create tension in the sacrum. That tension may torque the sacroiliac joint, feeding back into more hock discomfort. And it goes both ways — sore hocks can also create upper hind end tension in the first place.

That’s why, when we work with hock issues, it’s so important to help the horse release tension in the entire hind end with the Hind End Points— especially around the sacrum and SI joint. By releasing one area, we’re often helping another.

Watch as Jim uses the Bladder Meridian Technique to find where this mare has tension in the body and help her release it when the horse gives a subtle response of tension in the hock. He follows up with a valuable tip — if you lightly touch the hock and the horse lifts the leg in response, chances are the horse is sore in that area.

Know someone whose horse might be struggling with restriction or tension issues? Tag them below! Or better yet, come learn these techniques yourself at a Weekend Course and see the difference you can make in your own horse.
https://mastersonmethod.com/beyond-horse-massage-weekend-seminar/

Have you ever noticed your horse reacting when you touch the hock? Leave your comment below!

06/13/2025

New Format, Same Powerful Learning! Our popular Bodywork Session Reviews with Jim Masterson just got even better!
Now you can purchase each session individually based on your interests, or still grab the full 12-session series for the complete experience. No matter if you’re just starting your Masterson Method journey or deepening your skills, these sessions are an invaluable learning resource.

Each video features Jim working with a different horse — from endurance and ranch horses to show mules and barrel racers — followed by an in-depth review where Jim breaks down his techniques, responses from the horse, and his decision-making in real time.

Whether it’s EPM, kissing spines, poll sensitivity, or mystery hind-end lameness… these sessions are packed with real-life case studies and powerful takeaways. Bonus? Many include slow-motion replays and Jim’s signature mix of wisdom and wit.

Here are just a few sessions you can explore individually:

✔️ Lusitano recovering from metabolic issues
✔️ Quarter Horse with EPM
✔️ Gaited horse with back soreness
✔️ Friesian with jaw and atlas tension
✔️ Coaching session with a fieldwork student
✔️ Plus 6 more, each just $19.95

After purchase, access is simple via your Masterson Method account. Lifetime access so you can revisit them anytime!

Visit our website to explore the updated Bodywork Sessions Library:
https://mastersonmethod.com/product/bodywork-session-reviews-with-jim/

06/12/2025

Two Masters. One Horse. Endless Insight.
Happy Dog Ranch, Sedalia, Colorado
July 8–10, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

What happens when you combine the softness of Jim Masterson’s bodywork approach with the depth of Mark Rashid’s training philosophy? You get Considering the Horse: Mind & Body, a clinic like no other.

Join us at Happy Dog Ranch for this rare opportunity to work with internationally renowned horsemen Jim Masterson and Mark Rashid as they co-teach and collaborate to help you and your horse improve communication, performance, and connection—inside and out.

Clinic Highlights:

🔹Experience your horse through both a training and biomechanics lens

🔹All participating horses will receive a bodywork session from Jim Masterson

🔹Private lessons with Mark Rashid are available upon request

🔹Auditing is welcome for both riding sessions and bodywork sessions

Auditing fee: $80 per day – includes lunch from a local food truck
To register or audit, email: [email protected]
More info: https://mastersonmethod.com/considering-the-horse-mind-and-body-sedalia-colorado

This is a unique opportunity to bring your horse—and your horsemanship—to a whole new level.
Photos courtesy of Crissi McDonald

06/11/2025

Why Wednesday ~ My horse is very protective of his right side. How should I approach him to perform Masterson Method bodywork on him?

Answer: Most horses are the same as people in the sense that they are not perfectly symmetrical. A leg on one side may be a bit longer than the other, and one side or direction may be a little stronger or predominant, just as most humans have a stronger or more predominant side. This initial asymmetry or imbalance may be exacerbated by work and over time, and can eventually lead to larger imbalances that contribute to lameness.

Nine out of ten horses are naturally right front-left hind horses. This means they tend to favor the right front-left hind diagonal and tend to be tighter behind the right side of the neck, in the left sacrum, and hindquarter muscles. They often bend a little more easily to the left and are more comfortable cantering on the left lead.

However, some horses handle pain better than others, and different horses compensate for discomfort or lameness by shifting loads back and forth to different areas. When muscle-tension patterns begin to develop in an asymmetrical way or unilaterally, loads are distributed unevenly, and small issues can become problems.

When you begin to work on your horse, start at the front and on the side with the least tension, in this case, the left side, and work around the horse in a circle:

1. Left front
2. Right front
3. Right hind
4. Left hind

In case your horse carries more tension or is more head-shy on the left side, then start on his easier side, which would be the right side.

Liked this post? Share it so that other people can learn about this helpful advice! And if you want to learn more, check out the website for our next available courses:
https://mastersonmethod.com/courses/

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Fairfield, IA
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http://www.mastersonmethod.com/

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