The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork

01/09/2026

Winter invites us to slow down, rest, read, and revisit what we’ve learned and what we’d like to keep learning. It’s always a good idea to return to the base principles of the Masterson Method.

Search–Response–Stay–Release (SRSR) is the core practice principle that underlies The Masterson Method, not as a checklist, but as a way of listening to the horse’s body. In this reel, Jim revisits how SRSR supports the horse’s nervous system, helps release hidden tension, and keeps the human grounded in awareness that translates into meaningful results for the horse’s wellness.

If you’d like to reflect more deeply on why this principle is so powerful for both horse and human, we explore it in our blog:
The Magic of SRSR for Horse and Human
https://mastersonmethod.com/srsr-for-horse-and-human/

01/07/2026

Why Wednesday ~ My horse reacts very dramatically when I try to do the Lateral Cervical Flexion Technique with him. Any tips on how to help him?

Answer: Horses can sometimes hold a lot of tension in their poll or neck for many different reasons. If your horse fidgets or reacts strongly when you do the Lateral Cervical Flexion Technique, keep these key points in mind:

🔵 Hold the head collar on the nose with a soft hand and never try to restrain the horse. If he brings his head up, allow your hand to go up with him. When he has nothing to brace against, he will stop bracing.

🔵With your other hand, use an egg yolk touch (or even an air gap touch) when running your hand down the cervical vertebrae.

🔵Always start on the side that is more comfortable for the horse. If he has more tension on the right side, begin on the left, and vice versa.

🔵If there is significant tension in the poll, instead of working from the top of the neck down toward the shoulder, try starting at the shoulder and moving up toward the first cervical vertebra.

As Jim says in the video, one of the most important elements is yielding and softening our hand when we find a place where the horse braces. That moment of softness is often the key that allows the horse to release tension.

Want to learn how to feel these moments, adjust your touch, and apply the techniques with confidence?
Join one of our Masterson Method Weekend Courses to learn the why, how, and when behind these techniques, with hands-on guidance and real-time feedback. Visit our website to find an upcoming course near you and sign up.

01/05/2026

Two perspectives. One horse.
A truly collaborative experience.

Considering the Horse: Mind & Body with Jim Masterson & Mark Rashid
📍 River Horse Ranch | Cave Creek, AZ
📅 February 13–15, 2026

This collaborative clinic is an invitation to slow down, observe more closely, and support your horse from the inside out.

Ride or watch as Jim and Mark co-teach, blending thoughtful horsemanship with biomechanics to help horse and rider find greater ease, balance, and understanding.

🐴 Riding horses receive a bodywork session with Jim
👨‍🏫 Private lesson slots available with Mark
👀 Auditing welcome for lessons and bodywork sessions

Learn more and register here:
👉 https://mastersonmethod.com/considering-the-horse-mind-and-body-cave-creek-arizona-february-13-15-2026/

01/02/2026

We’re kicking off 2026 with some exciting news!

We’re excited to announce that Jim Masterson, founder of The Masterson Method®, will be appearing at two major horse expos this spring!

🐴 Horse World Expo
📍 Harrisburg, PA
🗓 March 5–8, 2026

🐴 Minnesota Horse Expo
📍 St. Paul, MN
🗓 April 24–26, 2026

At both events, Jim will be presenting as a clinician and joining local Masterson Method Certified Practitioners at the Masterson Method booth. Stop by to ask questions, watch bodywork demonstrations, and learn more about gentle techniques that support your horse’s comfort, performance, and well-being.

🕒 Demo schedules will be shared as they’re finalized. Save the dates, and if you’re attending either expo, we’d love to see you there!

🔗 Learn more:
Harrisburg → https://mastersonmethod.com/jim-masterson-at-horse-world-expo-harrisburg-pa-march-2026/
Minnesota → https://mastersonmethod.com/jim-masterson-at-minnesota-horse-expo-st-paul-mn-april-2026/

Horse Massage

12/31/2025

Why Wednesday ~ I’ve just started practicing the Bladder Meridian, but it takes me a long time. Is it absolutely necessary to do the entire meridian every time?

Answer: This is such a frequent question when you’re first learning. As Jim explains in the video, the Bladder Meridian is always a great place to start, but it doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” process. If time is limited, your intention can simply be to help the horse relax and get on the same page with you. You can start at different points, move around, and follow the responses the horse gives you to move to areas that seem to have more going on.

That said, when you do have the time, working the entire meridian can be very beneficial. It helps you develop feel, understand patterns, and bring the horse’s awareness to the areas that require more attention.

The key takeaway?

✔️ Start where it is more comfortable for the horse
✔️ Follow the horse’s responses to touch
✔️ Stay holding the grade of pressure until the horse gives a release response
✔️ Build consistency over perfection

Progress comes from conscientious practice, not rushing through a checklist.

Let’s talk: When you work the Bladder Meridian, what’s the first response you usually notice: blinking, a change in breathing, or something else? Share in the comments.

12/26/2025

Have you ever noticed your horse resisting the bit, carrying tension in the poll, or struggling to fully relax, and wondered where it really starts? 🐴

In our latest blog post by Jim Masterson, “The Tense TMJ,” we take a closer look at the temporomandibular joint and why this small but powerful area plays such a significant role in comfort, balance, and whole-body movement. From jaw and poll tension to compensations that show up elsewhere in the body, this article explores how TMJ restriction can quietly impact your horse’s performance and well-being.

If you’re ready to look beyond isolated symptoms and begin seeing the connections between the jaw, poll, and the rest of the body, follow the link and discover how gentle, mindful release can support deeper relaxation and improved movement.

Give it a read by clicking on the link below, your horse just might thank you for it:

https://mastersonmethod.com/the-tense-tmj/

If you don’t want to miss updates on equine wellness and hands-on Masterson-inspired bodywork tips, tap Follow and choose Favorites or Turn on notifications. That way, you’ll always see the posts that matter most to you!

12/24/2025

Why Wednesday ~ I’ve started practicing the techniques from the Beyond Horse Massage book, but I’m not sure how to tell if my horse is actually releasing tension. What should I be looking for?”

Answer: When a horse releases tension, it doesn’t just happen under your hands. Their entire nervous system starts to shift, and their body gives you clear feedback if you know what to watch for.

Common signs of tension release include:
• Licking and chewing
• Yawning—sometimes repeatedly
• Changes in breathing (slower, deeper, or a big exhale)
• Shifting weight from leg to leg
• A softer, more relaxed posture

Just as important as what you do is waiting. When the horse finds a comfortable position, and you allow stillness, the nervous system has time to down-regulate, and that’s when deeper releases happen.

👉 If you want hands-on guidance and real-time feedback, join us for an upcoming Masterson Method® Beyond Horse Massage Weekend Course. You’ll learn how to feel, see, and understand the techniques and your horse's responses through guided learning. Link below:

https://mastersonmethod.com/beyond-horse-massage-weekend-seminar/

12/22/2025

Horses are herd animals that communicate through body language. And as prey animals, they’re wired to mask discomfort and tension to avoid looking vulnerable.

That’s one reason The Masterson Method® can be so effective. By working with a horse’s natural sensitivity and awareness, you can access a level of the nervous system that allows deep stress to release from muscles, connective tissue, and structure.

The key is learning how to use touch and how to read what the horse is telling you through subtle responses. When you follow those signs, the horse shows you where tension is held and when it lets go. Using the right levels of pressure for each horse, the horse’s defense system doesn’t resist, helping the nervous system release what the horse has been compensating for.

If you don’t want to miss updates on equine wellness and hands-on Masterson-inspired bodywork tips, tap Follow and choose Favorites or Turn on notifications 🐴✨ That way, you’ll always see the posts that matter most to you!

12/22/2025

This discussion with Jochen Schleese and Jim Masterson highlights the critical connection between saddle fit and the compensations Masterson Method practitioners address every day in their sessions.

Follow Saddlefit 4 Life ®, like the reel below, and comment “bodywork” to get the free webinar link via DM.

Welcome back to the Saddlefit 4 Life Holiday Calendar! 🎁

We’re excited to share Episode 5 of our Circle of Influence webinar series, a conversation every horse owner, bodyworker, and equine professional should hear.

In this episode, Certified Master Saddler and Saddlefit 4 Life founder Jochen Schleese sits down with Jim Masterson, Equine Bodywork Specialist and Founder of the Masterson Method to explore:

🔸 The relationship between equine bodywork and saddle fit
🔸 How to spot recurring tension and physical issues in horses that often trace back to saddle fit
🔸 Practical, easy-to-use tools and strategies for horse owners to help horses stay comfortable, sound, and happy
🔸 How combining interdisciplinary knowledge can make a real difference for your horse’s wellbeing

The Circle of Influence webinar series is completely free to watch.
To get access as soon as this episode goes live, simply follow Saddlefit 4 Life, like this reel, and comment “bodywork” below, we’ll DM you the link!

This conversation is packed with actionable insights that every horse owner and professional needs to hear.

12/19/2025

We’ve reached the end of another incredible year, and the December Masterson Method Newsletter, our final issue of 2025, is out now!

This month’s newsletter is a celebration of the people, horses, and moments that made this year so meaningful, along with a look ahead at what’s coming next:

❄️ Reflections on the Year
Jim shares year-end thoughts, gratitude, and reflections on connection, learning, and the journey we continue to take with horses around the world.

🐴 Community Highlights
A look back at courses, clinics, and milestones from our global Masterson Method community in 2025.

📖 Education & Resources
Updates on learning opportunities, reminders about resources available to you, and ways to continue deepening your understanding through the winter months.

✨ Looking Ahead to 2026
A preview of what’s on the horizon as we move into the new year together.

Click the link below to read the newsletter, enjoy the photos and videos, and close out the year with us:

https://f.mtr.cool/fzxjjzkotk

Fergus photo: Used with permission from Jean Abernethy

Remember, you can always find all of 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 connected and up to date.

12/17/2025

Why Wednesday ~ I have observed that when my horse gets tense in the hind end muscles, his back feels tight too. What can be the cause, and how can I help him release that tension?

Answer: Because the pelvis is the connection hub between the hind legs and the spine. Big power muscles in the hind end attach to the pelvis, and the pelvis meets the sacrum at the sacro-iliac (SI) joints. When those muscles tighten or pull unevenly, they can create torque through the pelvis, and once the SI area braces, the back often follows.

Doing Search-Response-Stay-Release on the Hind End Points with your horse will help him release tension in those big muscles and help him move more comfortably and freely. The Hind End points are the following:

🔹Under the Tail Points
🔹Sacroiliac Point
🔹Hip Joint Point
🔹Pelvic Point
🔹Stifle Point
🔹Pubic Symphysis Point

Here’s the part that surprises a lot of people: a lighter touch can actually help release deeper tension. When you use a soft contact on the Hind End Points, the horse doesn’t brace against pressure.

Instead, their nervous system can start to feel what’s happening deeper under the surface (often in the low back and SI area), and that’s where real release begins. So, very often, less pressure doesn’t mean less effective but deeper releases.

👉 Share this video with anyone who may find it useful! And if you’d like to go deeper, join a hands-on Weekend Course to learn Masterson Method® techniques to improve mobility, release tension, and deepen your bond with your horse.

https://mastersonmethod.com/beyond-horse-massage-weekend-seminar/