The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork

05/29/2026

Have you ever wondered if a horse can still carry tension from something that happened years ago?

This article from Jim Masterson explains how horses can hold onto stress and protective patterns in the body long after an incident has passed, and how gentle, responsive bodywork can help them release it.

It’s a fascinating reminder of how much horses communicate through subtle body language, and how important it is to listen.

Read the full article here:
https://f.mtr.cool/wyxtkqfurp

https://f.mtr.cool/wixqogtimf

Jim Masterson giving Whisper a Masterson Method bodywork session at...

05/28/2026

Excited for another LIVE conversation with TALKING ABOUT HORSES host Patrick King Horsemanship & Dressage featuring Jim Masterson!

We’ll be diving into what tension looks and feels like in the horse’s body (from both the bodywork and training perspectives), plus sharing a few exciting announcements. 🔥

Join us live here on Facebook on June 9 at 7pm ET!

⭐️ 🐴 Jim Masterson (The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork) and I have just scheduled another LIVE podcast discussion with TALKING ABOUT HORSES! We're going to be discussing what tension LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE in the horse's body, both from a bodywork perspective and a training perspective.

🔥 PLUS, we have some fun announcements to make. You won't want to miss this one! If you follow the link, you can sign up for a reminder, as well as a replay link that we'll send out after the live stream.

This is taking place HERE on Facebook, as a livestream, on June 9 at 7pm (eastern US time).

https://www.academyforclassicalhorsemanship.com/talkingabouthorses

05/27/2026

Why Wednesday ~ I’m practicing the Masterson Method with several horses, and some of them seem uncomfortable when I hold their nose during Lateral Cervical Flexion. Is there another way to do the technique that helps the horse stay more relaxed?

Answer: Absolutely. Some horses are sensitive about having their nose held, and it’s important to adapt the technique to help them stay comfortable and relaxed. The goal of Lateral Cervical Flexion is to encourage relaxed lateral movement through the occiput, atlas, and cervical vertebrae. Releasing tension in these areas can improve bending, suppleness, extension, and suspension through the front end.

Instead of holding the nose directly, you can lightly hold the halter’s noseband or place your thumb underneath and your index finger over the noseband while softly resting your hand on the horse’s nose.

This allows you to maintain a gentle connection without unintentionally gripping if the horse moves or shakes his head. Remember to keep your hand as soft and relaxed as possible when “wiggling” the nose.

Watch Jim demonstrate the Lateral Cervical Flexion technique with a dressage horse.

Join one of our Weekend Courses to learn more about improving your horse’s comfort and performance with the Masterson Method® techniques. These hands-on courses give you practical skills you can immediately use with your own horse.

https://f.mtr.cool/lbipupznnl

05/25/2026

Big news! 📣

Jim Masterson will be joining the 2026 US Pony Club Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, for two days of FREE Masterson Method® Unmounted Clinics at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Join Jim, MMCPs Megan Dushin and Mimi Duffy, and Rosewood Riders Pony Club members who have taken the Masterson Method Youth Course for hands-on learning focused on helping horses move, feel, and perform their best. We can’t wait to connect with the next generation of horse people.

Come say hi if you’ll be there! 🐴

📍 July 14–15, 2026
🐴 US Pony Club Festival, Lexington, Kentucky

💙 We hope to see you there!

More info: https://f.mtr.cool/tlpienhnyy

05/24/2026

As Masterson Method Instructor Alice Long says, “the issue is in the tissue.” A lovely reminder of why bodywork matters so much for our horses. Enjoy this beautiful video!

05/22/2026

We loved this conversation and thought you would too! 💛

Head over to YouTube to enjoy this inspiring podcast conversation and
hear more valuable insights into horses, releasing tension, and
bodywork.

https://youtu.be/GUQhlm6hyNQ?is=v4IAi23k5qPyC7rO

05/20/2026

Why Wednesday ~ I have a sensitive Thoroughbred who carries a lot of tension through his shoulders. Is there a gentle technique I can use to help him relax and release that tightness?

Answer: Absolutely. The Scapula Points Technique from our Light to the Core course is a wonderful option for sensitive horses. Using the Search • Response • Stay • Release approach, you work with your horse’s subtle reactions to bring their awareness to this area and help them release tension.

To get started, softly search around the scapula area with two fingers using a very light “air-gap” touch. As you explore, notice where your horse responds and allow him time to process and release.

A helpful place to begin is with six common response points:
▫️ Two points in front of the scapula
▫️ Two points behind the scapula
▫️ Two points on top of the scapula

One of the front points relates to the area around the C7 vertebra and can be especially useful for horses who tend to fidget or struggle to settle.

These points are simply starting places; the real key is observing your horse. Wherever he offers a response, that’s where you can stay with a light touch and wait for the release to happen.

Watch Jim demonstrate the Scapula Points Technique in today’s video and see how even subtle touch can create meaningful change.

Interested in learning more? Explore our Light to the Core courses and discover how these gentle techniques can help create deeper communication, relaxation, and connection with your horse.

https://f.mtr.cool/lfropfbhrk

05/18/2026

The past teaches us. The future inspires us. But our horses always bring us back to the present 🐴💛

The May Equine Newsletter is here, and this month’s stories take us across the world, from memorable moments at the Minnesota Horse Expo to Australia and New Zealand, where Overseas Manager Vicky Devlin welcomed new Coaches, Mentors, a new Instructor, and seven newly certified MMCPs into The Masterson Method community.

We’re also looking ahead to an exciting summer with:
• The return of the “Mark and Jim Show” Considering the Horse: Mind and Body with Mark Rashid at Happy Dog Ranch in Colorado, July 7–9, 2026
• Your Horse’s Brain: A User’s Manual with Dr. Stephen Peters and Crissi MacDonald, July 10–12, 2026
• The 2026 US Pony Club Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, with Jim and Masterson Method Instructors, July 14–15, 2026

And in the middle of all the learning, travel, and growth, Jim shares a heartfelt tribute to Annabelle and Jeremiah, a reminder to slow down, appreciate the present moment, and enjoy our horses while we have them.

Also in this month’s issue:
• Whisper’s story from a clinic with Mark Rashid and what horses can get to release when we truly listen
• A special reflection for National Horse Rescue Day and how the body often tells the story we may never know
• Newly certified practitioners, upcoming courses, and training opportunities around the world

Read the May Newsletter here:
https://f.mtr.cool/ogvrzsdfhl

Not subscribed yet? Sign up and stay connected each month for stories, insights, events, and Masterson Method learning

05/15/2026

One of the things we love most about this work is watching horses soften when they realize that we are reading their responses and get that we are getting it, as Jim Masterson often says.

The responses may look subtle from the outside: a sigh, a lowered head, soft lips, but the effects can be deep and lasting.

By working with the horse, instead of to the horse, The Masterson Method® helps them release tension in a gentle, effective way.

If you’ve experienced this work with a horse, we’d love to hear: what’s your favorite “release” moment to witness?

05/13/2026

Why Wednesday ~ My horse feels tight around the sacrum and hamstrings. Is there something gentle I can do to help release that tension?

Answer: Tightness around the sacrum is often connected to tension in the lumbar muscles and hamstrings. One gentle way to help is with the Accordion Technique, a soft myofascial compression that encourages the horse to participate in the release.

Using only very light pressure (“egg yolk” pressure), gently compress the tissue and watch for responses such as blinking, softening, shifting weight, licking and chewing, or changing how they stand. These responses are important because they show the horse is processing and releasing tension.

This technique can be especially effective along the back and in the muscles that influence the sacrum. As the area softens, many horses will reposition themselves, for example, standing with one hind leg back to shorten the hamstrings and help the release happen more easily.

The key is to resist using more pressure. Instead, search patiently for responses and allow the horse time to guide the process. When we pay attention to those small changes in behavior, the horse often shows us exactly where and how they need help.

Join one of our hands-on Weekend Courses to learn techniques like these to improve your horse’s mobility, comfort, and performance:

https://f.mtr.cool/gjtvgmjxor

05/11/2026

Performance starts with relaxation.

In The Masterson Method Weekend Course, participants learn hands-on techniques to help horses release tension, improve relaxation, and develop a deeper level of communication and trust.

After attending a Weekend Course, students have said:

“This course sharpens observation, timing, and feel at a very high level.”

“I recommend it with all my heart. It's professional, empathic, and very clear for everybody. If you want to know how to do better for your horse or start a new professional journey, it's for you.”

“This is, hands down, the best method of connecting to your horse, while helping bring a higher quality of life to your horse.”

Our students overwhelmingly agree, because when horses let go of tension, you can see and feel the difference: in their movement, their softness, their responsiveness, and their overall well-being.

Ready to experience it for yourself? Find a Weekend Course near you in the link below:
https://f.mtr.cool/xilaecalnp