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!

09/02/2026

Why Wednesday ~ My jumper tends to get tight through the hamstrings and gluteals after competitions. Is there a Masterson Method® technique I can use to help release some of that tension?

Answer: Yes! Jumping asks a lot of the horse’s hind end, and tension can build up through the large muscles of the hindquarters, including the gluteals and hamstrings. This can also affect areas such as the hocks, stifles, hips, and lower back.

One Masterson Method technique you can use to help your horse release some of that tension is the Hind Leg Release Down and Back.

Begin by standing beside your horse’s hip, facing toward the rear, and ask for the hind foot as you would when picking out the hoof. Support the foot at the pastern with the ankle bent and, as your horse begins to relax the leg, follow it gently down and back until the toe can rest on the ground.

The important part? Let your horse relax into the position rather than trying to stretch the leg into it.

Once the leg is resting comfortably down and back, keep a light hand on it and give your horse time. Step back a little and see what they have to say. You may notice subtle responses or signs of release as the muscles begin to soften.

When the hamstrings are relaxed, you can gently massage the area or introduce a small wiggle through the leg to invite even more relaxation.

Why can this make such a difference? This position can help release tension through the hamstrings and the powerful middle gluteal muscle, which connects with the lumbar region and hip. Releasing tension here can also have a positive effect on the psoas muscles that support the lumbar spine.

In this video, watch Jim demonstrate the Hind Leg Release Down and Back at the end of a Masterson Method session with one very relaxed horse!

Want to learn techniques like this hands-on? At a Masterson Method Weekend Course, you’ll learn how to read your horse’s subtle responses and use gentle techniques to help release tension and improve comfort, mobility, and performance.

https://i.mtr.cool/csxoeirobn

08/28/2026

Is it a training issue… or could your horse be trying to tell you something?

When a horse consistently finds something more difficult on one side than the other, it can be tempting to think: "We just need to work on this more." But what if there’s another piece of the puzzle?

In this clip, Jim Masterson talks about some of the red flags that make him consider whether there could be a physical component involved, such as a horse being noticeably rougher in one direction or beginning to swap behind.

As Jim explains, it’s about putting the different pieces of the puzzle together. Movement, behavior, and changes in what your horse can comfortably do can all give us useful information.

The goal isn’t to prove whether it’s “this or that.” It’s to keep paying attention to what’s going on with your horse so you can help them move and feel better.

💭 Have you ever thought you were dealing with a training issue, only to discover there was a physical component involved?

Hey everyone! Here's a special recommendation from Jim Masterson:A Coat Full of Dreams, by my friend Anita Parra, is a b...
08/27/2026

Hey everyone! Here's a special recommendation from Jim Masterson:

A Coat Full of Dreams, by my friend Anita Parra, is a beautifully illustrated rhyming story inspired by Anita's own horse, Sterling, celebrating the extraordinary bond between horses and the people who love them.

This story will be appreciated by anyone whose commitment to their horse is strong enough to bring about their horse's commitment to them. How do I know this is true?
It's true because Sterling tells us so.

Learn more and pre-order here:
https://stellarsterlingpress.com/

08/26/2026

Why Wednesday ⁓ My horse often feels tight through his shoulders after training. Is the Scapula Release a good technique to use afterward?

Answer: Yes! The Scapula Release Down and Forward can be a great technique to help your horse release tension that has accumulated through the shoulder area during work.

Rather than stretching the leg, this technique gently supports it in a position that allows the scapula to drop down and move forward in a relaxed state. As the horse lets go of tension around the shoulder, it can also have a positive effect on connected areas such as the withers, neck, and back.

In this video, Jim Masterson demonstrates how to position and support the leg, and shows how giving the horse time to relax into the movement can help create more freedom through the shoulder.

As with all Masterson Method techniques, pay attention to your horse’s responses and let those responses guide you. Less is more.

🐴 Know someone whose horse tends to hold tension through the shoulders? Share this video with them and help more horses experience The Masterson Method®.

Want to learn more? Join us at a Masterson Method® Weekend Course and learn how to use this and many other techniques with your own horse. Through hands-on instruction, you’ll discover how to help improve your horse’s mobility, comfort, and performance while building an even stronger partnership.

Find a course near you here: https://f.mtr.cool/emuyfeonfs

What happens when you take what you've learned from horses... and start paying attention to what your dog is telling you...
08/25/2026

What happens when you take what you've learned from horses... and start paying attention to what your dog is telling you, too?

When Charlie Frost welcomed Scout, a young Vizsla, into her life, she expected the connection to come naturally. After all, she'd shared 11 years with Harry, another Vizsla.

But Scout was very much his own dog, and Charlie found herself struggling to understand and connect with him in the same way.

As a Masterson Method® equine Fieldwork student back then, Charlie was already familiar with the idea of following the animal's subtle responses rather than simply doing bodywork to them. So when she began learning The Masterson Method Canine Bodywork, something started to shift.

As Charlie learned to recognize Scout's responses rather than expecting him to respond like another dog, she began to understand him differently. And somewhere along the way, the bodywork became about more than releasing physical tension; it helped them find a language of their own. In her words, the biggest change was their connection.

If you've ever wondered how the principles you know from The Masterson Method with horses translate to dogs, Charlie's story is a lovely read.

Read “Learning to Connect with My New Dog” on our blog:
https://f.mtr.cool/kwgaee40o3

🐶 And a little something for the dog people among us: in celebration of International Dog Day, Beyond Dog Massage is currently 26% OFF in the US through August 31.

So if you've ever looked at your dog and wondered, “Could I do this with you, too?” this might be a good time to find out. 😉

And if you'd like to see more of The Masterson Method® in action with dogs, follow us over at The Masterson Method Canine Bodywork where we're currently sharing our 10 Things Your Dog Wishes You Knew series.

08/24/2026

When something isn’t working, our human instinct is often to try harder. With horses, sometimes the answer is to do the opposite: go lighter.

In this Bodywork Tips with Jim Masterson reel, Jim demonstrates how he uses Air Gap pressure (barely touching the hair) and watches for subtle responses such as a blink or lip twitch that can indicate the horse is feeling something under that spot.

When he finds a response, he doesn’t rub, push, or add more pressure. He stays, waits, and gives the horse time to process and release the tension.

As Jim says, it’s easy to “get too active and human” and want to make something happen. But when doing Masterson Method with a horse, less is more.

Want to learn how to recognize some of the subtle signs of tension your horse may be showing you? Visit the web below to watch Jim’s FREE video lesson and learn a simple Masterson Method® technique you can try with your own horse.

https://f.mtr.cool/anydadgliv

💭 Have you ever been surprised by how much your horse responds to such a light touch?

08/21/2026

🧠 Pain isn’t just physical, and every horse processes it differently.

In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Stephen Peters and Jim Masterson explore what’s happening in the horse’s brain and nervous system when a horse experiences pain or discomfort, including how the brain gives that experience emotional significance.

That means the same injury may not be processed in the same way by every horse, and understanding that can give us another perspective on how our horses respond to discomfort.

🎥 Want to watch the full conversation? Dr. Peters and Jim’s complete discussion is featured in our August Equine Newsletter. Read the August newsletter and watch the full conversation here:

https://f.mtr.cool/rgxrsaqxlc

And if you enjoy conversations like this, be sure to subscribe to the Masterson Method newsletter so you don’t miss future interviews, insights, and resources.

08/20/2026

What do your horse’s teeth have to do with their hind end? More than you might think!

In this Bodywork Tips with Jim Masterson reel, Jim explains how an imbalance in the teeth can create tension in the TMJ and poll, but the effects don’t necessarily stop there. There can also be a connection between dental imbalance and movement in the hind end.

It’s another reminder of just how interconnected the horse’s body is and why it’s so valuable to look at the whole horse when trying to understand tension and changes in movement.

Want to learn how to recognize some of the subtle signs of tension your horse may be showing you? Visit the web below to watch Jim’s FREE video lesson and learn a simple Masterson Method® technique you can try with your own horse.

https://f.mtr.cool/wdqlbhzbme

💭 Did you know that an issue in your horse’s teeth could be connected to the tension you might be seeing in the hind end?

08/19/2026

Why Wednesday ~ I have noticed that whenever my horse yawns, he doesn't fully open his mouth; it looks more like a restrained yawn. Could this be tension in the TMJ, and can The Masterson Method® help?

Answer: Dental issues can have a greater effect on horses than we might imagine, so it's worth having an equine dentist evaluate your horse and rule out any dental issues. Once dental concerns have been ruled out, the Masterson Method TMJ Point Technique could help him release tension in that junction.

In this clip, Jim Masterson shows you how to locate the TMJ Point and gently search the groove for a subtle response, such as a blink. It's always convenient to check both sides, as one side may hold more tension than the other.

Once you find a response, wait there and give your horse time to process and release tension. It might be five seconds, 30 seconds, or even a full minute.

Watch Jim's video to learn why this technique is so effective, and if you enjoy learning hands-on, join one of our Weekend Courses to discover how The Masterson Method can improve your horse's comfort, mobility, and performance.

https://f.mtr.cool/papdnpfmai

Have a question you’d like us to feature on a future Why Wednesday? Drop it in the comments!

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