Beyond Horse Massage

Jim Masterson, Equine Massage Therapist for the 2006 and 2008 and 2010 USET Endurance Teams, and for equine clientele competing in FEI World Cup, Pan American and World Games competitions, teaches a unique method of equine bodywork to therapists and horse owners, in which the practitioner recognizes and follows the responses of the horse to touch to release tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance. When he first became interested in equine massage in 1997, Jim recognized that the horse exhibits certain neurological responses to touch as it releases tension in the body. Using those responses to guide his work, he developed a system in which the horse participates in the process by showing the practitioner where tension has accumulated, precisely how much pressure is needed to release it, and when it has been released. The result is an effective method of bodywork that anyone can learn to use, to improve performance while at the same time opening new levels of communication and trust with the horse.

In 2006, Jim was invited to accompany the USET Endurance Team to the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Team member Jennifer Niehaus said afterward, “Of all the things that were done for my horse Cheyenne, the bodywork Jim did was the most beneficial. He has truly never moved as nicely as he did in Germany.” In 2008 Jim was again asked to accompany the Team to the FEI World Endurance Championships in Malaysia. Team member Meg Sleeper, DVM said of Jim, “It is impossible to overestimate Jim’s ability to keep performance horses working at their peak level. Simply put, he is like having a secret weapon.” Jim again supported our Endurance Team at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY.

Jim has been a presenter to large crowds of enthusiastic horse owners at Equitana Asia Pacific (Australia) and Equine Affaire (US) equine conventions and has presented The Masterson Method techniques at many Horse Expos and Horse Fairs around the US. He was invited to present at the Your Horse Live event in the UK and the famed Equitana in Essen, Germany.

Jim currently works on 500 to 600 horses a year on the U.S. Hunter-Jumper Show circuit, including top equine competitors in events such as the USEF and Maclay Medal series, and FEI Grand Prix, Nation’s Cup, Pan American and World Cup jumping events. He continues to help members of the USET Singles Driving Team (he helped them prior to the 2010 Championships in Italy) and members of the USET Jumping team.

Jim travels the world teaching the Masterson Method™ seminars and Advanced courses to horse owners, trainers and therapists. For more information visit Jim’s site: mastersonmethod.com. He lives in Fairfield, Iowa.

Stefanie Reinhold is a certified Masterson Method(TM) practitioner (MMCP) and instructor, and is the owner of Reinhold's Horse Wellness(TM) Equine Massage & Bodywork. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.