At the race track, success usually means reaching the finish line first.  I could tell you about many of my clients' horses who have won their races, sometimes several in a row, after I have worked on them. It is especially rewarding to me when a horse that has been too sore to pass the vet check, goes on to win a race after only one or two bodywork sessions.  "Finish Line" photos fill the walls of my office, but I would like to tell you about a different kind of success. The kind of success that comes from seeing a horse relax for the first time in years!

One of my client's horses is a filly I'll call "Soprano" (not her real name).  Soprano, who sometimes placed in her races, and sometimes did not, seemed to be one of the most unhappy horses I had ever met! Day after day, without fail, she lunged at almost everyone who walked down the shed row, with teeth bared.  Even with no one around her, she was tense and unhappy, and she had been this way as long as anyone could remember!  She was a huge challenge to work on, as she would seriously attempt to bite me at any opportunity, flinging her head and body around at the slightest touch.  Out of necessity, bodywork sessions were almost always limited to one or two areas at a time.  Although areas of tension and restriction were released, thereby improving performance, they had always returned by the next session.  Even more telling was the fact that she was never happy to see me - a clear sign that she was not getting enough relief in our sessions to make a difference! 

I was determined to find a way to help her.  I picked a time when most of the daily activity at the barn was finished, to reduce distractions for both of us.  With the mindset that every aggressive behavior was an indication of pain, I was careful to keep my hands soft and my breathing relaxed. I started at the points of the tail.  Even though I was barely touching her, she began to bite at the wall and fling her head, so I lightened the touch to "air gap" until she could tolerate it. (Air gap pressure is not even touching the horse, but allowing a gap of air between your fingers and the horse.)

Even though she would not visibly release, she was calmer. I moved to the base of her neck, working with one hand gently on the cheek piece of her halter, ready to keep those teeth from getting too close. I started with the lightest contact possible, and she turned to bite at me.

I softened and lightened each time she reacted aggressively.  Eventually, at a distance greater than simply "air gap" she turned her head away without being aggressive, and I waited. She then lifted her nose into the air, looking every bit like the alpha mare in a band of wild horses, checking for danger, and I waited. Finding no danger, she turned to look at me, her eye softened, and she began to chew.

Each time I moved to a new "spot" (with no physical contact) and patiently waited, she would look away, check for danger, look toward me, and lick, chew or yawn. We repeated this scenario over and over. When she finally released at the poll, she yawned over and over again! Encouraged, I gently approached her tongue. By the time she realized what was happening, she was yawning too much to object!

I spent 3 hours releasing her entire body in the same manner. While I would not normally work that long in one session,  she continued to release and showed no signs of "overload". When we were done, Soprano, literally looked like a different horse!  Her face was relaxed, rather than tense and menacing, and her ears were up.  Her demeanor was calm.  The next morning, I stopped by to follow-up.  She greeted me (without baring her teeth) and allowed me to lightly run my hands over her body.  She actually seemed happy to see me.

Her owner stopped by and marveled at the change in her filly.  While she wasn't scheduled to race anytime soon, I didn't need a "finish-line" photo to know we had already won!

Editor's note:  You can get in touch with Cyndi Hill, Masterson Method™ Certified Practitioner at:   cyndihill@equineperformancebodywork.com or visit her website, due up at the end of May: www.equineperformancebodywork.com

I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not in love with horses.

Throughout my life, I have been blessed with opportunities to ride and own, some very nice horses.  My barn is filled with everything from Cutting Horses and Reining Horses, to a Western Pleasure horse or two. Even a few rescue horses decorate my pastures. I have always had an admiration for performance horses. I worked for a cutting horse trainer, and saw many talented athletes never reached their potential in their training because they were hurting. For some of their careers ended early because of injuries that could have been prevented by simply listening to what the horse was trying to "say." Sadly, resistance is too often met with punishment, rather than an open mind. 

I became very interested in equine bodywork when my reining mare was having some issues and her performance was failing. An Equine Veterinarian/Chiropractor told me, "If you would give your mare regular bodywork, you would never need me."  He sent us home with only those instructions. 

I began searching for something other than "traditional massage".  I am a L.M.T. (for people) but wanted something more for my horses.  I stumbled onto Jim's video and watched through tears, as this was the most amazing thing I had ever seen in terms of equine bodywork.  It was like finding a missing piece to a puzzle!

To be able to take a horse that is struggling in the show pen, maybe he isn't stopping correctly, maybe he missing his leads, maybe he just isn't himself, because he hurts and to be able to release the restrictions in this horse, helping him feel better; then to watch him perform to his abilities once again is awesome! Performance horses are brilliant creatures, they know when they do well.  When they feel good, they want to do well.  My list of success stories continues to grow as a result of using the Masterson Method™ on these equine athletes.  I love this work! 

Sheila can be contacted via e-mail at smarty@artelco.comor by phone at (501) 253-0216.