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News From Jim
Hi everyone,
The good news is that here in Iowa, we are having Spring early! I think everyone is enjoying this extra good weather to get out and ride and be with their horses. On my short visit home I was able to drive Annabelle (the Morgan horse highlighted at the end of the book) downtown for coffee in the morning and catch a couple of nice rides on her brother, Jeremiah and our new  horse, Primo. After riding Primo, he decided (totally on his own) to check out the water temperature in our pond. We were there just in time to snap this photo. Yep, it's still too cold for swimming!
At the end of this month I will be gearing up for a few Masterson Method™ presentations, one at the Iowa Horse Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, the 29th - 31st of March, again at Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio the 14th and 15th of April and at the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, California, June 8th - 10th. This is all part of our plan to "get the word out about the Masterson Method" to as many people as we possible. If you are interested in helping out at any of these horse expos by either volunteering your horse for demonstration, or with your time, let us know. If you are planning on attending any of these horse expos, please come by and say hello.
New, this year, we are starting a new program of 1-day workshops for those that just want to "test the waters" taught by our Masterson Method Certified Practitioners (MMCP). We have already had a couple of very successful 1-day seminars with Janet Terry in Texas and Tami Parr in Wisconsin.
We've created a special Calendar to inform you of those workshops. As you will see, Janet Terry has two scheduled in TX (see new Calendar sidebar below our regular Calendar.) Vicky Devlin in the UK has set up a few there too!
Those that attend a one-day seminar will receive a coupon for reduced tuition for a foundational 2-day seminar.
Once the word is out, we know we will need to have more 2-day seminars. Right now I have a great group of Instructors who have taken over the teaching of our foundational weekend 2-day courses. I will be focusing on teaching the Advance courses and creating more visibility for the Method. We are highlighting one of our instructors here - Coralie Hughes. Like me, enjoy your horses!
Jim
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Coralie Hughes, Instructor 
As long as I can remember, there have been equine brothers and sisters in my life. They have always been my best friends and comrades. Over the years, my daughters and I have participated with joy, where skill may have been absent, in all equestrian pursuits save racing and polo. My current passion as a rider is dressage. Over the years working up the levels through the USDF bronze medal and on my way to the silver medal, I found myself asking and answering a series of questions. What does good look like? caused me to attend USDF L judging school, which I passed "with distinction". What is a fair training request of my horse? led me after a multi-year search to Jim Masterson and his amazingly effective method.
After meeting Jim and watching him work in my trainer's barn, I received my first inoculation with his introductory dvd and was hooked. I couldn't devour the material fast enough. Having completed Jim's rigorous certification process, my bodywork is primarily on dressage and jumping/eventing horses, but also a lot of quarter horses. I work on the horses of professionals and amateurs alike, seeking to enable the horse to be at his best for his rider.
Building off the excellent content in Jim's courses, I'm an intense student of equine and human biomechanics as related to riding in harmony and enabling the horse to more easily perform. With a broad teaching background that encompasses many countries and a number of different subject areas, I look forward to sharing with you what the Masterson Method™ can do for you and your horse.
Coralie can be reached through our website under "Find a Certified Practitioner" webpage.
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The Masterson Minute
Jim explains how to use the "Head Up"
technique on tall horses, for the vertically challenged (short people)
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Testimonial From a "Newbie"
I wanted to pass on my heartfelt thanks to The Masterson Method™ organization for the marvelous weekend clinic we just had in Dade City, FL. You must hear this all the time - but it was "simply the best". Although I came to the table (or I guess I should say "stable") with minimal equestrian knowledge, I was welcomed and made to feel like a valued member of the learning process throughout the weekend. I felt very fortunate, especially at this VERY early stage in my learning, to have had the opportunity to meet and learn from the founder (although I'm sure, with the comprehensive certification you have, any of your certified instructors are impressive), as well as the added bonus of meeting and working with Lee, Sue and Yvonne. Jim's quietly assured manner and openness, allowed me to feel at least a tiny bit confident in applying the methods, and the immediate responses from the horses were encouraging as well. It was really nice having so many helpers available, so you could either have a turn with one of them supervising, or at least always being at an arm's reach away when we needed help. Dr. Peggy's barn was such a warm and welcoming spot as well. Her horses provided both stability and a challenge. Please pass along my thanks to Jim for allowing the program to be available to interested novices. Although I have a pretty lengthy background of human massage therapy (even including a former training clinic in Equissage), I am an admitted newcomer to the equestrian world. Had the pre-requisites been too demanding, I would have lost heart about entering the field. Sort of like the old dilemma "How are you supposed to gain any experience, when 'prior experience' is required to get a job?" As it is now, I came home from my weekend Masterson Method course with renewed interest and inspiration to learn further. I am starting at "Square One" with the U.S. Pony Club Manual (Level D) and beginning riding lessons each week. I will have the opportunity to practice the methods learned from Jim this past weekend each week on my Instructors horses and then when sufficiently confident, on the other horses boarded at her stable. My very best thanks on to Jim, Lori Wilkerson |
Ask Jim
Dear Jim,
I recently massaged a horse of between 24-26 years old...a school horse. She's an Arabian and a sweetie, I think!
Anyway, Because I am very much a novice...I did her massage in her stall, and the back of her stall, which is outside. I found that she seemed
to take longer to release than what I saw or experienced at the Standford, CA weekend course.
However, I did see her eyes soften, she fidgeted a lot, and a lot of chewing or grinding of her teeth. I know these are releases but it seemed to take her quite awhile (I guess be relaxed enough) to release. I do have to say she was sometimes distracted by birds, little noises around the barn site and there are squirrels many of them around the area too. I mean, they are living and running thru her stall and back of stall all the time!
I took my time with her, working on her for about 2 hours. I did not finish the hind quarters part of the massage as I felt 2hrs was probably good enough for this old gal for the first time and for me too.
Was it ok to only do half a massage like that?? And was I ok in thinking that 2hrs of me "working " on the horse was probably enough for this older horse?
So when I return, should I start the massage over as well......and work into the hind quarters then?? Estella Cervantes
Hi Estella,
I've experienced that sometimes Arabians can be sensitive and a little guarded, so you have to pay closer attention to the subtler responses, and wait longer for the releases. Also, I find that when horses grind their teeth when releasing that they often have a lot of tension in the upper neck and poll. So keep at it.
Regarding distractions, you might also notice that the horse often looks for or creates a distraction when things start to loosen up and it is about to release. For example, just before they release, all of the sudden they have to walk to the window and look at a horse walking by, when horses have been walking by all day. So you can start to fit that into the mix when looking for releases. If the distractions become too much and start to interfere with your work, then you have to take the distractions away as much as you can. But it's easier if you can recognize what's going on and use it.
Two hours is fine for not-too-heavy work on the horse. When you go back you can start up front again to see of the horse has loosened up any, or responds better, then move on to the hind end. It won't hurt the horse if you only do the front end.
Don't be discouraged if you're not getting the same releases we got on the course. Every horse is different. When they are more guarded, then you just have to watch more closely.
Hope this helps. Keep up the good work!
Jim
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Calendar of Events
For Prices of each course, follow the link for more information to the Calendar Page on the website. There you will find each course's price, location and registration information
March 29th, 30th, 31st
Iowa Horse Fair
Des Moines, Iowa Masterson Method™ presentations by Jim Masterson
April 14th - 15th
Ames, Iowa
Weekend Seminar-Workshop with Marie Riley.
Click for flier
For more information or call: Jada 515-540-5820
April 14th, 15th
Equine Affaire
Columbus, OH
Masterson Method™
presentations by Jim Masterson
May 5th - 6th
Lexington, KY
Weekend Seminar-Workshop
For more information
or call 641-472-1312
May 19th - 20th
Clinton, Oklahoma
Weekend Seminar- Workshop with Yvonne Ohlensehlen.
For more information
or call 641-472-1312
May 26th - 27th
Cedarburg, WI
Weekend Seminar-Workshop with Stefanie Reinhold.
For more information
or call: 641-472-1312
May 28th - June 1st
Mequon, WI 5 - Day Advanced Course Prerequisites apply
For more information
or call 641-472-1312
June 2nd - 3rd
Rockwell, TX
Weekend Seminar-Workshop with Lorre Mueller
For more information
or call 641-472-1312
June 8th,9th,10th
Western States Horse Expo, Sacramento, CA Jim will be presenting the Masterson Method™
June 23rd - 24th
Little Compton,
Rhode Island
Weekend Seminar-Workshop with Marie Riley.
Click for flier
For more information
or call 641-472-1312
July 14th - 15th
Versailles, KY (near Lexington, KY)
Weekend Seminar-Workshop with Coralie Hughes For more information or call 641-472-1312 July 16th - 20th Versailles, KY (near Lexington, KY)
5 - Day Advanced Course
Prerequisites applyFor more informationor call 641-472-1312 August 11th - 15th Navan, IrelandSeptember 1st - 2nd Totnes, Devon, UKWeekend Seminar-Workshop. For more informationSeptember 3rd - 7th Devon, UK5 - Day Advanced Course
Prerequisites apply For more informationSeptember 8th - 9th Three Forks, MontanaWeekend Seminar-Workshop with Yvonne Ohlensehlen. Click for flierFor more informationor call 641-472-1312 September 8th - 9th Hobart, IndianaWeekend Seminar-Workshop Tentative see Calendar page for updates
September 22nd - 23rd Fairfield IowaWeekend Seminar-Workshop For more informationor call 641-472-1312 September 24th - 28th Fairfield, IowaFor more informationNovember 3rd - 4th Jacksonville, FLWeekend Seminar Workshop Tentative Dates
November 5th - 9th Dade City, FL5 - Day Advanced CourseTentative Dates
All courses are certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork for continuing education credits for massage therapists.
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One Day Workshop
Calendar
For prices and information on each one day workshop, please contact the Certified Practitioner listed with each event. 
March 24th One Day Workshop with Janet Terry, MMCP Bandera, TXEmail to register with Janet or call: 210-385-9933 March 31st One Day Workshop with Janet Terry, MMCP Bandera, TXEmail to register with Janet or call 210-385-9933 April 22nd One Day Workshop with Vicky Devlin, MMCP Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UKEmail to register with VickyMay 27th One Day Workshop with Vicky Devlin, MMCP Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
Beyond Horse Massage Book going into Second Printing!
We are pleased to announce that, Beyond Horse Massage is now in it's second printing!
Thanks to all of you for supporting Jim's techniques!
Our "combo" deal is still in effect: Buy the dvd and the book together and receive a discount of $10.25.
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