Hello All,  

Check out the Performance Horse Digest magazine which is now carrying our monthly column along with columns by the likes of Craig Cameron, Lynn Palm, Ken McNabb, the Parellis, Martha Josey and others. You can access the magazine for free online, and take in helpful training articles the above - and me - if your eyes aren't too tired by then. Take a look.

August 18th will be the beginning of even more fun for two weeks at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. I have a new camera and will be able to keep you all up to date on the day to day happenings leading up to the WEG Endurance event on the 28th.  You will be able to follow this on the Masterson Method Facebook page.  

US Endurance Team rider Meg Sleeper will be sharing her experiences giving us a "behind the scenes" look at the training up to and during the WEG. I will be following her (and her horse's) progress during the then days that I'll be with the team. The picture above was taken during the 2009 pre-ride leading up to the 2010 WEG in Lexington, KY.  In the photo, wet-and-freezing crew members rush to take care of wet-and-freezing horses and riders during one of their holds after a vet check.The holds, usually lasting around 45 minutes, take place after scheduled veterinarian inspections, and give the horse time to rest, eat, get feet checked, get bodywork, and if needed, dry out, cool down or warm up as needed, before completing another loop. While endurance racing is a timed event, there is an important technical aspect in that the horse must continue to be sound and healthy during the entire event. If the horse doesn't stay within very strict parameters the horse is pulled from the competition. Hence the vet checks and holds. During the time I've spent with them, I have to say how impressed I've been by the knowledge, experience, horse sense, and caring that the US Endurance Team has had for their horses. 'Nuff said.

Here's a happier photo with riders Meg 

Sleeper and Val Kanavy on one of the warmer days leading up to the actual WEG Endurance event at Lexington in 2010 (that would be me on the left). 

Absorbine® and The Masterson Method® Partner for Complete Muscle and Joint Care

Two leaders in equine wellness join forces to promote a holistic approach to comfort

East Longmeadow, MA - For over 120 years, riders and trainers have trusted Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment to help relieve their horses' fatigued muscles, stiff joints, and arthritis pain. Recognizing that equine comfort takes a whole-body approach, Absorbine® announces its sponsorship of The Masterson Method® Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork®. This interactive method developed by Jim Masterson offers a unique approach to equine massage, promoting active participation between horse and handler to release tension and improve performance. The partnership between Absorbine and The Masterson Method has been formed in an effort to help educate horse owners on how they can more completely address stress in their horses' bodies, leading to top performance and a great attitude.

Friday, April 10 - Sunday, April 12, 2015
Fort Wayne, IN
www.mastersonmethod.com/3d-fort-wayne