The Masterson Method Integrated Performance Bodywork
About The Masterson Method® an Integrated, Multi-Modality Method of Equine Massage
The Masterson Method® – Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork, is a unique, interactive method of equine massage and bodywork 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, rather than to the horse. This participation and interaction is 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!
Touch and Response: “Staying Under the Radar” How the correct use of touch bypasses bracing or guarding.
When practicing The Masterson Method®, we can only achieve good results if the horse remains cooperative and relaxed. This can be challenging. In nature, the horse’s first survival response to intrusion is to flee. When we are handling the horse, it normally doesn’t have that option. It falls back to its second survival response; to guard, push against, or brace. This can happen either externally or internally. You can stay under the radar of this “survival response” by applying pressure to the horse lightly enough and slowly enough and therefore bypass this internal bracing or guarding response. The Masterson Method enables you to access that part of the horse’s nervous system that will yield, or release tension.
Achieving releases: How subtle responses from the horse lead to release of tension.
As a prey animal, the horse will attempt to always appear strong. If the horse shows signs of pain or weakness it will be the one first noticed by the predator, or may be left behind by the herd. Every horse will guard against showing signs of pain, weakness, lameness in the body. That is why it can be so difficult to evaluate lameness in a horse.
By applying The Masterson Method techniques, you can access that part of the horse’s nervous system that will give you certain signs that tell you where tension is being held in the body, and when it is being released. If you use the correct level of touch or pressure, and follow what the horse’s own body is telling you, it will release the tension it is holding.
Key Areas Of the Body That Affect Performance: Achieving Improvement By Releasing Tension in Key Areas
Certain areas of the horse’s body accumulate stress and tension that affect mobility, comfort, attitude and performance. This can come from any number of areas including feet, saddle, teeth, conformation, lameness or just plain work. When the tension is released you see immediate improvement in mobility, comfort, attitude and performance.
The Masterson Method focuses on releasing tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance such as the poll, neck/shoulder/withers junction, and sacro/lumbar junction.
Improved Relationship With Your Horse: Creating Trust and Winning Your Horse’s Cooperation:
By learning to read and follow the horse’s responses to your touch, this bodywork becomes a fulfilling interactive process. You are able to create a trusting bond and win the cooperation of just about any horse.
