Tina found the Masterson Method® back in early 2020, thanks to some desperation to help her horse and a lucky google search. At the time, she had a 3 year old quarter horse mare named Rosie who was built like a tank and whose body was tight and hard as iron – she could barely turn her neck, had difficulty bending through her ribcage, and couldn’t consistently engage her hindquarters. Tina found the bladder meridian technique online and quickly went outside to try it. She immediately found significant tension in Rosie’s neck – Rosie went deeply internal, lowering her head, blinking her eyes deeply, and twitching her muzzle. Remembering that Jim said it can sometimes take a while for the horse to release the tension, Tina hung in there for what seemed like forever, and was amazed when Rosie finally let go with a series of yawns and a huge cat stretch all the way through her neck – something Tina had never seen her do. Tears streaming down her face, Tina realized she had finally found something to help her partner!! And the rest is history!
Today, Rosie is a happy, healthy, versatile horse who loves having an important job to do – she regularly assists Tina at horsemanship and healthy movement clinics, goes on fun trail rides, and participates in all sorts of clinics (horsemanship, stockmanship, versatility, dressage). And thanks to Rosie, Tina became fascinated with bodywork and biomechanics and has dedicated herself to learning as much as she can to help the horses in her care feel comfortable, safe, and happy in their bodies.
Tina also works part time as an educator at the largest equine rescue in New England. Bringing bodywork to abused and neglected horses has been a wonderful gift and a way she is able to give back to the equine community. In her role, she brings equine education to the public through multiple types of programming for adults and children. She also works with the horses, helping them through individual rehabilitation and training programs on their journeys to health and finding forever homes.
Given her extensive background in equine bodywork, anatomy, horsemanship, and biomechanics, as well as her previous work as a human fitness instructor and personal trainer, helping horses (and their people) reconnect to their bodies through bodywork, movement, and balance is an important pillar of her work.