I just received the September newsletter, and thought I would drop a note about my success story. I attended a 3 day Masterson course several years ago, and have enjoyed seeing how much the method has helped my horses feel better and move better.

I ride dressage, and have always dreamed of having a dressage schoolmaster. This spring, I had the opportunity to buy an 18 year old Dutch Warmblood. He had shown successfully, and then moved into a school horse role. He had gotten somewhat sour, and the owner was looking for a home where he would not work as hard, but could still teach a rider new skills.

When I brought him home, he was very sore all over his body. He snapped or kicked whenever he was touched. Saddling him was a huge production, requiring two people as he flailed around and kicked and snapped. The muscles in his back were hard, and seemed to be in spasm. He was very swaybacked.

He was not a happy camper.

I started doing some basic Masterson on him. Although it was hard for him to accept, I could see him relax and feel better. I watched the Masterson for Dressage video, and discovered that he was sore in exactly the areas predicted, and so I added those in addition to the basic overall work. I used a Back on Track blanket and saddle pad on him, to help his muscles relax.

He was also turned out 24/7. He had been turned out overnight previously, but now he was in a bigger pasture, with more horses, and moved around more on more varied terrain.

The results have been remarkable. In 4 months, all of his muscles have relaxed. He is no longer sore, and has stopped kicking and snapping. He enjoys being touched and being worked on. We are forming a partnership.

I have learned a lot from him already, and look forward to furthering my education. I don’t think any of this would have happened without the Masterson Method.

Thank you!
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Jim worked for me in Malaysia on the US Endurance team. His results are amazing!

I’ve done bodywork for 30+ years now and 9 years on the best racehorses in the world. I can’t recommend any other style more than Jim’s method for horses. I am very eclectic and use a lot of machines and instrument assisted adjusting in addition, but if I was only going to pick one thing to use on a horse it would be Jim’s method hands down. Results and responsible business practices with a caring and compassionate attitude is what gets referrals. Don’t waste your time with anything else, unless it’s to add some more tools to your tool kit after you’ve got the Masterson Method down.
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I just started today using the Masterson method on my just turned 7 yr old Mustang who has 3 years dressage training but still goes into freeze mode at times. I have a woman who does the Masterson method on my Mustang. She gets some results but it takes a while. I bought Jim’s book and read it up to the bladder meridian step by step and as I have used T-Touch massage on my horse previously, I knew this would work too. So today, I did my first bladder meridian on my own. OMG!!!! Instantly, Eclipse started licking, chewing, lips trembling, breathing quickened, head came down, he turned to look as his right side off and on, more licking, more chewing, eye blinking and more eye blinking!!!! I am SO thrilled to get so much out of a 10 minute session. That is all he wanted. Yes, there is a feeling when the horse tells you, ‘that is all I want for now.’ It is kind of like doing Reiki. The animal will let you know when they are through. I have a 19 year old Percheron mare. She and I have been together for 14 years. I did a little bit of this on her today too…and once again, INSTANT and continuous chews, eye blinks…no sighs but plenty of chews. NOW I want to attend a seminar/workshop!!!!!!!
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I really didn’t know how restricted Davenport’s movement was. Not only can I tell how much more comfortable he is after using the Masterson Method, but the difference in performance is like night and day!

I have a story about massaging a particular horse; as has become my habit, I stopped by the stables to massage a couple horses Saturday, and while I was there, one of them (Clark) suffered a cut above his left eye from the hoof of his pasture buddy (Henry) as they were romping about. The cut was serious enough that the vet was called. In the meantime, Clark was cross tied to prevent him rubbing the wound, so I decided to do some gentle massage around the poll area, thinking the force of Henry’s hoof to be significant enough to give Clark a very big headache.

Immediately, Clark started releasing by chewing, and twisting his lips all around and snorting. I did this for about 15 minutes, and then I just gently stroked his neck until the vet arrived. The vet gave Clark a mild sedative, and during the cleaning, and stitching procedure, Clark’s head rested on my shoulder – this was about a 45 minute procedure, during which time I kept talking to him and stroking his neck and poll area. He was then taken to his stall, where he was closely monitored. I stopped by Sunday to see how he was – the swelling had gone down and he looked fine. I massaged him for a little while and he released more stress. He didn’t seem comfortable with an over-all massage, so I didn’t push it. The techniques I used were all from Jim’s video, and the Reiki I used in conjunction with the massage I learned a number of years ago and find very effective. I learned horses could get headaches by reading Jim’s blog on-line, so thank you, as a result, I could bring Clark some relief.
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I started your method before the book/DVDs arrived. You were on The Horse Show with Rick Lamb when I first saw you. I had forgotten about your method and your name reappeared on My Horse Daily a short while back so, I visited your site and watched ALL your videos. I went out to the barn and tried a few of them at the hitching rail with Mac and I was surprised at all the reactions I got from him. Never thought he was that tense. I repeated them almost daily for a week or so then ordered your book/DVDs.

We are active in ACTHA and 8/31 had gone to an event and there was a mini horse drawn carriage event going on at the same venue. Mac was beside himself over the horse eating carriages. Every time they came into view he tensed up. The next day at our home barn I did your method on him and and no sooner did I start he just released for about 10 minutes non stop. I didn’t want to interrupt him. I’d wait a few minutes he’d settle a bit I’d walk up to him and he’d start another release. The next day he was back to normal for him with his releases. We were at a 2 day ACTHA event last weekend and I plan on working on him tomorrow. Today he just seemed too tired. I’ve gotten to Tech. 2: Head Down so far.
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I just wanted to share an experience I had today with a horse that I had never met. Mind you I am not trained, yet, in the MM. I am just experimenting from what the book and video are giving me. I went to look at a horse for a client to see what she can do to help with his diet and other things. I did some palpitations to see where he was sore and then said let me try a few things on him. I did the Bladder Meridian Techniques (BMT), which I had not tried before, and then the Lateral Cervical Flexion. When I was doing the BMT, I got half way down the neck and the horse looked to the right shoulder, (I was on the left), then he would drop his head, then as I got closer to the wither he again looked to the right shoulder. From my previous evaluation, I knew he was having issues with his left hind, so the right shoulder thing made sense. Then when I got to hind hip, he quickly dropped it as if something released. I did a bit of other stuff to his TMJ area and told the owner to step back and give him time to process. He shook his head, and then began to yawn and yawn. He must have yawed 6 times! It was awesome! The more I experiment with the MM, the more I know I need to continue with this work, thank you, Jim
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I just received your DVD and after working through the first few exercises my horse can scratch his own side with his teeth for the first time – amazing!

Yes, I ordered the Equine Massage for the Performance Horse from you yesterday. I am so impressed with the results I’ve seen on online videos — truly beyond anything I’ve seen with any other technique — (and I am very familiar with bodywork practitioners from Feldenkreis to Tellington-Jones) . I have a little mare who has much stiffness and tightness and body pain from a variety of causes – she is 17 years old and I’ve raised her from birth — and nothing has helped all that much. From just a brief YouTube video of Mr. Masterson working on a horse I tried the releasing of her head and poll — I tell you I almost cried from her response — she is normally so stiff she doesn’t like her head moved about — after just a few minutes she dropped her head, licked her lips and let out a huge sigh — last night was the third time I tried it and as she watched me enter her stall with halter she turned towards me, sighed deeply and peed. I believe she was actually asking for the treatment. (and I am just beginning!) Her eye was so sweet and soft. This is the closest thing to magic I have ever witnessed. Nothing else comes close. I hope to see Mr. Masterson at the Midwest Horse Fair. I was so excited I have now gotten the book and the other dvd from Barnes and Noble. I also look forward to a weekend seminar when one is near. My mare (a gorgeous dun quarter horse) is the love of my life and I am so grateful to have found something that will help her. God bless you for your work and for sharing it with others.
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