A little bit about myself and how I got started in the Masterson Method:
On a small family farm in Iowa, I began riding at 8 years old. My first horse was Bucky, a buckskin Welsh pony. He taught me so many things at a young age and was my silent strength.
Upon moving to Estes Park, I was on a ride in the Rocky Mountains, Miss Reba, a blue-eyed paint, got spooked by a mountain lion. She bucked me off and headed back to the ranch. On her way I heard her crash, through a barbwire fence and she fell hard. When I got down to the ranch, she had ripped off 1/3 of her left hind hoof at the cornet band and cut up her chest.
We put together our health care team with our veterinarian, farrier, chiro and our own animal healthcare knowledge to begin rehabilitation. For the first several months we fought infection and other issues as they presented themselves, such as fitting a shoe to give her hoof stabilization. When asked to pick up her hind end she was restricted in her movement. This brought me to search for a way to help her in her movements and give her the freedom she had before the accident. She was in rehab for 8 months.
I began my journey with the Masterson Method® to support Miss Reba on her road to recovery. I will never forget the day I was using the techniques on her hind end and she began to kick out – a movement she had not done for some time. The next day I saw her playing with other horses and moving with more freedom. I saw firsthand how we have an opportunity to help and support them.
In addition, I have completed the Masterson Method Equine Specialist program. I have had the opportunity to work with Stillwater Ranch in Loveland, CO. Stillwater has supported our veterans since 2014. They support their therapy programs through equine groundwork. Also, I have worked with Cheley Camp horse program since 2018 in Estes Park. Working with the staff and campers develop the horsemanship program. Cheley has been developing future leaders since 1921.
Miss Reba’s Hope: “to find freedom of movement through relaxation in the body”