Cristina’s equine bodywork journey began in 2020 but her life with horses began in 1984. Horses have been a part of Cristina’s life since she was 8 years old when she started riding lessons. She got her first horse when she was 10 years old and the barn became her home. Cristina was fortunate to grow up in Alberta, where horses are well renowned, and the barn she grew up in allowed her to engage in many different equine activities. She competed in the hunter and jumper A circuit in Western Canada, trained horses, and had a Connemara breeding program at home.
Life took Cristina away from full time horse ownership after completing her Masters degree in Psychology – B.A., M.Ed – she lived and worked in Mexico and the U.S.A. Cristina then married, moved to Ontario in Eastern Canada, and had 3 wonderful daughters. Now that they are older, she has refocused her attention on horses and her connection with these magnificent creatures has only deepened. As we know better, we do better! Cristina has had the privilege of introducing children to the joys of horse care and riding, is a horse (and pony) owner again, an adult amateur rider and a full-time equine bodyworker. She is grateful that these different aspects allow her to continue to nurture her bond with horses in different ways.
Cristina’s previous horse Gus, an OTTB with 4 years on the track, is the one who showed her the amazing benefits of massage and inspired her to become a Certified and insured – Equine Massage Therapist and Equine Myo-manipulative Functional Therapist. Through her constant search for education, she found The Masterson Method® and became an MMCP. The Masterson Method® elevated her bodywork skills immensely and made her a much more proficient bodyworker. Her clients have followed her journey and enjoy the many added benefits the Masterson Method has provided to their horses.
As a full-time equine bodyworker, she feels humbled to give back to these incredible animals, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of relaxation and tension release as they surrender to wonderful moments of calm with lowered heads, yawns, soft eyes, and gentle sighs. A testament to the profound benefits of The Masterson Method elevating performance and accelerating recovery. The complex nature of horses means they often accumulate tension. Cristina works with owners to address tension-related issues in horses. When horses experience discomfort, compensatory mechanisms can create additional tension which can cause lameness. Through Masterson Method® Equine Bodywork, Cristina facilitates tension release, enhancing equine mobility and well-being. Her goal is to help horses move optimally, reduce the risk of injury, and enhance overall comfort. Cristina has learned so much more about horses through the Masterson Method and is excited to continue her practice and learning as every horse has something new to teach us!