My journey with horses began as a pony-mad child, spending every spare moment at my local riding school and asking for a pony every birthday and Christmas. At 15, that dream finally came true when my sister and I got our first pony, Ebony, a 14hh Welsh Section D. Not long afterwards, Biggles, an ex-racehorse, joined the family. Since then, many horses have come into my life, each teaching me something new. Today, I’m lucky enough to share my life with my two horses, Coco and Eddie.
From an early age, I loved helping people with their horses. I was teaching while I was still young and riding every horse I could. I found I had a natural ability to understand horses, particularly those that others found challenging, and I loved figuring out what they needed to thrive.
Over the years, I’ve competed in showing, showjumping and eventing, giving me first-hand experience of the physical and mental demands placed on performance horses. Alongside competing, I was always drawn to the more complex horses, taking on project horses and helping owners work through behavioural and training challenges. Looking back, this sparked my lifelong interest in the relationship between behaviour, movement and wellbeing.
Knowing I wanted a career working with horses, I completed a degree in Animal Behaviour to deepen my understanding of how horses think, learn and communicate. I then gained my UKCC Level 2 Coaching qualification to further develop my skills as a coach and better support both horses and riders.
After spending several years working alongside experienced equine professionals including Olympians, I established Jenny O’Rourke Equestrian Services in 2017. Initially, my work centered around coaching and riding for clients, but I found myself increasingly drawn to groundwork, rehabilitation and helping horses regain confidence, improve their biomechanics and return comfortably to work. I’ve always believed that lasting change comes from understanding the horse as a whole rather than simply addressing the symptoms.
I was introduced to The Masterson Method® in 2022 when Alice Ross treated my own horses. I was fascinated by the horse-led approach and the way each horse was encouraged to participate in their own treatment. A few years later, I attended my first Masterson Method Weekend Course, and it wasn’t long before I knew I wanted to become a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner Equine.
What I love most about The Masterson Method is that it aligns perfectly with everything I already believed about working with horses. It respects the horse as an individual, follows their responses and creates an environment where they feel safe enough to release tension and restore balance. Combined with my experience in groundwork, biomechanics and nervous system regulation, it has become an integral part of the way I support horses.
I’m passionate about continuing my education and ensuring the horses I work with benefit from the latest knowledge and techniques. Alongside my Masterson Method certification, I’ve trained in fascia and trauma release through the EFTR Method and regularly undertake continuing professional development to expand my skills.
Today, I take a whole-horse approach to every case. Bodywork is just one piece of the puzzle, and I enjoy helping owners look at every aspect of their horse’s management, movement and wellbeing to create the best possible outcome. Whether your horse is a top-level competition partner, a happy hacker, a youngster or enjoying retirement, my aim is always the same: to help them move more comfortably, feel better in their bodies and enjoy life to the fullest.
Based in Cheshire, I cover Cheshire, Manchester and the surrounding areas, and regularly travel further afield. If you’d like to find out how The Masterson Method could benefit your horse, I’d love to hear from you.