My love of horses began when I was very young. Beyond trail rides during family vacations I had no horse experiences until I began horse back riding lessons at twelve. Soon after, I starting spending time with a friend who owned a couple of horses, and by thirteen I was able to have my own horse. I loved this period of my life, going on trail rides, riding our horses in the lake on the property, cleaning stalls, grooming our horses and just hanging out together at the barn and eventually joining Pony Club. I continued to have a life with horses until college when I needed to focus on my studies.
When I was sixteen I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian. My last semester of high school was spent at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. This experience confirmed my goal of becoming a veterinarian. My interests were in all aspects of medicine and surgery. I received my DVM degree from WSU, worked in private practice for six months, then began a Small Animal Internal Medicine residency at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During this time I completed a Master Degree in Veterinary Medicine and became Board Certified In Small Animal Veterinary Internal Medicine. I then joined the KSU faculty as a small animal internist where I practiced and taught veterinary students for seventeen years. While at KSU I also completed a residency in veterinary dentistry and became board certified in veterinary oral surgery and dentistry. In 2000 I left the university and moved to Seattle to join a small animal dental specialty practice where I stayed until I retired in 2017.
Horses came back into my life in 2019 when I began to volunteer at LittleBit Therapeutic Riding Center in Redmond WA, where I volunteered with all horse related activities and worked on the barn team. This was the best possible activity for me at this time in my life. I eventually began, and continue, to take dressage lessons. I currently volunteer at LittleBit, as well as Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center in Bend, OR, and at Courageous Connections in Lake Stevens, WA.
It was at LittleBit Therapeutic Riding center that I was introduced to the Masterson Method® Integrative Bodywork in 2021 by a FieldWork student. They demonstrated the Bladder Meridian technique and we practiced with a few horses. I was impressed with the concept of listening to and observing the horses for responses to our touch, working with the horses rather than on the horses, seeing the releases and relaxation that the horses experienced, and sharing the connection with the horses that developed after even short sessions using this technique.
I was inspired to research and learn more about the Masterson Method of Integrative Bodywork and think about the possibility of pursuing training, with the idea that I could offer this modality of bodywork for the horses working in equine assisted services. I studied the method and watched several videos demonstrating the technique, and very quickly decided this was a path I wanted to follow. I signed up for all the courses.
The first course I attended was the Masterson Method for Equine Specialists. Once I became an MMES I decided to pursue certification as a Path Int. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). This would allow me to serve as the required equine specialist (ES) and MMES during equine assisted learning (EAL) classes and equine facilitated physiotherapy (EFP) sessions.
After MMES certification I attended the weekend, five day, and the Light to the Core courses. The Light to the Core course was a perfect addition to my learning process because it demonstrated beautifully the concept of softness. I became a Certified Masterson Method Practitioner (CMMP) in 2024.
I incorporate the Bladder Meridian technique into my role as a facilitator in EAL classes and EFP sessions. I believe participants benefit and learn by doing something with, and for, the horse. I’m interested in continuing my role as an MMES and incorporating my MMCP skills in EAS classes as well as volunteering my services as an MMCP with horses at therapeutic riding centers.
I also work with horses that are not part of an EAS program. I enjoy my studies and exploration of the Masterson Method, of equine anatomy and function, muscle/ligament/tendon/fascia, health and disease, horse behavior and thinking about things from the horse’s perspective. I like the idea that I’ll never be done with learning and improving as an MMCP.