Anyone heard of this? Use it? Here’s the link to the website: https://www.mastersonmethod.com/
Doesn’t seem like it would work to me but I have no experience with it. I’d love to hear peoples’ personal experiences with it if you have tried it. Or just opinions.
I’ve attended a demonstration on it and like the principles of it. The demo horse really seemed to enjoy himself too. I haven’t used a practitioner yet but wouldn’t hesitate to do so.
I owned the DVD a while back and watched it several times. I thought it was good and I was able to put some of the techniques to good use with my horses. The DVD is definitely worth a watch, beyond that I couldn’t comment.
I’ve got the DVD and book and I have seen a difference with my horses…besides the fact that they love it and get all sleepy and happy expressions when we start working.
This website is a bit coy about giving away much technical information for free so I have no idea how this compares with the usual methods of horse massage, which also involve touch, close attention to feedback from the horse, and guided stretching. IME all these things work on horses as far as relaxing them, diagnosing areas of stiffness, and releasing muscle tightness. A lot of the effectiveness will depend on how good the practitioner is, of course.
I own the DVDs and think they are very clear and well done. My horses respond extremely well to the techniques and I have reviewed what I do with my saddle fitter (who also does bodywork) and gotten the thumbs up.
Check out his YouTube Channel where he has some short videos and try it.
If there was a clinic near me, I would go in a heartbeat.
My farrier did a bunch of training in this bodywork method and I thought it was woowoo voodoo… until she caused my horse to have such a huge release that her withers cracked, she dropped her head and did a huge sigh/lick/chew, and then her nose drained. Now it’s part of our program and I’m very pleased with how well it works to increase her overall comfort.
[QUOTE=Bogie;8463304]
If there was a clinic near me, I would go in a heartbeat.[/QUOTE]
Ditto. My horse thoroughly approves of my efforts at his techniques and I feel it is very “low risk/high reward” as a way to interact with and support my horse.
Good stuff.
We have a facility and a massage therapist that comes employs this method. She eventually inquired if our facility could host a Masterson method certification, so we asked for more info. Students would be coming for 5 days and they would be hands on with our horses (under supervision of the Masterson clinician). When asked if their clinics and instructors are covered by a liability policy and when we told them we’d need a copy of the certificate on insurance prior to agreeing to do host this clinic for them, the answer was “oh no, there is no insurance, it would fall under your liability for the Masterson students”. We had to decline the opportunity, seemed a little strange to us that a business / school that is training others and certifying them in a profession didn’t carry any sort of insurance. So long story short, the horses in the past seemed to love the methods used by our equine masseuse, however their lack of insurance had us too concerned to continue with their organization and affiliates.
I bought the book last year and use the technique on my horse all the time. As a massage therapist (and former equine MT), I find it less invasive and the horse tells you exactly where to work. Love seeing horses’ reactions to trouble spots and watching them release.
This is very well liked by all my equine. The results are just amazing when you see the release with a bunch of yawns and eye rolls.
So how is it different from regular massage and stretches?
Is there a youtube demo?
[QUOTE=Bogie;8463304]
If there was a clinic near me, I would go in a heartbeat.[/QUOTE]
Oh man, me too! Damn East Coast.
I also own the DVDs and have definitely seen a difference. My old guy HATES massages, but really likes a lot of stuff in the Masterson method, especially the stretch for the atlas. My friend is a professional equine masseuse, and she’s worked a lot of his stuff into her “routine” with great results.
Masterson
Happy New Year!!!
HF, I have a friend who is studying Masterson to become certified. She has used my horse and another one in the barn for her clinical studies. The horses do seem to enjoy it.
If you PM me, I can give you her website. I am also in Ontario, just northwest of the GTA.
Cabz
[QUOTE=Hermein;8463939]
Is there a youtube demo?[/QUOTE]
There are quite a few videos that he offers on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/user/mastersonmethod
Wow, I never would have guessed that so many people have heard of this and love it! That’s great. My mom ordered a DVD and a book (she’s more into the “natural” and massage stuff than I am) and she really wants to try it. Thanks for the input guys. I think I might try it out this summer on my own horse.
I’ve read through the book and tried some of the techniques on various horses and have seen positive results. If there was a certified person near me I’d probably schedule something.
I have done a bit of it myself via the dvd, but now I have a certified person nearby. She does a combo of the Masterson work and fascia work, and my horse is a puddle of of happy jelly afterwards.
It’s really soft and gentle, unless the horse asks for a deeper touch. I’ve really felt a difference in his way of going too.
reviving this thread…I’ve watched the videos and want to get all sleepy myself
My questions, other than the horses enjoying their sessions, in what other ways have you seen improvement?
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