Hello All,
I’m sitting on my porch now, having a cup of coffee, wondering why I’m not on a plane somewhere. Everything I have to report having done this last month has been done from home… or from the “O” word (the Office). Some things I can get done from the porch… like writing newsletters.
Some Interesting Stories to Tell
A while back I wrote about a military veteran in the UK named Ian Whiting, who was brought to horses by Monty Roberts in 2017, and went on to become a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner. I reported that last year Ian, along with a few other veterans along with Monty Roberts met with Queen Elizabeth. Ian has just sent us an article published in
Intelligent Horsemanship Magazine about how he’s using his work with horses to help reduce stress in PTSD veterans, horses, and himself. Read below…
How do you balance the physical and mental demands of competition with longevity, and the continued sense of enjoyment and accomplishment that it can bring to both horse and rider? Masterson Method Instructor, cutting horse competitor and long-time friend, Lisa Haldane talks about her experience competing at the higher levels of cutting, and the team approach she uses to keeping her horses healthy and happy partners in her sport. Read below…
Roaming
You may have noticed that horse-people in general don’t like to sit still for long. After a sedentary month or two we already have people signing up for summer and fall courses. You’ll see these listed on our Calendar below.
There are a few who couldn’t wait and have already sprung at the opportunity to attend smaller courses in less restricted areas. This has led to rumors (or rumours) of sightings of members of the Masterson Method Gang, roaming the country and causing yawning, stretching, blinking and other general mayhem among the horse population. Be on the lookout for these people as sightings may increase!
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Viruses, Technology and Group Membership Programs
We’re fortunate that Covid life has not been as hard on us here in the Midwest as in many parts of the world. One effect it has had on us is in causing us to look at new ways to bring what we do to the rest of the world. The internet has become a big player in this, and we’ve had the time to develop more in that direction during the last couple of months.
We’re looking at internet tools as a way to augment rather than replace the hands-on, person-to-person and person-to-horse nature of what we do. One avenue that’s worked for us is using such tools as Facebook Live and Zoom to demonstrate work on horses while answering questions and conversing with viewers, real time. Kind of cool, once you work out the technical headaches...I mean, glitches.
We now have a couple of these Live events recorded on our
Facebook page, and will soon (This just in!) be doing more Live interactions via Zoom, Facebook and other media tools as part of an Masterson Method Group Membership Program for people who want to get into Masterson Method techniques in even more depth and detail, but who can’t get here to the back porch where I will, if I don’t do some moving soon, likely start to grow roots!
Stay tuned to this Newsletter and our website for more on this program this summer.
International Horse Expos
If you had wanted to attend an
Equitana Horse Expo, you would have had to travel to far off places such as Australia… or even Germany! But, this year, Equitana is coming to Kentucky in September.
Additionally, if you had previously asked to audit a Masterson Method Weekend Seminar Workshop, you would have received a polite, but firm “No”, as our Seminars are a very close-up, hands-on, and personal interaction between horse, human, and Instructor (also human).
We’re breaking this rule in September, coincidentally the 25
th, 26
th and 27
th, where I’ll be teaching a Weekend Seminar Workshop (spread out over three days) at the Equitana Horse Expo at the Kentucky Horse Park. You get both worlds, a Weekend Seminar to audit and the Equitana Horse Expo to experience. This Workshop will be open free to auditors who are attending the Equitana Horse Expo.
So, if I haven’t grown roots by then, you’ll have a chance to see what goes on at these secret gatherings, and maybe pick up a tip or two, or even the secret hand-shake. Mark this on your calendar:
Masterson Method Seminar Workshop taught by Rootless Jim Masterson
September 25
th
26
th
and 27
th
Well, that’s about it from me for now. There’s much more interesting stuff to read below. I am heading out tomorrow on a short road trip to South Dakota and Wyoming to check out some history and horses with my nephew. This will keep the roots from taking hold, and give me something to report to you next month.
Until then, like me, enjoy your horses!
Jim
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New Blog Post from MMCP, Lisa Haldane
On Cutting Horses, (Part 1 of 3)
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My purpose through it all, in addition to education, was to help our own cutting horses to feel their best in a very challenging event and environment. It took 11 years, but the effort has been worth it! I wanted to share some things about cutting horses and their life that I hope will be useful to you if you decide to venture into this area of work. This will be the first in a short series where I’ll introduce you to the environment and schedule of the horses, what happens at the shows, and lastly, the progression in physical development of the young cutting horse.
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Testimonial from an Advanced 5-Day Student
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My purpose for taking this is to incorporate these techniques into my chiropractic work to create a low to no force type of technique to improve the experience for my patients and to be easier on my body as I get older.
I highly recommend it to anyone with horses or that rides to improve their horses' performance. I also recommend this course to other veterinarians to teach them to use less force in their chiropractic techniques.
~ Geneve Dundas
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If you Didn't Catch Jim's
Facebook Live Event
,
June 5th,
watch it now!
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With the focus on Hind End Issues, Jim took questions for over an hour from Masterson Method enthusiasts. Pop some popcorn, and sit back and enjoy!
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Article About Military Veteran and UK
Certified Practitioner, IanWhiting in
"Intelligent Horsemanship" Magazine
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I was honoured to have a page dedicated to me in the latest Intelligent Horsemanship (IH) magazine.
My story is a small part of a huge movement to work with horses in a non aggressive way - I was lucky to have found my starting point with Monty Roberts, move on through some Intelligent Horsemanship training, and then find my real world using the therapy which we all know and love to help our equine friends, myself and other veterans - please stand up Mr. Jim Masterson!
As a one legged veteran with PTSD, etc, the quicker I can get back the better. As we all know, we have to be calm to use the Masterson Method to its fullest advantage, this naturally keeps me calm and 'in the moment'. Totally focused without the buzzing in my head waiting to explode. Many other symptoms have diminished as well.
At the end of the day, without realizing it, Jim has given me a fantastic way of helping horses, helping other veterans, and keeping myself sane. Not a bad result, really. Oh yes! I must also mention all of the lovely, helpful people I have met on the way - the other students, our mentors, the owners but, most of all, our equine friends - thank you to you all.
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Newly Certified Practitioners
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Mary-Ellen Webb
Glomel, France
I was born in Devon, England. I loved horses & ponies as a child and indeed almost my first words where Gee Gee. I had worn my parents down with nagging for a pony by the time I was 7. I got my dream pony when I was 8, a 12-year-old scruffy Dartmoor X and from then on, I spent my free time just out riding-- me and my pony exploring. He taught me so much. When at 18, my beloved pony died. I gave up horses, as things like work, marriage and mortgage took over my life.
For the next 20 years I was a painter and decorator working on building sites and in private homes about as far as away as you can get from horses.
In 2004 we moved to Brittany in France to open a B&B and soon a friend found out that I used to ride and took me to see another friend who had horses but no riders and so started the passion again.
After a few years I had ended up with three horses of my own a Breton Trait, an elderly Skewbald "Heinz 57" type and a one-year-old Cob Normand, who as he grew, started to show very difficult behaviours.
After serval years, I decided that following everybody’s advice of “getting tougher” had not worked, I would look into the “why” which led me to the world of Masterson Method. This showed me his behaviour was not “naughty” but pain related. Sadly, there was nothing that could be done and I lost him when he was five years old.
He was the reason for my Masterson Method (MM) journey and others have shown me what a wonderful thing Masterson is and how much horses are trying to tell us. I love doing MM on horses and ponies and indeed donkeys, seeing how they change and relax.
I now have two horses; my now elderly Breton Trait and another Cob Normand who are still teaching me. I am happy to travel to all the Brittany departments and will travel further if I can do a group of horses.
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Kim Pettit
Sonoma, California
I spent my early childhood living on a family ranch in Norco, CA. My cousin and I shared a black pony named Beauty and that is when I fell in love with horses. After my family moved to the city, I didn't have an opportunity to be around horses except for an occasional trail ride.
In my early twenties, I moved to Austin where I met a grey Arabian mare and we quickly became friends. I had to gain her trust before she allowed me to ride her. We appreciated each other's company. In my mid-twenties, my daughter and I moved to Reno. We reconnected with an avid horsewoman who brought Montana and me back to being with horses. We did many rides together in Washoe Valley.
Now in my forties, I live in Sonoma, CA, and have been a massage therapist for 20 years. I had a desire to have horses back in my life again. I was fortunate enough to see an ad for a family-owned horse ranch looking for help. The next day I had a job. I met one particular horse named Jamal who I became particularly fond of. He had been diagnosed with Cushing's and also suffered from laminitis.
Instinctively, I began to do bodywork on him and he laid down and surrendered. Linda, my boss, came in to see what I was doing and she mentioned that she had just attended a Masterson Method weekend seminar and suggested that I look into that. I took a weekend course and I was hooked! I wanted to become a Certified Practitioner. I worked at the barns in the mornings, worked as a massage therapist on humans and I studied The Masterson Method.
All was well until October 2017. I attended the Advanced 5-Day course in England and on the second day, my house in California burned down from the wildfires. My family and animals were safe but everything else was gone.
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Weekend Seminar-Workshop Schedule
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USA Seminars
Canada Seminars
(
taught in French)
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European Seminars
October 31-November 1
Uddel, NL (taught in Dutch)
April 24-25, 2021
Uddel, NL
(taught in Dutch)
Australia & New Zealand Seminars
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Advanced 5-Day Course Schedule
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USA Advanced Courses
European Advanced Courses
June 22-26
Brochów, PL
taught in Polish
with
Beata Filonowicz
*Note this is a Wednesday to Sunday course.
*Note this is a Wednesday to Sunday course.
*Note this is a Wednesday to Sunday course.
Canada Advanced Courses
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Certification Completion Course Schedule
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Masterson Method Equine Specialist Courses
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USA Courses
*Note this is a Monday to Wednesday course.
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Masterson Method Collaborative Clinics
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USA Clinics
Considering the Horse - Mind and Body
Your Horse's Brain: A User's Manual
July 11-12
Littleton, CO
with
Jim Masterson, Mark Rashid
and
Dr. Steve Peters
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USA Expos and Demos
(***Open to Auditors)
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"Absorbine’s relationship with The Masterson Method® is a natural fit. Jim’s breakthrough but simple concepts are all focused on helping the horse to relieve tension, feel more comfortable and improve their relationships with owners and handlers.”
~ Amy Cairy, Director of Marketing,
W. F. Young, manufacturers of Absorbine products
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THE MASTERSON METHOD®
641-472-1312
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