March 2025 Equine Newsletter | | |
Hello All,
It's Natalie writing again, as Jim is out gallivanting - I mean, visiting - in Europe this month! While he has been giving demonstrations at Equitana Essen in Germany (one of the largest expos in Europe) and The Netherlands (he loves helping horses and their owners), I'm sure he has had time to share a few beers with friends and MMCPs (Masterson Method Certified Practitioners) in the area. With St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, I wonder if it was green beer?
Here's an update on his adventures:
It started with a Mark & Jim Show in Arizona at the end of February...
| | Jim working with a horse. | | Jim and Mark working the crowd! | | After a long flight to Germany, there was an MMCP day before Equitana Essen began. | | Question: They seem attentive - but what are they all looking at? | | The next day - and for 2 more days - was Equitana Essen! | | |
To celebrate Jim's visit to Equitana Essen, there was a Mini parade!
Well, maybe not!
| | Jim in "Demonstration" mode... | | |
...and Walter Saxe in
"Demonstration" mode!
Looks like everyone is having fun!
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"Is that ALL he did on vacation" you ask? But no - Jim wasn't done yet!
Next up: a Demo (or two) and a Weekend Course in The Netherlands!
| | "Don't wake me - I'm in heaven!" | | |
More than one horse "down for the count"...but this is the way we do it!
I think he's on the way home soon - I guess we'll know by the April Newsletter! And as he's famous for saying...
"Until next month, like me,
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Enjoy your horses!
Jim" (aka Natalie - Ghost Writer!)
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New Online Course with Mark and Jim:
Evaluating Equine Movement
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They've done it again!
Unlock Expert Insights into Your Horse’s Movement – Exclusive Online Course with Jim Masterson & Mark Rashid!
Join renowned horsemen Jim Masterson and Mark Rashid this March for an exclusive two-part online course exploring horse movement, symmetry, and performance.
With their combined expertise, you’ll gain practical, easy-to-use techniques to better understand and improve your horse’s movement:
✅ Mark Rashid shares his approach to training and biomechanics.
✅ Jim Masterson provides expert insights on equine bodywork and movement assessment.
Each two-hour session delivers hands-on knowledge you can apply right away, and the second session includes a live Q&A—your chance to get answers directly from the experts!
Can’t join live? No problem! Course recordings will be available for two weeks, allowing you to watch at your convenience.
March 20 & 22, 2025
Course fee: $95 (includes both sessions)
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from two of the best in the industry!
Secure your spot today.
| | March 1st - National Horse Protection Day | | |
National Horse Protection Day
Thanks to all the organizations and individuals who posted about World Horse Day/National Horse Protection Day on March 1st. I did a quick search to see who was posting, and enjoyed watching videos, reels, reading stories, and seeing photos of the horses in our lives - it was a wonderful way to celebrate World Horse Day!
Discover the 5 Domains of Horse Welfare at Horses and Humans Research Foundation.
According to the ASPCA, on February 27, 2025, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers reintroduced the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act to permanently protect American horses from commercial slaughter. This Act expands the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act to include Equines. Read more at www.ASPCA.org.
On February 28, 2025, Colorado Governor Polis proclaimed March as horse protection month. Colorado is the first state with a month-long celebration of wild horses.
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Anita Parra, MMCP, is hosting a seminar with Patrick King, April 18-20, 2025.
Auditing spots are still available - if interested, contact Anita at the website. There are several great seminars on the schedule - check it out!
Big Horse Ranch, California
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This month’s blog is co-written by MMCP Mimi Duffy and her student Zoe Avent. Last year, they traveled to the United States Pony Club National Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, where Zoe had qualified to compete in the Tetrathlon event - a four-sport competition consisting of running, target shooting, swimming and riding.
In the blog, they describe how they used the Masterson Method to help Zoe and her loaned horse (brand-new to her) overcome obstacles to come out shining at the competition.
| | St. Patrick's Day - typically known for green beer (Yich!) and wearing green as a symbol (you can do that research). Here are a few horses named Patrick - let's celebrate THEM - enjoy! | | Meet Patrick - Standardbred. He was a harness racer, now enjoying a well-deserved retirement! | | Patrick the Miniature Horse - you can find him on Facebook! | | This is St. Patrick - Hanovarian | | Patrick King of Patrick King Horsemanship-how did he get in here? | | And then there's Maximus... | | Alright...no more horsing around! Have a great month! | | Newly Certified Practitioners | | |
Need help for your horse? Find an Masterson Method Certified Practitioner (MMCP) near you. Our Certified Practitioners are dedicated equine professionals who have acquired highly attuned skills in partnering with the horse to release tension and increase range of motion, thereby restoring healthy posture and performance. Add an MMCP to your horse’s wellness team by visiting the Masterson Method Website to find the closest practitioner to you.
You will find New Practitioners listed here as well as a few who are updating their information. Let us know if you need help finding an MMCP in your area.
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Amanda Gunn, MMCP
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Horses run in my veins. Growing up with them, I have always had an inner sense of the unique and special wisdom that horses offer us.
Along with my lived experience, I am a certified Equine Assisted Psychotherapist, certified with the Equine Psychotherapy Institute. Through this work I have witnessed the transformative power horses bring to healing and connection. I will be forever impressed by their generosity to give, and their willingness to be, with humans.
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Barbara Dove, MMCP
Fenton, Missouri
Barbara always loved horses, but didn’t get her first one until she retired from competitive swing/ballroom dancing. Her fascination with connection, non-verbal communication and movement easily switched to her new “dance partner”; i.e., the horse.
She is also a cosmetologist with a large clientele of elderly people, and many of them have dementia and cognitive loss. The power of touch, and staying below the threshold/brace, has woven dance, cosmetology and now the Masterson Method® together in a unique way.
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Karen Currens, MMCP
Four Oaks, North Carolina
My passion for riding began in childhood, where I spent countless hours riding trails and competing at local fun shows. This early experience ignited a lifelong love for equestrian sports. In my teens and early adulthood, I transitioned to barrel racing, competing at local and regional rodeos as well as NBHA events.
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Kassandra Bullcreek, MMCP
Yacolt, Washington
I have loved horses since the moment I knew what they were, but aside from a few summer camps as a child I didn’t get much of a chance to be around them. The minute I turned 16 I signed up to volunteer at a therapeutic riding center in my area to work with individuals with special needs. My journey with horses started there as I was lovingly mentored by an incredible group of people who saw potential in a cranky teenager.
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Katrin Malmqvist, MMCP
Kungsör, Västmanland, Sweden
Jag har under uppväxten i Tyskland, redan sedan tidiga tonåren, haft hästar i min närhet men haft egna hästar först efter flytten till Sverige år 2000.
Anledningen till att prova på Masterson-metoden heter Brownie, ett 11 årigt sto, som efter att haft fång, var så stel och orörlig i kroppen att jag ville hjälpa henne på något sätt.
I have been around horses since my childhood in Germany, but I only have had my own horses after moving to Sweden in 2000.
The reason I decided to try the Masterson Method® was because a mare named Brownie, after suffering from laminitis, became so stiff and immobile that I had to help her in some way.
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Keegan Rumsey, MMCP
Choteau, Montana
Keegan is a lifelong Montana resident who has spent a great deal of her adult life working and living in and around the Bob Marshall Wilderness. After 20 years as a backcountry seasonal, she decided to switch gears to a self-employed lifestyle to free up some time to recreate rather than work in the backcountry. She went to massage school (for humans) and started a practice in 2019. After 5 years without horses as part of the mode of travel in the backcountry, she started building her own herd and took an interest in expanding bodywork for equines, in addition to her human practice.
The Masterson Method® was something she stumbled across and once she saw the results of what it could do with trust and connection in her own animals, she was all in.
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Krystle Parker, MMCP
Rangiora, North Canterbury,
New Zealand
Born and raised in small town Puhoi north of Auckland, I grew up on a sheep and beef farm and travelled with my parents who ran a shearing gang. Some of my best memories were made in busy woolsheds around the country. Until I became obsessed with horses…
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Sarah Preisler, MMCP
San Francisco, California
Some of Sarah’s earliest memories are of pestering her parents to let her start riding. Like many horse girls, Sarah rode until she went to college, then had to wait to start riding again until she had the time and money to do so. Once around horses again, Sarah found herself spending more and more time at the barn. At the barn, time stood still. Simply being around horses was grounding and fulfilling.
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Todd James, MMCP
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
I was lucky enough to grow up on a large cattle property in Queensland, Australia, which surrounded me with many different animals including a large number of horses.
After finishing school, I spent many years training horses of all types, disciplines and behaviours and sought out many extraordinary mentors throughout my equine journey (horses and humans) across Australia, Canada and the United States.
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Zandee Zbella, MMCP
Old Mill Creek, Illinois
I studied French in France during high school. We rode horses in France.
Received my Associate of Arts and then graduated in Education (K-9) with minors in math & science. Earned a Masters Degree in Special Ed-Emotionally Disturbed, Behaviour Disorientation, & Learning Disabilities–to age 21.
| | | Newly Certified Equine Specialists | | |
Our Certified Equine Specialists have worked through an abbreviated certification program designed to be accessible and relevant for equine-assisted services (EAS) professionals and volunteers. The MMES can volunteer to offer simple bodywork to EAS horses and/or partner with their EAS program to co-facilitate a new equine-assisted learning activity, such as the Bladder Meridian Technique, as a means for participants to “give back to the horse” while also creating connection.
Follow this link to search for Specialists in your area: MMES Map
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Linda DeBowes, MMCP, MMES
Seattle, Washington
| | | 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. | | | |
"This is the course you should take if you want to improve your horsemanship skills and improve your relationship with your horse."
Weekend Course Student Testimonial
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USA 2025 Courses
West
March 29-30 Solvang, CA
April 19-20 Las Vegas, NV
April 27-28 Koloa, HI
May 3-4 Waikoloa, HI
May 3-4 Sedalia, CO
May 3-4 Pleasant View, UT
May 31-June 1 Penn Valley, CA
June 21-22 Victor, ID
August 2-3 Colorado Springs, CO
August 30-31 Portola Valley, CA
August 30-31 Kalispell, MT
September 6-7 Ceres, CA
October 25-26 Sedalia, CO
Southwest
October 11-12 Driftwood, TX
Midwest
April 5-6 Elgin, IL
April 19-20 Milo, IA
May 3-4 Howell, MI
May 24-25 Pequot Lakes, MN
June 7-8 Milo, IA
June 28-29 Rapid City, SD
September 13-14 Zeeland, MI
October 11-12 Milo, IA
November 1-2 Sebeka, MN
Northeast
April 5-6 Fombell, PA
April 12-13 Circleville, NY
August 2-3 Nottingham, PA
October 18-19 Freeville, NY
Southeast
March 29-30 Youngsville, NC
April 5-6 Delray Beach, FL
May 3-4 Perryville, AR
May 3-4 Youngsville, NC
May 3-4 St. Augustine, FL
May 17-18 Leesburg, VA
May 17-18 Ooltewah, TN
September 20-21 Cleveland, NC
October 11-12 Perryville, AR
Canada 2025 Courses
British Columbia
March 29-30 Rosedale, BC
May 24-25 Kelowna, BC
October 25-26 Campbell River, BC
Alberta
June 21-22 Calgary, AB
Saskatchewan
June 7-8 Aberdeen, SK
Ontario
May 17-18 Fitzroy Harbour, ON
May 31-June 1 Mulmur, ON
June 15-16 Caledon East, ON
Quebec
April 19-20 Grand-Remous, QC
(in French)
April 26-27 Sainte-Clotilde-de-Beauce, QC (in French)
May 10-11 Rouyn-Noranda, QC
(in French)
August 23-24 Lac-Brome, QC
(in French)
August 31-September 1 St-Honoré-de-Chicoutimi, QC (in French)
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European 2025 Courses
Austria
March 22-23 Oberhausen, AT
(in English with German translation)
June 14-15 Graz, AT
(in German with English translation)
Czech Republic
April 19-20 Loučná nad Desnou, CZ
(in Czech)
July 12-13 Bílé Karpaty, CZ
(in Czech)
September 20-21 Bošilec, CZ
(in Czech)
Denmark
September 6-7 Hampen, DK
France
April 12-13 Parly, FR
(in French)
July 19-20 Sion-les-Mines, FR
(in French)
Germany
March 22-23 Egestorf, DE
(in German)
March 29-30 Frickingen, DE
(in German)
April 12-13 Aßlar-Oberlemp, DE
(in German)
May 10-11 Emden, DE
(in German)
August 16-17 Egestorf, DE
(in German)
August 30-31 Fahrenbach-Robern, DE
(in German)
Netherlands
May 30-31 Oud Ade (Zuid-Holland), NL
(in Dutch)
July 5-6 Bedum, NL
(in Dutch)
September 27-28 Ouwerkerk, NL
(in Dutch)
October 18-19 Vorden, NL
(in Dutch)
Poland
April 12-13 Rzęszyce, PL
(in Polish)
June 14-15 Rzęszyce, PL
(in Polish)
September 13-14 Rzęszyce, PL
(in Polish)
Slovakia
May 17-18 Ratnovce, SK
(in Czech)
Spain
June 21-22 Garcia, ES
(in English with Spanish translation)
United Kingdom
March 29-30 Horley, Surrey, UK
April 26-27 Shillington, Bedfordshire, UK
May 10-11 Cheshire, UK
Australia 2025 Courses
Australia
March 29-30 Elimbah, QLD, AU
April 26-27 Tynong, VIC, AU
May 24-25 Glenreagh, NSW, AU
June 21-22 Gidgegannup, WA, AU
July 5-6 North Arm, QLD, AU
July 19-20 Bees Creek, NT, AU
August 30-31 Baddaginnie, VIC, AU
September 27-28 Arthurs Creek, VIC, AU
September 27-28 North Arm, QLD, AU
New Zealand
May 3-4 Christchurch, NZ
Africa 2025 Courses
South Africa
(check back for upcoming courses)
Asia 2025 Courses
Israel
May 22-23 Hibbat Zion, IL
(in English with Hebrew translation)
Japan
April 5-6 Chiba, JP (in English)
September 27-28 Hokkaido, JP
(in Japanese)
| | Advanced 5-Day Course Schedule | | |
"In depth training with the best interest of the horse first and foremost."
Advanced 5-Day Course Student Testimonial
USA 2025 Advanced Courses
March 24-28 Watsonville, CA with Sandy Vreeburg
April 21-25 Murfreesboro, TN with Kathy Tow
June 2-6 Youngsville/Wake Forest, NC with Khrystynna Hunsinger
June 23-27 Watsonville, CA with Sandy Vreeburg
July 21-25 Pequot Lakes Area, MN with Becky Tenges
November 3-7 Austin, TX with Becky Tenges
Canada 2025 Advanced Courses
May 5-9 Cobourg, ON with Lori Hoppe
May 26-30 Sherbrooke, QC with Sylvie Vallières
(in French with English materials)
August 18-22 Calgary, AB with Lori Hoppe
September 15-19 Langley, BC with Lori Hoppe
October 6-10 Sherbrooke, QC with Sylvie Vallières
(in French with English materials)
Australia & New Zealand 2025 Courses
June 2-6 Elimbah, QLD, AU with Emma Young
October 13-17 Elimbah, QLD, AU with Vicky Devlin
European 2025 Advanced Courses
April 9-13 Schalkhaar, NL with Masja Fick (in Dutch)
May 31-June 4 Egestorf, DE with Walter Saxe (in German)
June 18-22 Frickingen, DE with Silvia Hamm (in German)
July 7-11 Orcemont, FR with Caroline Hébert Bernard (in French)
August 25-29 Orcemont, FR with Caroline Hébert Bernard (in French)
September 16-20 Rzęszyce, PL with Beata Filonowicz (in Polish)
October 4-8 Egestorf, DE with Walter Saxe (in German)
November 8-12 Aßlar-Oberlemp, DE with Silvia Hamm (in German)
UK 2025 Advanced Courses
March 31-April 4 Horley, UK with Vicky Devlin
April 28-May 2 Langford, Bedfordshire, UK with Vicky Devlin
| | Masterson Method Light to the Core Schedule | | |
"This was an amazing course that I think really changed me as a horse person and I highly recommend it for any equestrian."
LTC Student Testimonial
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USA 2025 Courses
April 26-27 Coatesville, PA
April 26-27 Clayton, WA
May 10-11 Leesburg, VA
June 7-8 Santa Maria, CA
July 26-27 Seneca, SC
October 18-19 Freeville, NY
UK 2025 Courses
(check back for upcoming courses)
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Canada 2025 Courses
May 3-4 Lac-Brome, QC
(in French)
May 24-25 Rockwood, ON
June 14-15 Fort St. John, BC
July 5-6 Green Valley, ON
September 20-21 Sherwood, AB
October 18-19, Langley, BC
European 2025 Courses
(check back for upcoming courses)
| | Masterson Method Equine Specialist Schedule | | |
"This will give you a fabulous bridge between skill learning and introducing a particular skill to a therapeutic setting. It will really help you have more understanding
of the horse’s needs."
Equine Specialist Student Testimonial
USA 2025 Courses
March 21-23 Richmond, IL
May 16-18 Montrose, CO
June 20-22 Rancho Santa Fe, CA
September 19-21 Warwick, NY
Canada 2025 Courses
June 20-22 Sturgeon County, AB
European 2025 Courses
(check back for upcoming courses)
| | Masterson Method Collaborative Clinics | | Masterson Method Expos and Demos | | |
USA and European 2025 Expos & Demos
Jim's Expos and Demonstrations
April 4-6 Nampa, ID Jim Masterson at Idaho Horse Expo
April 25-27 Red Deer, AB Jim Masterson at Horse Expo Canada
June 6-8 Sacramento, CA Jim Masterson at Western States Horse Expo
MMCP Equine Demonstrations
March 22 Kinburn, ON, Canada MM Demo with Anne Priest
April 11-12 Corning, CA MM Demo with Carrie Owan
April 27 Jasper, GA MM Demo with Stephanie Pfitzer
May 10 Rossville, GA MM Demo with Stephanie Pfitzer
May 31 New Lenox, IL MM Demo with Amy Kerrigan
June 1 Brownsburg, IN MM Demo with Amy Kerrigan
| | Masterson Method Canine Courses | | |
"I wish I had filmed Pixie before I took the Masterson Method Canine Read and Release Online Training Class because Pixie's movement before and after the class instruction is so amazing! To see her move more freely now brings me much joy. What a special way to give back to a longtime canine friend!"
Canine Course Student Testimonial
Read and Release 2025 Course Dates
Fridays at 11:00 am CT Apr 4, 11, 18 with Stef Watts
Mondays at 5:00 pm CT Apr 14, 21, 28 with Valissa Willwerth
Saturdays at 11:00 am CT May 3, 10, 17 with Amelia Nalli
Introducing Movement 2025 Course Dates
Wednesdays at 11:00 am CT April 23, April 30, May 7 with Stef Watts
Saturdays at 2:00 pm CT May 10, 17, 24 with Kalin Finsand (full)
All courses are scheduled in Central Time Zone, occur on zoom, and last approximately 2 hours. If a course sold out, send a message to dog@mastersonmethod.com to add your name to the waiting list.
| | Masterson Method Office Info | |
THE MASTERSON METHOD®
641-472-1312
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