Hello there! Full disclosure first - this is Natalie, writing in for Jim this month.
Over Here
Jim has had a busy month of travel, attending events, working on the dog book, and keeping his office staff busy and entertained.
Of course, we try to keep things as light-hearted as possible - and always "go with the flow!"
(No horses were injured in the taking of this photo! Thanks to Beckie Haynes and Henrietta)
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As I was saying (when my sense of humor rudely interrupted), Jim has been busy!
October started off fairly quiet with Jim giving a demonstration at Marsdam Barn in Fairfield, Iowa...then he was on the road. First, he headed to California for the Combined Clinic Considering the Horse: Mind and Body in Arroyo Grande with Mark Rashid and MMCP Dianne Adel. ( photos courtesy of Karen Hisata, MMCP) |
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The meaning of "soft hands."
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The magic of Masterson!
Jim was back home for a couple of days (I think), then headed to Lexington, Kentucky for the Best Horse Practices Summit. He has attended this event several times, and met with a number of Certified Practitioners and Fieldwork students. |
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Jim hung out with Josh Nichol while at the BHP Summit. He found that they have a lot in common and wanted me to mention Josh's website. Josh Nichol: Relational Horsemanship. The website looks pretty interesting - check it out. |
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When Jim got back home from that event, all of us in the office had meetings with him to catch him up on the trouble we'd gotten into - I mean, things that were happening around the world (and in the office). But we exhausted him and he decided the only way to get some rest was to head out of Fairfield again - this time to attend the Journey On Podcast Summit in San Antonio, Texas, from November 4th-6th.
He met up with MMCPs Sandy Vreeburg, Anita Parra, Malia Aldrich and Beckie Haynes, as well as other MMCPs...and Josh Nichol again. I imagine he had a great time with this group, but I'm not sure he got a "vacation." |
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Have you noticed how Jim is always hiding in the background? Makes me wonder if he is holding a beer in the back row! I mean - it's a great idea - I wish I thought of it.
If you missed the Journey On Podcast Summit online event, it's not too late. You can still get lifetime access to the recordings if you purchase a livestream ticket using the Affiliate Link. The TIC Talks (Teach, Inspire, Connect) and the panel discussions were all recorded and are available online. But you must sign up by November 30th! |
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Warwick and Jim
After Jim "journeyed on" back home - for all of 3 days (perhaps I exaggerate?) - he took off for California, again. He's taking time for a family visit this weekend - then Monday, he and Amelia Nalli will be creating some videos - you guessed it - for the Dog Book! I'm not sure if that includes beach time, but if it were me... |
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Over There
We wanted to mention the heroic efforts on the part of Vicky Devlin and her assistants for the recent group of October Weekend Seminars, Advanced 5-Day Course and Certification Completion Course in Australia.
The first Weekend Seminar went off without a hitch - but then Victoria, Australia was hit with intense flooding and the courses had to be moved to Queensland. Vicky and assistant Emma Young were in touch with all students by phone, making sure who could attend, who needed to cancel or transfer, who needed help with transportation and lodging, and sent that information to the office.
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(photo from The New York Times online, October 15, 2022)
In the office, Kelsey, Jo and I made the necessary changes, were in contact with almost everyone by e-mail and tried to keep all the attendance lists up-to-date. It was pretty crazy - but just goes to show how we can all pull together and make lemonade out of lemons...even in a flood.
Thank you Vicky! Thank you students - we appreciate your perseverance!
Congratulations to Emma Young and Diana Quinn - new MMCPs in Australia!
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Back here - in Seattle
Well, I guess that wraps it up for me here. I need to let Jim proof my work, take credit for all the jokes, and cut out anything he doesn't approve of. The benefits of being the boss!
I'm sure you'll hear from me in the next newsletter - until then, like Jim and me,
Enjoy your horses!
Natalie
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"A Mind Like Still Water"
accepted in the 2022 EQUUS Film & Arts Fest!
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A Mind Like Still Water documentary film accepted! |
Live event will be held in Sacramento, California, December 1-4, 2022.
Interested in attending? Go to
Online streaming is available as well.
Not able to attend in person? Video streaming is available on our website store. Click the photo for the film trailer created by EQUUS.
Congratulations to Jim, Mark, Dylan, Linda, Mindy and their horses!
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Cyber Monday sale November 28th-30th |
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The Cyber Monday Sale runs from November 28th-30th featuring our
two best streaming videos in one package!
Beyond Horse Massage and Light To The Core on sale for $48.95 (30% off)!
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Coming soon to the MM Website near you! |
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First Weekend Seminar in Japan |
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Vicky Devlin has done it again! She travels almost as much as Jim does...here are some photos from her recent travels to Chiba, Japan. |
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Time for celebration!
Congratulations students! Well done Vicky - and assistants Tomoko Sembongi and Asako Miyajima (MMCPs), and Hiroshi Sembongi. |
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Traveling Instructor Julie Steorts, MMCP |
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Teaching the Masterson Method Weekend Seminar in Freeville, NY was an absolute joy. The host was fantastic and went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable, happy and fed! Her facility and horses created the perfect learning environment for the weekend.
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The students worked on horses in pairs in the indoor arena and it was so much fun to watch the changes in all of them. Everyone was a bit nervous the first morning but as the students worked, the horses got more relaxed and in turn so did all the humans. Watching everyone’s faces as they got the feel of the techniques and had ah-ha moments was incredible and put a permanent smile on my face. |
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Everyone did a wonderful job and I was so impressed with their following of the horses' responses and ability to feel and adjust right off the bat. Watching that evolve and grow over the weekend made me so proud and admittedly a bit teary.
They were the eyes in the back of my head and were wonderful with all the students. It was pure magic to spend a weekend with people who are all on the same page and wanting to learn how to help their horses be their best.
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Masterson Method Equine Specialist (MMES) Program News |
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Alice Long and Megan Dushin rock the MMES world! |
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The first week of November I was excited to meet and work with the staff and volunteers at Glade Run Adventures in Zelienople, Pennsylvania for the three-day Masterson Method Equine Specialist course (MMES). Glade Run is a wonderful facility that partners with horses and other animals to offer various therapeutic experiences for people with mental and/or physical challenges, including autism. |
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Ruta Mazelis, MMCP (and MMES in the making), donates her time to the horses at Glade Run, as well as serves clients there. Ruta was a key component in educating the folks at Glade Run about The Masterson Method®. With her guidance, they decided to host an MMES course to learn how to help Equine Assisted Services (EAS) horses do their jobs better and how to implement The Masterson Method® into their program to benefit the people they serve.
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We had spring-like weather, which isn’t very common for the area this time of year. The first day the students learned about the principles of The Masterson Method® and how to do the Bladder Meridian. The second half of the day I instructed them on the various benefits The Masterson Method® can bring to the horses and the people that they serve in a therapeutic setting. We discussed the different challenges that EAS horses face. They learned about the roles and responsibilities of an MMES Practitioner, safety guidelines and legal obligations that pertain to the work they do, and how to implement The Masterson Method® in therapeutic settings. The second day was all about learning various techniques and then practicing those with the horses and even a mini donkey and cow! |
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The third day was a total blast as students had the opportunity to role play facilitating the Bladder Meridian with the EAS horses and participants of the program! To say they got creative is an understatement. All of the students at Glade Run did a fabulous job facilitating the sessions and the horses' responses were sure evidence of that. There were many beautiful moments! |
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One horse laid down to roll, |
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and then the mini donkey, Enchilada, followed suit! |
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MMCP, MMES
I wrote a story about an experience recently after teaching the Masterson Method Equine Specialist seminar in Montrose, Colorado. The long and short of it? There are many ways of being with horses, and this equine-assisted service program has a unique and gentle way of listening not only to the individual horse, but the entire herd. Check it out at https://www.megandushin.com/massage-tables-and-horses
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About the Masterson Method Equine Specialist Program
The Masterson Method Equine Specialist specializes in sharing specific light touch Masterson Method techniques with persons served in equine-assisted learning and therapy programs. By doing this bodywork on horses, participants deepen their connection with horses while also gaining self-awareness and self-regulation skills; meanwhile, therapy horses are tended to through simple bodywork and learn a new way of relating to people. It's a win/win!
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Looking for Equine books in Polish? There is a new website that looks pretty cool called BeeHorse. If you understand Polish and want some reading material, here is a link. You'll find a blog, newsletter and books by Sally Swift, Cherry Hill and - wait for it - Jim Masterson! |
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Newly Certified Practitioners |
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Need help for your horse? Find a 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 Find a Practitioner page on our website for the closest practitioner to you.
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Carrie Rothburd, MMCP
Madison, Wisconsin
My affinity for all creatures great and small—and for horses in particular—dates back to my childhood, when I rode whenever I got the chance. I have been a student of dressage since 1996. Around that time, I also began to study Ortho-Bionomy, a form of bodywork that uses light touch and gentle positioning to cue the body’s self-correcting reflexes, and Reiki.
After I moved to Wisconsin in 2012, I began to learn and practice natural horsemanship. My horse, Cougar, led me to the Masterson Method® in 2017, and after becoming an MMCP in 2021, the Masterson Method® led me to a second career. The soft listening, careful observation, and partnership fostered by both natural horsemanship and the Masterson Method® resonates profoundly with me (and with the horses with whom I’ve worked!).
The healing that results from simple touch continues to amaze.
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Sabrina Wenzel, MMCP
Rosenheim, Germany
Ich habe schon von Kindesbeinen an den Stallgeruch an meiner Kleidung kleben und es verging kaum ein Tag, den ich nicht im Pferdestall verbrachte. Sehr früh schon vertraute man mir auch die „schwierigen Fälle“ vom temperamentvollen Rennpferd bis zum stoischen Kaltblüter an. Wie das aber immer so ist, stellen einen erst die eigenen Pferde vor die wirklich großen Herausforderungen im Leben.
So ging es auch mir mit meinem Seelenpferd Sam, der aufgrund von chronischer Borreliose immer mehr an muskulären Verspannungen litt. Auf der Suche nach einer Möglichkeit, ihm helfen zu können, stolperte ich quasi mit der Nase in das Buch von Jim Masterson….. …. und dies war der Anfang einer fantastischen lehrreichen Zeit, die nun folgen sollte!
Meine Faszination für die Masterson-Technik entfaltete sich zusehends, während ich die verschiedenen Techniken aus dem Buch an meinem Pferd anwendete. Sam begann geradezu aufzublühen und konnte Spannung loslassen, was mich noch mehr beflügelte, genauer hinzuschauen, was sich wirklich hinter dieser Methode verbirgt.
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Nadine Lohmann, MMCP
Rheinbach, NRW , Germany
I was able to experience Jim Masterson in person for the first time at Equitana 2019 and have been “Mastersonified” ever since.
Horses have accompanied me all my life. Therefore, it was obvious to start an apprenticeship as a horse trainer. I completed this training at the Paso Peruano Stud Naafbachtal and then trained gaited horses on various farms, trained young horses and gave lessons. As my experience grew, it became more and more important to me to train in a sustainable way and to find horse-friendly solutions. To further my education, I completed my equine osteopath training in 2014 and continued my education with TCVM and frequency laser therapy.
What fascinates me most about the Masterson Method® is that we actively involve the horse in the treatment process. Communicating to the horse that he is seen and understood.
I think it is our responsibility in equestrian sports to actively work on keeping horses healthy. In addition to good training, good riders and good husbandry conditions, this also includes keeping horses physically elastic and mobile.
As a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner, this is exactly where I start. With healthy horses I release tensions, increase the range of motion and thus improve the well-being and performance of the horses.
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Emma Young, MMCP
Queensland, Australia
Originally from the UK, I have loved and kept horses from a young age. A passion of mine has always been helping animals have a voice and wanting to somehow make a difference. That’s why in 2009, I traveled to Australia to follow my dream of working as a zoo keeper at Steve Irwin’s Australia zoo, teaching people about the importance of wildlife conservation.
After a break to have a family of my own, horses found their way back into my life when upon an extended trip to the UK, I became a BHS stage 2 groom and here is where I found out about the Masterson Method®.
I knew I wanted to make a difference in horses' lives somehow and when I saw Jim work with a horse, it resonated with me so deeply, I then attended a weekend seminar and 5-day in the UK and the rest is history!
I am currently back in Queensland, Australia, servicing the Sunshine Coast region with Masterson Method® bodywork. My passion and dream still is to try and make a difference. I have now found a way.
I am proud to be a Masterson Method® instructor, coach and mentor to help teach owners and practitioners this wonderful gentle form of bodywork so they can help connect, read and listen to their horses, helping release tension and improve performance not just physically but also mentally – working with the horse, not just on the horse. Making the world a better place for these animals that make ours better in return.
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Interested in taking a course? Here are a few testimonials that might convince you!
I have been enthralled watching Jim's videos for over two years. I wanted to be totally open and went without any expectations. I was elated with the opportunity to begin the journey. Amazing experience. I can't wait for more. Unexpectedly I think I had a few releases of my own!
(Weekend Seminar)
It's humbling, tough, and sometimes overwhelming but at the same time rewarding, exciting, and will make your heart smile.
(Advanced 5-Day Course)
The MMES course was excellent. I felt very supported and encouraged by the instructor and assistants. It was so gratifying to be able to give back to the horses that I work with on a weekly basis in my role as a therapeutic riding center volunteer. And I was thrilled to be able to incorporate Masterson techniques into my work with my own horses and see the results!
(Equine Specialist Course)
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Weekend Seminar-Workshop Schedule |
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* If the course you had your heart set on is sold out, please email jo@mastersonmethod.com to be added to the waiting list.
Worried about COVID19? Read our COVID precautions and info here:
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USA 2022 Courses
USA 2023 Courses
Canada 2023 Courses
(taught in French)
September 30-October 1
(taught in French)
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European 2022 Courses
(taught in Dutch)
European 2023 Courses
Australia & New Zealand 2023 Courses
Asia
(check back for upcoming courses)
South Africa
(check back for upcoming courses)
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Advanced 5-Day Course Schedule |
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USA 2023 Advanced Courses
European 2023 Advanced Courses
Canada 2023 Advanced Courses
Australia & New Zealand 2023 Courses
(Check back for upcoming Advanced 5-day Courses)
South Africa 2023 Courses
(Check back for upcoming Advanced 5-day Courses)
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Certification Completion Course Schedule |
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USA 2023 Courses
Canada 2023 Courses
with Lori Hoppe
September 9-10, 2023 City TBD, British Columbia
with Lori Hoppe
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European 2023 Courses
(check back for upcoming courses)
Australia & New Zealand 2023 Courses
(check back for upcoming courses)
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Masterson Method Light to the Core Schedule |
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USA 2022-2023 Courses
December 3-4, 2022
January 31-February 1, 2023
European 2023 Courses
(Check back for upcoming courses)
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Canada 2023 Courses
(taught in French)
(taught in French)
September 16-17, 2023
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Masterson Method Equine Specialist Schedule |
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Masterson Method Collaborative Clinics |
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USA 2023 Collaborative Clinics
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Masterson Method Expos and Demos |
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USA and European 2023 Expos & Demos
(Check back for upcoming expos and demos)
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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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