Helping Your Horse Feel and Perform Well

Equine massage and bodywork is a non-invasive modality that can help keep horses supple, relaxed and fit, resolve performance issues in healthy horses and aid in recovery after injury or illness. Releasing soft tissue restrictions early - before they become problems that lead to pain, performance decline or injury - can help give your horse the competitive edge or simply help keep your horse healthy and prevent injuries and lameness.

I believe in working with the horse rather than doing something to the horse to release restrictions and enhance performance and practice an interactive type of bodywork with horses. This type of bodywork is a step beyond 'horse massage'... more

How to Overcome Performance Limiting Restrictions in Your Horse.

Due to the physical and mental demands we place on horses in our activity of choice - may it be dressage, jumping, endurance, harness racing, driving or trail riding - many horses suffer from performance limiting muscular and biomechanical problems and tension.

These tensions can translate into performance issues and often go unnoticed due to the nature of the horse as a prey animal, who is trying to conceal his discomfort as long as possible. The first step to betterment is to recognize the subtle signs of performance limiting discomfort and tension that can point to muscular and soft tissue restrictions. Both horse owner and vet can determine if equine massage or bodywork would be a beneficial course of action when problems with a horse's soundness or self carriage arise.

How to recognize possible muscular pain, stiffness and soreness in a horse*:

• shortened strides, restricted range of motion
• general decline in the horse's performance
• refusal to take a lead
• not stepping under, not rounding
• crow hopping, bucking
• hollowing back, raising head, throwing head during gait changes
• unwilling to change gaits
• stiff gaits
• general behavior issues (biting, unwillingness to be ridden, unwillingness to be saddled etc.)

I practice a low impact, gentle method of bodywork with horses that helps the horse release tension in muscles and adhesive tissues and regain free range of motion, improve performance and prevent muscle injury and painful muscle spasms. The releases occur in deep areas of the horse's anatomy, not just in superficial muscle layers. In an interactive process, the practitioner guides the horse through a set of highly effective exercises to effect these releases.

This method is called "Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork™" (also Masterson Method™).

On this webpage, I'd like to introduce my work to you as well as my understanding of holistic horse care. "Horse Wellness" is my passion and I truly believe that 'Well horses perform well!™'. To read more about me and what I do, please visit my ABOUT page.

Recently, I have added a small line of Horse Wellness Products to my webstore, starting with a wonderful range of natural horse grooming brushes, which are hand-crafted by a traditional brush manufacturer Leistner in Germany, Meroth™ Leather Freedom Bits™ and "Nature Knows Best" Aromatherapy Horse Fly Repellent Spray.

I invite you to read the horse wellness related articles on this site, visit my "Horse Wellness Blog", contribute by sharing your own experiences and contact me with any questions or to book an appointment for an evaluation and/or bodywork session for your horse or to find out more about our seminars and instructional program.

Thank you and enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold
ctfd. Masterson Method™Practitioner (MMCP) & Instructor
ctfd. Equine Massage Practitioner, WMSEM

*) Please note: Equine massage and bodywork is a non-invasive, gentle wellness modality aimed at enhancing performance in the healthy horse and never replaces proper veterinary care. If in doubt regarding the physical health of your horse please consult your veterinarian.