Enabling Your Horse to Feel & Perform Well

Interactive Bodywork for Horses™ is a "bodywork philosophy" that incorporates non-invasive modalities and gymnasticizing to 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—gives your horse the competitive edge or simply keeps your horse healthy and prevents 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

If we consider ourselves to have the moral right to use a horse for our own purposes, we ought also to accept the obligation to help him carry them out.”
Baron von Blixen-Finecke, 1916-2005, Olympic Gold Medalist, cavalryman, trainer of Olympic medalists

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. The first step to betterment is to recognize the subtle signs of discomfort and tension that can point to muscular and soft tissue restrictions that limit performance. Both horse owner and vet can determine if equine massage or bodywork would be a beneficial course of action.

How to recognize possible muscular pain, restrictions 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.)

Interactive Bodywork for Horses™ is a non-invasive approach: the horse participates in the process, releases tensions deep inside his anatomy in areas that the practitioner cannot reach with his hands and the horse actively learns how the optimal range of motion and a different self-carriage can feel.

This often initiates a process of postural remodeling in the horse that extends far beyond the bodywork session and translates into enhanced performance.

The Masterson Method™ (Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork™) is the main method I use to relieve performance limiting restrictions in horses, complemented by elements of positional release, callisthenics, stretches, massage and a customized gymnasticizing program, if desired.

It would be my pleasure to meet you and your horse(s).

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.