My love for horses, knowledge of the demands put on performances horses and the challenges one faces when horses do not perform to the best of their abilities led me to the practice of equine massage and bodywork. My focus is on restoring optimal performance to sport and performance horses, but I have an interest in all horses and their respective jobs and situations. I have a background in training (FN trainer apprenticeship) and received my equine massage practitioner certification by the Western Montana School for Equine Massage in 2007 and my certification in the Masterson Method™ of Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork™ (Jim Masterson) in 2008. Having had the opportunity to study with Jim Masterson, who developed a method of equine bodywork that has proven effective on horses in the international show and competitions circuit and who served as the equine massage therapist for the United States Equestrian Team (endurance), raised my awareness around the key junctions of the horse and how they relate to performance. Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork™ (Masterson Method™) opens the door to an interactive process and dialog with the horse, aiding the horse in the release of tension in key junctions that most affect performance and producing real time results.

Besides practicing equine performance bodywork, I am also a Masterson Method™ instructor, teach 'Hands-On Horse Mechanics' seminars and enjoy writing articles, blogging and researching anything around the topic of "horse wellness".
Due to personal experience I have a special interest in pain or trauma related behavior issues. You can read more about this topic in the article 'pain or trauma related behavior issues in horses'.

With Masterson Method™ students in Indianola, IA 2010	I love what I do and feel blessed to meet wonderful people and horses, make friends, learn and teach and look forward to doing it all again tomorrow...!
Masterson Method™ certification class in 08	Meeting Dr. Gerd Heuschmann 2010
	<< with graduates of Level I, Phase I Masterson Method™ certification course in Fairfield, Iowa in May 09. Congratulations to Debbie, Korinne, Lyn, Donna, Gwyn and Lisa! (for a Masterson Method™ training schedule please visit Jim Masterson's website)
With draft horses Nelly and Lady and historic farmer Bryan Zaeske at Old World Wisconsin in 2009 With Belgian draft horse Jimmy in 2009>>

My background

As a horse crazed 'city kid', I was fortunate enough to have a family who would make my interest in horses possible. I grew up riding an abundance of school horses and trail hacks, everyone a dream horse to me, and later moved on to a 'Bereiter' (FN trainer) apprenticeship in Germany.

<1972 with my good friend Fredo, an Oldenburg stallion, who was put down 4 years later at age 9 due to trauma related behavior issues   1969 in Germany on 'Cortina' >

During the years spent as an apprentice in a show barn in Trier, Germany, I had the opportunity to learn everything from cleaning stalls, caring for tack, saddling, daily and show grooming over riding, training and gymnasticizing to giving lessons. The barn was a state of the art facility and a very competitive environment. The time spent in Trier provided me with a good foundation, however, ended abruptly after a serious riding accident after which I was unable to find the necessary confidence to continue riding professionally. Due to marriage and children horses were only a small part of my life for quite some time. However, I continued to read about horses, got into horse photography, stood on the sidelines many times and rode sporadically for pleasure.

After years of raising children and working in the corporate world I decided to go back into what I really love to do, work with horses. Today I live and work in Madison, Wisconsin, and own three wonderful horses: Cody and Yogi (adopted from St. Francis Horse Rescue) and Yankee (aka Bell Valley Yank, adopted from the American Standardbred Adoption Program).

Goals

My goal is to assist horses and their owners in achieving optimal wellness and maximize performance for the horse. This always includes raising the questions regarding the possibly source of recurring soreness, lameness or unsoundness in the horse. My aim is not to merely make the horse more comfortable for the moment, but developing a strategy with horse owner or trainer to enable the horse to move freely and comfortably in the long run. I most enjoy my work directly with horses, but also enjoy teaching and my activities as a Masterson Method™ instructor and giving horse wellness seminars for horse owners.

Please contact me with questions, to make an appointment or to share your story.

Thank you!

Stefanie Reinhold
ctfd. Masterson Method™ Practitioner (MMCP) and Instructor

Horse Education

*) 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.