Larry started his career under saddle as a two-year-old race horse. Now fifteen, he has spent many years carrying a rider on his back. It’s no surprise that he has suffered his share of injuries and discomfort as a result. In the four years that I’ve owned him, I’ve learned that many of his performance and behaviour issues – nipping at me in cross-ties, girthiness (fussing and pinning his ears when the girth is being tightened), leaning into the bit, stumbling under saddle, refusing to go forward or running away – are actually symptoms of underlying pain. What great luck for me – and Larry – that my riding coach, Leslie Kennedy (Dynamic Bodywurks Canada), became a Masterson Method® practitioner.

If you’ve never heard of the Masterson Method®, you’re in good company, because neither had I. As I write this post, there are only seventeen certified Masterson practitioners in Canada. However I understand that interest in the modality is growing, and several more Canadians are working towards certification.

The Masterson Method® is a bodywork technique that was developed in the USA by Jim Masterson. It works by applying light pressure and movement to the horse’s body in a way the horse can’t brace against. By reading the horse’s response, the practitioner determines where the horse is holding tension. This is often in the deeper core and postural muscles which have tightened in response to chronic pain, or have taken over for muscles that are unable to do their job. She then assists the horse’s nervous system to release this tension, using the horse’s subtle body language to guide her. Masterson Method® very much an interactive therapy between the horse and the practitioner. The results can be dramatic as the horse releases tension and pain that may have accumulated over many years.

Except for the interruption caused by Covid, Larry has been having monthly sessions with Leslie for nearly two years. Given all his issues – kissing spine, mild navicular syndrome, and arthritis in his neck, hocks, and the coffin joint in one front foot – I attribute the fact that he’s still able to do light work to his team of health professionals, with Leslie playing a critical role.

I love watching Leslie work. Her hands move over Larry’s body, touching lightly, sometimes barely hovering on the surface of the hair, always searching for his response, waiting for him to guide her next move until he releases the tension. She will pick up a leg and hold it while gently assisting his range of motion. Often she just supports his weight to allow the large muscles above the leg to relax. As she works, she’s always, always watching for Larry’s reaction. Something as minor as a blink can be significant. Yawning and licking are signs of tension release. Her knowledge of anatomy guides her to move from one part of Larry’s body to another, sometimes returning to a trouble spot after related tension somewhere else has been released. Watching her work, I see someone who is in tune with the horse. There is something almost spiritual about it.

Before Larry’s most recent session two weeks ago, he had been especially nippy whenever I was grooming and tacking him up. Under saddle, he would shuffle and stumble until he warmed up. I noticed that his lumbar area was very sore when palpated. Eventually it became apparent that his saddle was starting to sit low in front and needed to be adjusted. This could easily be the root cause of his discomfort.

When Leslie arrived to work on Larry, the first step was to check his way of going. On the lunge, he appeared quite stiff in his hind end, especially in his left hind leg. The bodywork session revealed significant neck and wither tension. His left hamstring was tight. While Leslie worked on him, his fussiness decreased and he grew more relaxed. By the end of the session, his eye was soft. He walked back to his stall with a fluid, contented stride.

Since then, he’s been much happier when I ride him, more willing to go forward. Of course it has helped that I’ve been using my spare saddle until my regular saddle can be adjusted. But it’s equally important that he started off more physically comfortable.

Many of Leslie’s clients are competition horses in various disciplines: dressage and Western dressage, hunting, jumping, eventing, barrel racing. Compared to them, Larry and I are nothing special.  We’re both past our prime, with bodies carrying a lifetime’s worth of injuries and chronic pain. But the fact that we can still go out there and work together in relative comfort, that’s a priceless gift. Both Larry and I are grateful for Leslie’s Masterson Method® skills.

(Note that Leslie’s session forms carry this note: The purpose of Masterson Method® is to enhance performance in the healthy horse. It is not a substitute for veterinary care. Any health concerns with the horse should be referred to a veterinarian.)