Equine Therapeutic Touch, LLC

This free webinar is available throughout February, 2026.

When a scar changes the way a horse moves

Gelding scars are often considered “old history” - but for some horses, they may continue to influence movement, posture, and comfort long after healing.

In this free Masterson Method® discussion, we explore how gelding scars can contribute to restriction patterns in the equine body. We review relevant anatomy, common compensations, and how gentle Masterson Method® techniques may help release tension and improve range of motion.

Gelding Scars: A Masterson Method Discussion
with Jim Masterson, Creator of The Masterson Method®
and Vanessa Helvey, Equine Osteopath, MMCP & Instructor, BSc

📅 Registration opens 4 February
🎥 Available throughout February
🎁 Register to stand a chance to win one of three prizes supporting your Masterson Method learning journey.

👉 Comment GIFT and we’ll send you the registration link in celebration of our 9th Birthday!

The Masterson Method, Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork

Every dog owner can learn The Masterson Method!

February is just a couple weeks away! Make an appointment for you cart or dog.

Are you curious what your dog has to say? Join Stef's Beyond Dog Massage READ AND RELEASE Course! You will be amazed with what you will learn about your dog.

Every blink, sigh, and shift tells a story — are you seeing it? To most, they’re just little moments. But when paired with the techniques from the Beyond Dog Massage book, they’re your dog’s responses to your touch — showing you where they’re holding tension and allowing you to help them release it. To those who know The Masterson Method®, it’s the dog’s way of saying, “I feel safe. I can let go.” In this clip, instructor Stef Watts tries one of the gentle techniques from the Read and Release Online Course, and the silent conversation that unfolds is full of meaning. When you can spot these subtle responses, you open the door to a whole new level of connection, trust, and comfort with your dog. 📅 Course starts September 6 — Learn how to improve your dog’s well-being and strengthen your bond! ✨ Sign up today: https://f.mtr.cool/ukdkjsgaqy #mastersonmethod #beyonddogmassage #ReadAndRelease #dogmassage #caninebodywork #dogwellness #dogcare #healthydogs #happydogs

Short training with breaks is worth experimenting with!

⏱ Want to improve how your horse learns new skills? A new study tested two training approaches for teaching horses to cross a scary new obstacle: 🐎 Spaced training — 2 minutes work, 2 minutes rest, repeated 🐎 Massed training — 4 minutes work, then 4 minutes rest Both groups had the same total work and rest time… but the results were dramatically different. ✅ 94% of horses in the spaced group succeeded ❌ Only 39% in the massed group reached the same goal Spaced training horses were also quicker to try the obstacle and crossed it more efficiently. This study offers strong support for short, structured work sessions with breaks—a simple shift that can make a big difference. 📖 Read the full study here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-021-01580-7 🎥 Watch the video for how to apply it in your training! #equestrian #horsesofinstagram #horsebackriding #equinelife #showjumping #dressage #eventing #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horserider #ridersofinstagram #equestrianbusiness #equinetrainer #horsetraining

Good advice for the physical and emotional well-being of the dogs that we expect to adjust to our lifestyles.

***I am a 21st century dog.***
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.

I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.

I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.

Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.

I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.

You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!

If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.

I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.

So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.

This is an interesting perspective on wild horse herds!

This is how wild horses are helping to fight wildfires in California!

Interested in "horsing" up your envelopes? Forever Horse stamps!

Last batch of discounted stamps, back to original price soon! We have high-quality products available for purchase. Welcome to buy

Your dog will appreciate the time you will spend together! Meet once a week for three weeks. At the end of the course, you will have a whole new understanding of how to help your dog move a bit more easily.

In this short clip, instructor Stef Watts shows us a few key anatomical landmarks on a dog’s head — something you’ll learn to recognize and feel for during our upcoming Read and Release Online Course! Learning where to place your hands — and how to listen to your dog’s subtle responses — is the foundation of the Search Response Stay Release technique we teach in this course. 💻 Live + Interactive on Zoom 📅 Tuesdays, July 1, 8 & 15, 2025 🕚 11AM CT | With Stef Watts 🐾 You’ll join with your dog and get real-time feedback as you practice gentle, effective bodywork. Perfect for dog owners, trainers, and canine wellness professionals who want to deepen their understanding and support their dog’s comfort and connection. Certificate of Course Completion available. Spaces are limited — secure your spot today! Sign up at the link below. https://f.mtr.cool/htcaljwups #mastersonmethod #beyonddogmassage #mastersoneducation #dogmassage #caninebodywork #dogwellness #readandreleasecourse #healthydogs #happydogs

You didn't want to miss this event!

The FREE Online Horse Fair is worth your time to watch and learn from expert clinicians. If you decide to purchase access for later viewing, you won't regret it!

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Is your mare sensitive in the lumbar? Jim Masterson shows you some points for SRSR. You can find free resources on www.masterson method.com.

Why Wednesday: My mare reacts really sensitively when I work the Hind End Points… specifically at the pelvic point. Is that usual? Answer: This is something we see quite often, especially in mares. The pelvic point is located just in front of the pelvis, where the bones of the hind limb connect to the vertebral column via the hip joint and sacroiliac joint. It’s an important area for releasing tension in the hind end. And in mares, it can also be more sensitive due to what's nearby internally, namely, the reproductive organs. Some mares may pin their ears, swish their tails, or tense up even when you're just lightly touching or hovering near this point. If this happens consistently — and it’s not related to saddle fit or training — it might be worth having a vet take a look. Discomfort in this area could sometimes be linked to tension around the ovaries. So yes, it’s not only usual — it’s valuable information. Your horse is showing you where she may need help. And with a little softness and awareness, you can support her in releasing that tension. In today’s clip, Jim explains how this point is often sensitive in mares — and how just bringing attention to it during the Hind End Points can lead to a visible release, even with just air-gap pressure. If you've already taken the Weekend Course and want to deepen your skills and understanding, check out our 5-Day Advanced Courses. You'll gain the tools and confidence to address deeper patterns of tension and support your horse's comfort, mobility, and overall performance. https://f.mtr.cool/bqabdzuisf #MastersonMethod #BeyondHorseMassage #EquineBodywork #ReleasingTension #MareWellness #HorseCare #HorseRiders #HorseLovers #Equestrians