Equine Bodywork for Comfort, Mobility & Performance.
A Whole-horse approach to bodywork
Tanya Story, Owner:
I am a Certified Masterson Method® Practitioner (MMCP) and certified in Equine Therapeutic Sports Massage through Equinology®. I have spent more than seven years studying equine bodywork and developing a gentle, horse-centered approach that combines therapeutic massage, the Masterson Method®, and Equine Positional Release.
My work is guided by careful observation and listening to each horse, allowing me to adapt every session to the individual horse’s needs, comfort, and responses.
The Masterson Method®
The Masterson Method is a gentle, interactive form of equine bodywork that works with the horse’s nervous system to help release accumulated tension. Using light touch, subtle movement, and careful attention to the horse’s responses, I follow signs of relaxation and release rather than forcing the body.
The horse is an active participant in the process. By listening to subtle responses such as blinking, changes in breathing, licking and chewing, yawning, or softening of the body, I can adjust the work to what the horse is ready to release.
Therapeutic Equine Sports Massage
Therapeutic massage works directly with the horse’s muscles and soft tissues. Using a variety of hands-on techniques, I work to reduce areas of muscular tension, encourage circulation, and support flexibility and range of motion. Massage can be beneficial for performance and working horses as well as horses experiencing stiffness from age, compensation, or everyday activity.
Equine Positional Release
Equine Positional Release uses gentle positioning of the horse’s body to encourage areas of tension to soften and release. Rather than stretching or forcing a restricted area, the body is placed in a comfortable position that allows muscles and soft tissues an opportunity to relax. This gentle approach can be especially useful for horses that are sensitive, guarded, stiff, or uncomfortable with more direct pressure.
Initial Assessment & Bodywork Session
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Your horse’s first session is an opportunity for me to get to know both you and your horse. I begin by talking with you about your horse’s history, current workload, areas of concern, and what you hope to achieve through bodywork. Whether your horse is an athlete, working horse, therapy horse, senior, or simply a beloved companion, the session is tailored to their individual needs.
I then spend time observing and assessing your horse, looking at posture, movement, areas of tension, and how they respond to touch. This helps me determine where they may be holding restriction or discomfort and guides the bodywork session that follows.
Using a combination of Therapeutic Equine Massage, the Masterson Method, and Equine Positional Release, I work with your horse at their own pace. I pay close attention to subtle responses and allow the horse to participate in the process rather than forcing a release. My goal is to help reduce tension, encourage greater freedom and comfort in the body, and support the horse’s overall well-being.
Because I believe that listening to both the horse and the owner is an important part of effective bodywork, an initial assessment and treatment generally takes 2 to 2½ hours. I don't rush the process, each horse is given the time they need.
After the initial assessment and bodywork session, regular sessions can be 1 1/2 to 2 hours. depending on how your horses nervous system handles the bodywork.
Please note: Equine bodywork is complementary care and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your horse has a current or recent injury, I require approval from your veterinarian before beginning bodywork.
Tanya has a beautiful way with equines. She senses, listens, and feels them with a gentle intelligence and the horses in return are curious and responsive to her presence and touch. I had her work with our eldest horse, who carries a lot of pain in his body, and during their sessions together there was always a visceral sense of release of tension for him. She also worked with our herd of five as a whole, allowing each horse to come and go freely, each of them drawn to her energy and touch, each showing signals of calm as she worked with them. I appreciate that Tanya moves through her equine bodywork sessions with an ethic of truly listening to the horse.
-Mizu Desierto
We’re so grateful to equine bodyworker Tanya Story for her sessions with our therapy horses. Keeping our horses comfortable, mobile, and feeling their best is essential to the important work they do every day with our clients. Tanya’s thoughtful and skilled bodywork helped to release tension, support mobility, and promote their overall well being.
Thank you, Tanya, for caring so beautifully for the horses who care for so many others.
Jean Gerber
Equine Therapy SMA