Equine Bodywork
Masterson Method® performance bodywork for your horse. To improve your horse’s performance and reduce mind-body tension and stress response.
Human Physiotherapy for Horse Riders
Develop your body awareness, strength and flexibility to improve your connection, communication and skill in the saddle.
Horse-Human Relationship Coaching
Develop the skills to connect to the whole of yourself and more fully meet your horse in the present moment. Learn to clearly feel and hear your horse’s ‘voice’ so you can build a deeper, more trusting and playful two-way relationship.
As well as a human physiotherapist I am a certified practitioner of the Masterson Method® of Equine Integrated Performance Bodywork. I am insured to treat horses with a bloodstock value up to five hundred thousand pounds.
I work with horses individually, and can also work with both rider and horse as a team to improve your relationship, connection and performance together. For more on the rider’s pelvis connection click here.
Horse Riders can visit my physiotherapy clinic in Knightsbridge, Central London, SW3. I travel to work with horses and riders by arrangement. Please contact me on 0207 235 3471 to discuss your needs.
Equine bodywork addresses movement and performance limitations. This can be particularly useful in cases when a veterinary assessment has shown that the horse has no injury.
It can help your horse relax and release their stress response and everyday tension, even when there aren’t specific movement issues.
In cases of injury, equine bodywork can be used to help any remaining movement restrictions once the horse has recovered.
Equine bodywork does not replace veterinary care and is not used to diagnose or treat acute injury.
‘Rodney had another Masterson Method Body work session from Orson yesterday and felt amazing today. I really didn’t think that it would make this much of a difference to how free he is in the shoulders but today the lateral work and the extensions were amazing.’ Miriam K
‘Thank you for the beautiful and amazing treatment you gave to Buscador shortly after he had arrived so full of fear. he has made great progress since. Shortly after your treatment he allowed me to pick up all his hoofs so we could take off the too tight shoes. Now he shows us each day a bit more of his expressive movements. Your work has helped a lot to fasten the progress of trust and confidence.’ Simin H
Human Physiotherapy for Horse Riders
“My horses are very happy about that change in their rider’s hip and shoulder too and I can receive their physical constrains now also in a different way, I have new ideas of how to help them, riding wise (with specific dressage exercises) as with the right ground-work. Thank you Orson.” Simin H
“Everyday I had deep buttock and hip pain. I had forgotten what it was like to be without pain. I am a dressage rider and it was affecting my riding and stopping me pursuing my dressage goals. I had become unbalanced in the saddle and was blocking my horse. This meant he was not going forward, hard to collect, cutting/dropping in on the left. The stiffness in my body made half pass to the right difficult for him. I was having treatment to release tight muscles but it would only help for a couple of days and then the problems would come back. I couldn’t find a physiotherapist who understood dressage riding until I found Orson online. After a detailed assessment Orson designed an exercise plan specific to me. This has not only resolved my pain but was riding specific and addressed the problems I was having riding. I am really pleased with the results. I no longer have pain in my back or hip. My hips, generally, feel much looser. And the proof of the pudding: I feel back to that deeper connection with my horse’s back. He is amazing to ride in collected canter, you feel totally connected, and can control his speed with stomach muscles and control of hips. Changing transitions, very smooth. Asking for extensions, change of speed in gaits – no resistance. Really nice swinging steps both left and right in half pass. We are back to being a team again. He is a lovely boy, and always wants to please, so I knew something was very off and the problem was me. My trainer has noticed a massive change too, he is really pleased with the way my horse is going with me. The other day my trainer spontaneously said that my seat is unbelievably good. I cannot tell you how pleased I am that the hips are now flowing more freely when I ride.” Rachel B
Equine Bodywork
Trainers and riders I have worked with report a range of benefits in their horses, from improved performance and movement to relaxation and improved mood. For example:
- Increased range of movement the pelvis and hind allowing improved flying lead changes
- Improve trust and confidence in a previously anxious horse.
- Increased range of movement at the shoulders improving lateral work e.g. half passes
- Resolution of avoidant movement/ behaviour during riding, caused by discomfort in the back.
- Improved acceptance and contact on the bit
- More flexible, with lateral bend balanced on each rein
- More engaged and willing during training
Treatments take between one and two hours. It is best if the horse is not warmed up before treatment and that it can either be turned out or at least walked in hand for 10 minutes afterwards. After a long treatment, it is best if the horse has 24 hours off from any work.
Click here for a more detailed description of the process (including pictures) or call me on 0207 235 3471 if you would like to ask any questions or arrange a consultation.
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