Advanced Masterson Method In Banbury
- klfinsand
- Sep 5
- 4 min read
Somehow, the stars aligned, and I found myself in the magical land of English equestrian yards outside of Banbury, England. That's, Banbry, for those like me who don’t speak the proper “English”, and the same as the cock horse ridden to see a fine lady with bells on her toes.
I had 2 strong motivating factors that got me there:
One, to attend and learn directly from Walter Saxe, the lead German Masterson Method® practitioner.
And to slip in the opportunity to meet up with Kiyana and enjoy some British pubs & Shakespeare.
The trip was beautifully split between time in the countryside working with horses, and in the latter half of our adventures, Kiyana put my feet to the test as the two of us trekked around London. While in Banbury, Kiyana explored on her own and came across horses at Warwick Castle reenacting a joust out of the local history books. Fortuitous that she found horses, sorry kiddo, it’s fate!
Walter’s course was an advanced program focused on the Sport Horse: Dressage, Jumping, and Cross Country. Masterson Method® is evidence-based performance bodywork designed to help make the performance horse a little better each time by addressing issues in:
rhythm
flexion
rotation
biomechanics
Each day we visited a different yard.
Day 1 was Dovecoat Stables in Churchill. My partner and I had the pleasure of working with an Iberian gelding named Mallador. Mallador’s discipline is dressage. Although his human referred to him as “a bit riggy”, we found him to be an ideal participant, allowing us to practice on him.
Our paddock setting was a pristine rolling landscape of green hedges stretching out below. Of course, lunch at the local pub was a requirement, at least it is in Walter’s course. Fish & chips and English beer. Each pub has its own flavor, and I am still craving it.
Day 2, we were graciously hosted at Amelia Walker’s Eventing stable in Eydon. Please don’t ask me where that is, I don’t know, but I think it came out of an Enid Bagnold novel, complete with the delicious luncheon we enjoyed alongside the garden flower beds and pond. On this day, I shared Ernie’s stall with fellow American MMCP, Sally. Ernie is a magnificent, robust grey gelding who relaxed his body as we practiced our new techniques and skills. I did suggest that perhaps we could bring Ernie back to the States to be our Masterson Method mascot.
Ernie is for sale. Better bid soon, at his next jumping event, he is expected to rise in level, and his price will too.
The third and final day, Alex Hales’ Trafford Bridge Stables welcomed us to work on select steeple chase race horses. This is a discipline new to me, since the sport is outlawed here in America. The recipient of my partner's and my ministrations was Grasshopper Time, a 7-year-old, relatively new to Alex’s stable. Grasshopper didn't know quite what to make of us and our gentle touch, inviting him to relax.
I think a horse in this discipline is used to the daily rigors of precise exercise programs. This was my first visit to a steeple chase stable. I found the exercise tracks impressive, although I don’t think I want to see the race in action.
Walter’s course had come to a close. London was calling, and surprisingly, many more horses to be admired. By chance, we got to see the changing of the Horse Guards.
It's impressive how they can stand quietly while all of us tourists gawk around.
Escaping the crowds at the Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard ceremony, we happened on more horses as The Horse Guard Parade was exiting through St. James’ Park.
At the National Gallery, Kiyana led me to George Stubbs’ Whistlejacket (1762). Then I was on a mission to find equines of all sorts in the paintings. There are many!
Overall, my favorite art was on the edge of Hyde Park. The monument to Animals of War. This memorial is for the millions of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and equines of all kinds, that served and died in military service alongside British and Allied Forces. It is worth visiting.
’Til next time, I must endure California-style fish and chips.
Many thanks to our hosts and their horses, to Instructor Walter Saxe and my awesome classmates from all over, and to Kiyana for continuing to play tour guide to Mom.
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