Bones in Motion
An Equine Professional's Guide to Asking for Skeletal Movement, Recognizing Restrictions, and Understanding the Connected Body
The horse's skeleton is constantly communicating.
Every restriction, compensation, asymmetry, and movement pattern occurs within a musculoskeletal system that is continuously adapting, organizing, and responding to the demands placed upon it.
Yet many equine professionals have never been taught a systematic way to gather information directly from the skeleton itself.
Bones in Motion introduces a practical framework for asking key skeletal structures to move, observing how the horse responds, recognizing patterns, and integrating those observations into assessment, bodywork, and client conversations.
Participants learn a series of Skeletal Asks that provide information about how specific regions of the musculoskeletal system are organizing, moving, and responding to input. Rather than focusing on isolated structures, the course encourages practitioners to recognize relationships between regions and develop a broader understanding of the connected body.
The Skeletal Asks provide a structured approach to conversing with and listening to the musculoskeletal system. Participants learn to gather information, recognize patterns, and explore how findings in one region may relate to observations elsewhere in the body. The result is a practical framework that can be integrated into assessment, bodywork, professional reasoning, and client conversations.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
-
Perform a series of skeletal movement requests involving key regions of the horse's axial skeleton and proximal limbs
-
Recognize common response patterns including guarding, resistance, asymmetry, compensation, and overt discomfort
-
Distinguish between normal responses and responses that warrant closer attention
-
Connect skeletal movement findings with possible muscle, fascial, postural, and biomechanical influences
-
Organize and prioritize information gathered from the musculoskeletal system
-
Document observations using a practical system designed for professional use
-
Identify patterns that may help prioritize areas for further assessment or bodywork
-
Integrate Skeletal Ask findings into their existing assessments, bodywork, rehabilitation, and performance-support practices
-
Strengthen professional reasoning and client communication through clear observations, information gathering and documentation
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for equine professionals who want a structured approach to gathering and organizing information from the musculoskeletal system, including:
-
Masterson Method Certified Practitioners
-
Equine bodyworkers and massage therapists
-
Craniosacral therapists
-
Rehabilitation professionals
-
Saddle fitters
-
Farriers
If you are not currently practicing in an equine-related field, please contact us before registering.
Why This Course Matters
-
The skeleton provides a direct source of information about how the body is organizing and responding to the demands placed upon it.
-
Accurate observation begins with the ability to identify specific structures and ask precise questions of the musculoskeletal system.
-
Small changes in movement quality, symmetry, position, and response can reveal patterns of compensation, restriction, and adaptation that are not always obvious through observation alone.
-
The ability to ask movement questions of individual skeletal zones and relate those local findings to the larger system creates a strong foundation for professional practice.
-
Skeletal findings often connect with muscular, fascial, postural, behavioral, and performance-related observations.
-
Recognizing patterns across multiple body regions supports assessment, session planning, professional decision-making, and client communication.
-
The course provides a practical system for collecting, organizing, and prioritizing skeletal movement findings.
-
Participants learn to think beyond isolated structures and begin recognizing how different regions of the body influence one another.
Professional Learning Resources
Participants receive a comprehensive suite of learning and practice resources designed to support both the course experience and ongoing professional application, including:
-
125+ Page Bones in Motion Manual - A comprehensive reference covering each Skeletal Ask, including anatomy, why the Ask matters, common patterns, how to perform the Ask, what to observe, documentation, interpretation, and integration.
-
Bones in Motion Skeletal Asks Quick Guide - A single-page reference summarizing Ask locations, hand placements, and key reminders for all Skeletal Asks.
-
Bones in Motion Skeletal Asks Documentation System - A structured recording system designed to help practitioners organize findings, identify patterns, and document observations consistently.
-
Bones in Motion Skeletal Asks Coloring Map - An interactive visual learning tool designed to reinforce skeletal landmarks, Ask locations, and anatomical orientation.
-
Bones in Motion Anatomical Atlas (Full-color Companion Reference) - A visual guide illustrating the muscles, fascia, ligaments, neural structures, and other tissues associated with each Skeletal Ask and skeletal zone.
Course Format
-
Delivery: In person
-
Dates: Check the Course Page for Available Dates!
-
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CT (with breaks)
-
Course Manual: Comprehensive illustrated course manual included
-
CE Hours: 14 Hours
-
Tuition: $ 397
-
Enrollment: Capped at 8 students (registration closes automatically when full)
Extend Your Learning
Bones in Motion may be taken as a stand-alone course or as part of a four-day learning experience:
-
Finding the Frame (1 Day) - Visible & Palpable Landmarks of the Equine Axial Skeleton(1 Day)
-
Bones in Motion (2 Days) - Learn to ask movement questions of skeletal structures and recognize patterns within the connected body.
-
Bodywork Practice Lab (1 Day) - Apply concepts, practice skills, learn from and alongside fellow practitioners, compare approaches, and receive additional coaching and feedback.
Find the structures. Ask the questions. Apply the findings.
Have questions? Reach out and I'll help you determine the right next step for your learning and professional development.
Your Registration Includes
-
Two days of guided instruction and demonstration
-
Extensive hands-on practice performing Skeletal Asks
-
Interactive learning using real equine bones, skeletal specimens, and a life-sized equine anatomical model
-
Small-group instruction and individualized feedback
-
Guided observation and pattern-recognition exercises
-
Practical applications for assessment, bodywork, professional reasoning, and client conversations
-
Complete Bones in Motion Professional Learning Resource Package
-
A structured framework that can be integrated into existing professional practice