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Cindy Schleuss, Owner

Photo by Julie Colt

I have found it interesting how life's circumstances can teach a person. I spent the early part of my life wondering what on earth I was suppose to be doing. I loved to do so many things, but could not find a direction. Parent approval and the general public's opinion both played a role in the jobs I chose to do. My heart however, was always with the horse. Since I got my first taste at 6 years old, I lived and breathed horses. If I couldn't be around them then I was one.

One of my other oddities was my passion for mechanics in movement. For as far back as I can remember, I would spend hours watching how the quarter back would throw the ball, or how the tennis player hit the ball. From dancing to whatever sport was on, I was studying it.

Not only did I watch the sports but I played them as well even though I was a bit accident prone and also sickly. As a child I spent a lot of the winter months in the house due to one illness or another. I have had 3 knee surgeries, ovarian cysts, severe pelvic injury, tendon damage in both upper extremities, and a head injury. All of this took it's toll on me in my early 30'S. I had to take a good look at my life and make a change. I had already given up every sport I loved except for riding and it seemed that I was able to do that less and less.

Then one day my life changed.

From watching one great science fiction movie "The Matrix", which left me with the question of "what is reality?" Then, asking another question, "if the body can destroy then it must be able to heal; how do I do that?", my life turned around. It was these two questions that opened the door for me to discover what I call Muscle Reconstruction Therapy.

By staying open minded and living in the questions, I have been able to slowly unfold the mysteries of how the body works. I learned one by one how each personal accident and illness had affected my body balance. I learned the many techniques the massage and physical therapists used on me. My body and mind have this ability to imprint what is being done and why. So basically, while I was attempting to rehabilitate my own body by using outside sources, I learned techniques which I now use to help others. I have also learned how our minds and body can sometimes play tricks on us. What we believe is straight in our body may not in reality be straight. Body balance is a funny thing. Our brains tell us what is straight to gravity then our muscles balance that message. Each outcome is different based on our circumstances in life.

Bringing a body back into it's natural state of balance is now my passion. This involves the mind, body and spirit. I am fortunate to have a sister who feels the same way and has chosen to study the nutritional aspect of the body. Her knowledge of herbs and nutrition has helped me find a way to assist the body in healing that has lead to profound results. My developed eye from all those years of studying movement helps me to see what is mechanically wrong in a body. My ability to use my hands and see how the body should be makes it possible to "rewire" the muscle function. My desire to understand behaviors from a psychological perspective gives understanding to the being I am helping. I do my research and I explain what I find. From there it is all about choices.

Cindy's Story

Photo by Julie Colt

As a rider I have ridden many disciplines. I rode hunters as a child, eventing as a teenager, cowhorses and reining as a young adult, and now dressage.

As for ground work, I studied John Lyons after a horrific accident involving myself and 2 horses. The simple truth was that I could not catch a horse and in an attempt to lasso him from another horse, which I did, I almost lost my life. I am still paying the price for that accident. However, if it had not happened I probably would have never seeked out a better way.

I feel blessed to be able to take all of the knowledge life has given me and be able to make a difference for so many lives. By giving a horse a second chance I am also giving the owner one. Some people ask me why I work so hard? And my response is "for the love of the horse".

Photo by Julie Colt