EQUINE OSTEOPATHY

Equine osteopathy is the adaptation of human osteopathic techniques to treat horses. 

Equine osteopaths use a combination of massage, joint manipulation and articulation, and stretching to help improve a horse's structure and therefore function.

Horses are athletes - whether they are your happy hack or a top-end race horse. Their health must be taken seriously including their musculo-skeletal health. As osteopaths we treat the horse as a whole in order to resolve reduced performance, behavioural changes and to relieve pain. 

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Problems that Equine Osteopathy can assist with include:

• Gait problems

• Reduced levels of performance

• Problems with head carriage - head shaking or shyness

• Stiffness or reduced mobility - difficult tracking up, bending, lengthening stride

• Changes in behaviour - bucking, rearing, unexplained grumpiness

• Tendon injuries or ligament strain

• Back tenderness

• Lameness

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The application of kinesiology tape can be a great addition to osteopathic treatment. I use RockTape to help add support, improve fluid drainage and blood supply, and to provide decompression of fascia and nerves. It is a great way to prolong my treatment and something I can teach you to do at home. 

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It is important to remember that horses are heavily influenced by their rider. Having horse and rider sessions can be extremely beneficial especially when a horse seems to be having ongoing problems. During a 'horse and rider' session I will watch you ride and assess and treatment both you and your horse. I aim to educate you on both your own and your horse's anatomy to further your understanding of how to optimise performance.