1.
How can I tell if this work will help my horse?
The types of problems that respond best to bodywork
are those related to pain from muscles or skeletal imbalances
After your vet does a lameness exam and doesn't find anything
conclusive, problems of intermittent lameness, deteriorating
performance times, changes in ability to perform patterns or
jumps, inability to collect, one sidedness i.e. difficulty taking
particular leads, poor behavior, missed transitions, both up
and down, dragging a limb, unusually head carriage or position,
stiffness and repeated neck stretching are some of the issues
that bodywork can help remedy.
2. Will this work hurt my horse?
Unlike some forms of chiropractic or drug therapy, this work
is non invasive and non traumatic. While there are some conditions
that may not respond as well as others, it doesn't make problems
worse.
3. Does this replace my Vet?
No. Your vet should be your first resource for resolving lameness
issues. Although, since many vets are focused on their area
of expertise, they may not be aware of the techniques or benefits
of therapeutic bodywork. Ideally, I work under a referral system,
with your vet. Not all vets are willing to do that, but that
is the preferred method.
4. How long do treatments last?
It depends. Acute (recent) injuries that are caused by a definable,
physical mechanism of injury usually respond quickly, in one
session. Long term (chronic) problems or problems caused by
the stress of competition or poor handling sometimes take longer.
5. What conditions can't this work
help?
Therapeutic bodywork can,t correct problems caused by disease,
bone fractures, torn ligaments or tendons, behavior problems
caused by poor handling or poor training. But, even with these
problems, bodywork can make the horse more comfortable and allow
the horse to direct more energy to healing the actual problem
instead of overall pain management. It can also reduce the strain
and tension on injured systems or allow the horse to be able
to focus on what the trainer is asking.
6. Why is this better than a regular
chiropractor, or massage therapist or acupuncturist?
The reason this work is so powerful is the synthesis of various
disciplines. It allows us to work on many levels. The cause
of imbalances is rarely on only one level. From the gross to
the subtle, we can take care of poor shoeing, restore flexibility
to the skeletal system, release muscle spasms and trigger points
then balance energy flow through accupressure. Each level interacting
and supporting all the other levels.
7. What if my horse won't tolerate
being worked on?
One of the things
most remarked on is how most horses relax into the session.
Even high energy, nervous horses usually relax when they realize
that this is helping to remove pain. Also, much of the work
tends to release endorphins, the body's natural tranquilizers,
which helps the relaxation response. My experience is that with
the hundreds of horses I've worked on, there were very few that
didn't really like the session.
8. Are there any guarantees?
As with life, there are no guarantees, but if you would like
to contact us at equinerehab@eoni.com we can provide you with
references to the type of results and the quality of work performed.
Or see the results section of this site.
9. My horse isn't injured, is there
any point in having him/her worked on?
Most musculosheletal injuries and problems do not come out of
the blue, they are what is known as culmulative strain injuries,
meaning that a series of small strains tend to accumulate and
build up until they show up as lameness or movement problems.
Preventative bodywork, especially for performance horses, is
one of the best ways to ensure soundness and prevent sudden
surprises.
10. As a trainer, I can usually get
my clients horses to do what I ask, why do I have any interest
in bodywork?
While many trainers can push a horse to
do things that may be uncomfortable for the horse, it is more
a testament to the horse than the trainers overall awareness.
A horse whose body is physically able to perfform is usually
more than mentally willing. From a practical point of view,
comfortable horses are far faster and more efficient to train,
thus maximizing the trainers effectiveness. |
