Equine therapy techniques...What do they all mean?

There are various forms of treatment that come under the topic of equine therapy, including physiotherapy, osteopathy, remedial massage and sports therapy. More alternative treatments could include homeopathy, aromatherapy, reiki, shiatsu and acupuncture. Below is a list of complementary therapies with a brief explanation of what each treatment focuses on.

EQUINE OSTEOPATHY

In general, osteopaths deal with both hard (bone) and soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments). They aim to improve the structure of the body in order to improve its function and deal with a wide variety of problems including sprains, strains, poor posture (conformation) and neck and back problems.

EQUINE CHIROPRACTIC

Chiropractors are generally known for manipulating bones, focusing on the alignment of the bones of the whole body, in order to promote good health and reduce risk of injury. If any bones are slightly out of place (misaligned) this will cause stress to the surrounding nerves, tendons, ligaments and muscles.

EQUINE PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapists (also known as physical therapists) essentially focus on the functional movement of patients. By using various physical treatment techniques, including exercises, they aim to improve movement throughout the body in order to promote wellbeing.

EQUINE SPORTS THERAPY

To improve health and fitness, sports therapists aim to manage injuries gained through sport. Dealing mainly with common muscular problems, such as back pain, they work to provide advice and treatment on injury prevention and rehabilitation, by primarily providing sports massage and the use of scientific exercise principles.

EQUINE REMEDIAL MASSAGE

Similar to sports therapy, remedial massage deals with soft tissue injuries. Treatment in the form of deep tissue massage aims to reduce scar tissue and damaged cells, for example, in order to speed recovery from aches and pains.

EQUINE SHIATSU

Using acupuncture points on the body, shiatsu is a form of finger pressure massage that originates from Japan. The Chinese equivalent is called acupressure. Shiatsu practitioners believe that life energy (chi) flows naturally through the body and any blockage of this energy causes physical or psychological ill health. By applying pressure to these blockages, chi can flow freely again, creating wellbeing.

EQUINE REIKI

Another form of natural healing originating from Japan, reiki is a form of energy healing. By the “laying on of hands”, reiki is believed to increase life force energy, (that flows through the body) thereby creating inner peace and better health.

EQUINE AROMATHERAPY

Using natural oils aromatherapy aims to heal horses holistically. This means that all aspects of the horse’s environment are taken into account, including diet, exercise and lifestyle. Essentially aromatherapy is a treatment of using different scents to create different psychological and physiological reactions to speed the healing process.

EQUINE HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy is a medical practice that works on the principle that if you treat the body with minute amounts of diluted natural substances (from plants, minerals and animals) that would cause disease or illness if given in larger doses, the bodies immune system will be stimulated to heal itself (i.e “like cures like”).

EQUINE ACUPUNCTURE

Originating from China, acupuncture is the ancient practice of inserting needles into specific parts of the body to enable life energy (chi) to flow freely to relieve pain and treat a wealth of conditions.