Osteopathclinics.com

Equine Osteopathy

BY

Keith Galer BSc (Hons)

Equine Osteopathy is a branch of osteopathy that works on the same principles and theory as human osteopathy. The techniques have of course been modified to take into account the different anatomical structures and size of patient.

The First Visit

Just like treating a human for the first time it all starts with a case history- any previous injuries, medication, operations or previous treatments taken. It should also include; age, sex, breed how the horse has been used through its life and the current complaint. The Osteopath will then want to watch the horse in walk and trot from different angles to assess the movement of the top and bottom lines and different joints before going on to a full osteopathic examination.

The first consultation will involve a full examination of the horse, palpation of all the soft tissues to find ‘hot spots’, muscle spasms, tensions, muscle wasting etc. All the joints are articulated from pastern to hip/shoulder on each leg then the head, neck back and tail are examined.

The findings from the case history and the examination will give the Osteopath an understanding of why your horse has its current physiology and how much change might be made to it. The Osteopath will then determine a suitable treatment plan specific to your horse.

What will you do?

Osteopathy is a system of manual medicine designed to bring equilibrium to the body through various techniques. The aim of the treatment is to improve mobility, reduce inflammation and improve muscle tone to assist the body’s own natural healing capacity. It is not a cure for every condition and there are times when you will be referred back to your Veterinary Surgeon for medication or surgery for your horse. Osteopathy can assist with rehabilitation after surgery.

It’s not just about backs!

Osteopathy IS NOT just a ‘crack’ of a joint, the treatment can also involve working on soft tissue such as ligaments, tendons and muscles. Techniques used may include soft tissue massage, stretching, mobilisations or high velocity thrusts to improve range of movement and quality of movement. Osteopaths are highly skilled practitioners who are trained to treat a wide variety of conditions associated with the musculo-skeletal framework of the horse. The whole point of the treatment is to return the horse to peak fitness in as short a time as possible and stop or prevent problems that may be causing the horse discomfort or pain.

So what can you treat?

Osteopathic treatment can help with any of the following presentations:

• Loss or decrease in the level of performance
• Behavioural changes (refusing, bucking, rearing)
• Short striding
• Stiffness/unevenness on one rein
• Problems or difficulty executing desired movement
• Diagnosed conditions, such as arthritis
• Muscle imbalance, spasms or wasting
• Injury (falls, training or trauma)
• Gait problems such as cross canter, refusal to pick up lead, loss of collection
• Sensitive to touch
• Head tilt, uneven pelvis or hips
• Dragging a hoof
• Sciatica

It is also beneficial to have a treatment before a competition. Just like any human athlete better performance can be made from loose well toned muscles rather than from tight over-trained ones.

How many treatments will it take?

This depends on what the problem is and how long your horse has had the condition. The Osteopath should be able to give you some idea after the initial consultation, as a general rule 3-4 treatments usually works. It is a good idea to get your horse checked at least 3-4 times a year. Osteopaths are trained to pick up early changes in the musculo-skeletal system, getting these adjusted can prevent problems from occurring later which could be harder to treat.

When should I contact an Osteopath?

You should contact a qualified Equine Osteopath if your horse develops any unusual problems and you have had a consultation with a veterinary surgeon to rule out any pathological problem. You should ALWAYS consult your veterinary surgeon before having your horse treated by another practitioner. It is an offence for anyone to treat an animal without referral from a veterinary surgeon. Without a referral the practitioners insurance would be invalid should there be a problem.

What will it cost?

Initial consultation and treatment £50

Follow up treatments £40. (£35 if 4 or more horses)

Travel £15 within a 15 mile radius, £35 over 15 mile (from Chester)

What’s the Vet’s view?

That usually depends on how well they know the Osteopath. Osteopathy was only regulated in 2001 and until then there were a lot of ‘back people’ around. It is now a criminal offence to pretend to be an Osteopath but it is still taking a while to differentiate Osteopathy from the old ‘back crowd’.

To become an Osteopath the training is a minimum of 4 years but can take up to 6. The study involves an in-depth learning of anatomy, physiology, pathology, biomechanics etc. They have to sit many examinations, both written and physical to prove they are competent to treat people. Once qualified they can take on post graduate learning in different fields, one of which is the diagnosis and treatment of animals.

For your own peace of mind you should check that the practitioner you are letting treat your horse is insured to do so. They should give you the name of the college they trained at and the name of their insurance company so you can clarify this.

In order to download a consent form please select the appropriate form below:

http://www.osteopathclinics.com/downloads/Equine_Consent.pdf

http://www.osteopathclinics.com/downloads/Equine_Consent.doc

If you have any questions, You can either call me directly on 01244-375277 or 0151-2369722 or email me by clicking on this This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will contact you as soon as possible