Osteopathy for horses
Osteopathy is a non-invasive manual approach towards both symptoms, as well as the underlying patterns that form the complaints.
The osteopathic philosophy is holistic and the horse’s body is seen as a whole, which is also one of the most important principles of osteopathy. Other principles are:
• Everything in the horse’s body can and should be mobile. Loss of movement can be caused by exterior factors (e.g. overload) or interior factors (e.g. infections). The osteopath can restore this loss of mobility. A veterinarian will always be contacted in case of disease or other pathology.
• The horse has a self-healing ability. Circulation plays a very important role and can be influenced by the osteopath. The osteopath uses several systems when approaching the horse:
1. Parietal system (bones, muscles, tendons, spine and all joints)
2. Visceral system (the organs)
3. Cranio-sacral system (the skull through the meninges and spinal cord tissue are connected to the sacrum)
If a problem or disturbance occurs in one of these systems, it will have its effects on the other two systems. This may be caused mechanically, by reduced circulation or through the nervous system. The osteopath seeks for this loss in balance within the horse’s body and tries to restore it by means of manual techniques that are respectful towards the horse.
