WHAT IS EQUINE BOWEN THERAPY AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Please see What is Bowen Therapy? and Understanding Fascia. Bowen Therapy is formally recognised in terms of specific training, as a treatment for humans, horses and dogs, but it has endless applications. What you see described in, What is Bowen Therapy?, such as what it is, how it works and the benefits you would expect to see, do not change according to the species you are treating.

WHY IS HEALTHY FASCIA SO IMPORTANT TO HORSES?

Sara Wyche covers fascia in some depth in her book, The Anatomy of Riding. She talks from the rider’s perspective, about fascia being, “our ally” and makes it clear that healthy fascia is essential for the ridden horse to be able to use its musculoskeletal systems correctly. “As riders we rely on these connective tissue structures to bring unity and fluency to the horse’s movements. We have to take care that the way we ride, or our choice of equipment, does not impede the fascia, and thereby isolate strategic areas of movement from the whole... The only way the horse can have flexibility as well as strength is by combining the driving power of the muscles with the restraining power of the connective tissues.” The Anatomy of Riding – Sara Wyche

Ultimately, damaged fascia can affect the horse’s balance, way of going, ability to heal, strength, co-ordination, stamina and posture to name just a few things. The quicker that therapies such as Bowen are used on horses that have damaged fascia, the better. Quick action can prevent the lines of communication being scrambled by the build up of scar tissue, enabling the body to get back to normal as soon as possible.

WHAT ISSUES/CONDITIONS CAN YOU TREAT?

As Equine Bowen therapists, we do not treat specific issues or conditions. We will discuss the horse’s history with their owner, take the time needed to understand the problems they are presenting with and tailor the treatment with that knowledge in mind, but that doesn’t change the fact that ultimately, we treat the body as a whole.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EQUINE BOWEN THERAPY?

Ranging from detoxing and rebooting the immune system, easing allergies and digestive issues, to the release of the body’s natural endorphins and the re-aligning the skeleton facilitating correct movement and the eradication of muscular tension and pain, the benefits of Bowen for horses are as varied and individual as they themselves are. However, shared, common benefits as expressed by owners and riders would be a sense of lightness, a willingness to work, an ability to flex both sides, a new found symmetry and fluidity and an ability to work correctly over their backs, generating power and impulsion.

WHAT PROBLEMS RESPOND WELL TO EQUINE BOWEN THERAPY?

Sometimes owners and owner/riders cannot pinpoint what it is, or struggle in that it seems to be a number of things that they have seen or felt that just don’t seem to add up. These issues may be resulting in a generally stressed, flat, or unhappy horse, one that just seems to be below par, or one that is showing a change in behaviour such as napping or a reluctance to take up the contact and not performing to the best of its ability.

More specifically, Equine Bowen has been seen to help with the following issues and symptoms:

Tight, sore, painful backs

Tense or rigid muscles in the quarters and shoulders

Sensitive, sore withers

Tension or tightness through the poll and the jaw

Muscle wastage, loss of definition

Uneven gait, shortened stride, or inability to extend

Uneven wear of shoes

Inability to bend on either, or one side

Uneven, or reluctant in the contact

Respiratory and digestive problems, including allergies

Under performing lymphatic system, frequently filled legs

Owing to its ability to treat the whole horse, Equine Bowen is a brilliant therapy for horses who are post surgical*, on box rest, or going through rehab.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM AN EQUINE BOWEN TREATMENT?

Booking a treatment

*I will ask you to get your vet’s consent, or if you prefer, I will contact your vet in order to get it, prior to treating. It is illegal for me as a therapist to treat without it.

When scheduling a treatment, we ask that you bear the following in mind:
Do not plan on giving your horse a hard feed within one hour of treating.
Your horse should have at least one day off after treatment, preferably two.
You should avoid schooling your horse in tight circles within four days of treatment.
You should always leave at least three days prior to and after the horse has been shod, wormed, or had any injections.

Duration

For the first treatment, you should allow for 60-90 mins to allow time for me to talk to you, take a brief history of the horse and fully understand the problem(s) you are experiencing, or being presented with.

Subsequent treatments should be 45-60 mins long, depending on how your horse reacts.

Location

The most effective treatments take place in an environment where the horse feels happy and secure and able to relax without too many distractions. Their stable is ideal, or somewhere like a quiet, sheltered place on the yard.

During the treatment

It will very much depend on your horse in terms of whether or not they need to be tied up, held by someone, or free to move around. I will typically start with a brief physical assessment.

I will repeat the same process throughout, making a number of targeted moves and then moving away from the horse for at least 2 mins, during which time their brain will begin to start processing the information received.

What happens afterwards?

Bowen therapy is known to activate the lymphatic system, so as with other forms of body work such as massage and physiotherapy, you should make sure that your horse has unlimited access to drinking water at all times.

If you are not turning your horse out into the field after treatment, it is recommended that you walk them for about 10 mins after the treatment. This will help the lymphatic system flush out any toxins from the muscles and organs in the body.

When can I expect to see/ feel a difference?

It is the horse’s body that will make any changes and each horse is different, therefore, it is impossible to say. In the vast majority of cases, it takes the body a few days to effect change if it is going to.

It is not unusual for the horse to feel or look marginally worse immediately after treatment as the body takes time to process and heal, or rebalance itself.

Frequency of treatments

It is recommended that your horse has 2-3 treatments initially which will be scheduled 7-10 days apart. After that, we can discuss how the horse is progressing and I will recommend how frequently I think you should consider having top up sessions, based on their individual needs. Some people book one treatment for their horse and see how they go.