Horse Therapy Services
Here is more information on some of the types of therapies available during your horse’s stay at Four Cat Ranch through outside, independent practitioners.
Equine Acupuncture
What is Equine Acupuncture?
Much like the traditional practice commonly used on people, acupuncture with horses involves the insertion of sterile needlepoints at prescribed locations on the horse’s body as means of alleviating complications to the nerve system, or strategically stimulating portions of the body to restore functionality and/or health.
In the simplest sense, acupuncture works by aiding to restore the body to a point that it can naturally heal itself, much like a doctor would set a broken bone into place so that it can grow back together.
Many owners initially imagine acupuncture to be an unattainable or possibly dangerous therapy. In the hands of an experienced & skilled therapist, however, many horses are exceptionally tolerant of the sensations, especially as they (and their owners) begin to familiarize these sensations with relief from pain, soreness, and other issues.
What are the benefits?
Acupuncture in horses re-enables their bodies to return to a healthful state. In additional, some horses which are “needle-shy” when it comes to injections gain confidence.
When is Equine Acupuncture beneficial?
While acupuncture is not for every horse, for many the road to recovery from a number of afflictions can be made easier by acupuncture therapy, including:
- A number of common & uncommon injuries
- Behavioral problems
- Back soreness
- Mating & reproductive issues
- Arthritis
- Founder
- Laminitis
- Chronic Lameness
- Performance issues
- Uveitis (aka “Moon Blindness”)
Equine Massage Therapy
What does Equine Massage Therapy involve?
Horse Massage Therapy offers a variety of highly effective and cost-efficient methods to treat & prevent commons issues that otherwise affect a horse’s performance, behavior, or ability to recover from injury.
Massage therapy typically focuses on regions of muscles (which make up some 60% of a horse’s body) or connective tissues: A horse with over-stressed or injured muscles will adjust it’s movements to improperly rely on other muscle groups, causing irregular stress (and possible damage) to the adjoining muscle & joints. Massage Therapy effectively delivers relief from the pain associated with this, calming/relaxing the horse and restore the horse’s physical & mental well-being to an optimal & balanced state.
For injury & medically-related circumstances, a veterinarian’s professional diagnoses is sought to ensure the best possible results.
What are the benefits?
Equine Massage Therapy is ideal for all types of a horses, including work horses, trail riding horses, lesson horses, seniors, and horses that are seldom turned out. Horses which have suffered at the hands of neglect, abuse and other trauma are equally likely to benefit.
- Improved willingness & disposition
- Reduced swelling & inflammation of joints
- Increased range of motion
- Calms nervous or irritable horses, increasing safety for both rider & horse
- Relieves & prevents pain from tension/soreness
- Can reduce arthritic pain in senior horses
- Enhanced muscle tone
- Increased ability to heal from injury and/or sickness
- Subdues & prevents stress-patterns
- Prolongs horse’s vitality and ability to be active
- Maintains a healthy physical & behavioral condition
When is Equine Massage Therapy beneficial?
For the healthy horse, equine massage therapy is much like an “insurance policy” against stress & physical affliction, maintaining the animal’s health & vitality. Otherwise, if your horse is showing symptoms (see below) that indicate pain, stress, illness or mental unease, it is absolutely recommended that you seek the professional diagnosis & advice of a qualified veterinarian first, and consult with them to determine if & when massage therapy is right for your horse.
Symptoms To Watch Out For:
- Loss of appetite
- Shortened or choppy gait
- Stopping before a familiar jump
- Flattened ears
- Biting or kicking (esp. stall walls)
- Tail consistently held to one side
- Wincing when mounted, or resisting saddling
- Resists/refuses changing leads
- Consistently leaning backward against water bucket
- Absence of sweat after activity
- Dull or rough hair, not shedding as normal
- Not squaring-off before urination
- Stallion or mare show physical difficulty when mating, or attempting to mate.
Craniosacral Therapy
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy (also called “CST”) is an evolving alternative treatment utilizing knowledge of the “craniosacral system” (membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain & spinal cord) to gently detect & alleviate sensory, motor and neurological issues pervading regions of the body between the skull (cranium) and tailbone (sacrum) areas.
Craniosacral Therapy, like other alternative therapies, works to restore the equine body’s own natural healing abilities. By applying light pressures over carefully detected regions, restrictions in the neurovascular pathway stemming from imbalanced bones, calcification, over-stressed muscles & soft tissues, and scar tissues are cleared, allowing the brain & body to naturally recover the body from ailment.
What are the benefits?
- Reinstates the body’s ability to perceive & respond to issues
- Promotes relaxation of the body to draw focus away from trauma, and draw focus to healing
- Restores flexibility from a cellular level, and outward through the skin
- Improves engagement, movement, attitude & behavioral patterns