ABOUT EQUINE BOWEN THERAPY

One of the most important benefits of Equine Bowen therapy is the ability to address the lymphatic and circulatory systems of the horse.

Horse are often asked to perform under saddle, they are not always balanced, but are asked to stay rhythmic and concentrated throughout a schooling session. Even when out hacking they are still asked to maintain a certain amount of regularity and focus on the rider.

Horses often feel a little tight or stiff after a rigorous schooling session or ride, and this can lead to injuries and inconsistencies due to the build up of lactic acid in the muscles. Riders often ache after a long ride or difficult lesson, and the same happens to horses.

Equine Bowen is a good medium for healing, and release of toxins from the horses system and will help relieve any stiffness. Excessive build up of lactic acid in the muscles can eventually lead to muscle atrophy, pain and irregularity in the gaits.

Equine Bowen Therapy can also have a big effect on an emotional level helping to achieve a calmer more relaxed horse, thereby better equipped to take training in his/her stride.

Bowen therapists do not diagnose, but treat the body as a whole. If your horse has problems in a particular area we will work over the whole body rather than concentrating on the “painful” area. This is because Bowen is a truly holistic therapy; it works on all systems of the body including the circulatory, lymphatic, digestive and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This approach helps bring about alignment and balance to the horse’s body.

How does it work?

Bowen is a non invasive therapy even when used on a horse. There is no manipulation or adjustment of hard tissue and works over muscle and fascia. Therapists use fingers and thumbs over specific areas of the horse’s body in rolling type movements. bowen treatment of horse Fascia is a very thin membrane which is a bit like cling film and covers the main muscles, tendons and ligaments in the body; and it offers support and protection to these structures. Following trauma, fascia tightens around the affected area; this should normally promote healing and repair. Unfortunately this tightening and bandaging effect can have adverse effects on other “interlocking” areas of the fascia....a bit like a bandage that shrinks when wet.

Over a period of time, this creates extra strain and wear and tear on other areas of the body and can cause additional problems, as the whole body and skeletal frame becomes misaligned. The most significant problem with this is that the body starts learning to cope in this frame; and the muscles can “short circuit” and can forget how they should move; they are then unable to return to the wider range of motion they once had. Some encouragement is needed to get the muscles to relax and realign themselves, this is where the gentle power of Bowen is most effective in persuading the muscles to relax and realign.