Equine Bowen Therapy
Horse Issues that Bowen may help with
MUSCULOSKELETAL
Sore or ‘cold’ backs
Hollow backs
Sore ribs
Sore withers
Muscle wastage or uneven muscle development
Muscle sensitivity
Neck problems
Jaw or TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems
Rotated pelvis
Pelvis asymmetry
Sacroiliac joint issues
Shoulder tightness or asymmetry
Elbow range of motion
Knee (carpal joint) problems
Sore stifles
Hock problems
Fetlock issues
Foot balance not attributable to the trim or shoe
Pidgeon toed
Hindfoot pointing outwards
Tail held to one side
Lameness
MOVEMENT – SCHOOLING ISSUES OR IN GENERAL
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High or low head carriage
Stretching down through the neck and working long & low
Difficulty collecting
Stiffness on one rein and bending difficulties
Asymmetrical barrel swing
Short strides
Asymmetrical strides
Forelimbs moving too close together - ‘brushing’
Forelimbs swinging out or landing on the outside track – ‘plating’
Hindlimbs moving too close
Hindlimbs moving too wide behind
Limb picked up quicker than others in movement
Canter lead difficulties
Disunited canter
Lateral work - difficulty in abducting or adducting any limb
Stumbling
Toe stabbing or dragging
Crab walking
Saddle slipping issues
PERFORMANCE
An unexplained deterioration in performance
Reluctance to jump not attributable to fear
Sluggishness or ‘lazy’
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GENERAL HEALTH
Abcesses
Allergies
Colic
Coughing
Cushings
Dental problems & unbalanced teeth & mouth
Diarhhoea
Digestion issues
Eye discharge
Faecal water syndrome
Foaling – for the mare & baby
Filled legs & lymphoedema
Hives
Hormonal problems – ‘mareish’ behaviour
Immunity issues
Infection
Lactation problems in the mare
Relaxation
Respiratory issues
Scars
BEHAVIOUR
Anxiety
Stress
Sudden ‘naughty’ behaviour – biting, kicking, bucking or rearing
Girthiness or cinchyness
Reluctance to pick up feet
OR MAYBE YOUR HORSE DOESN’T HAVE AN ISSUE BUT YOU WANT TO ENSURE HIS BODY IS IN THE BEST SHAPE FOR INJURY PREVENTION & LONGEVITY:
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Any time!!
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Foal, yearling or youngster body balance to address any issues from foaling that can set in for life.
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Long toe, low heel compensation – many horses are on a trimming or shoeing cycle and when they are becoming due their toes are becoming longer than ideal. This sets up compensations in the body.
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Shod to barefoot/barefoot to shod transitions - Rebalancing the feet can set up or bring to light compensations.
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Change of saddle or rider – Your horse’s body may have laid down fascia to support the shape of a saddle or typical weight distribution of a rider and changing them may bring that stiffness to light.
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Major dental work – good dentists will give your horse a break from having their mouths jacked open by the speculum but it is still a good idea to rebalance the hugely important TMJ joint after dentistry.
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Surgeries – Bowen may help pre & post surgery with healing.
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General Anaesthetic – The horse is general strung from his feet upside down whilst being manoeuvred under GA which puts a huge strain on his body. This is generally not noticed as the issue needing the GA is the priority.