EQUINE ACUPRESSURE
guest blog by Sue Stopforth, founder of QiEquine.
What is Equine Acupressure?
Acupressure is a gentle yet highly effective bodywork modality which uses finger pressure on specific points on your horse’s body to optimise their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. It shares the same classical Chinese Medicine theory as its better-known sibling Acupuncture, but because it does not involve inserting needles through the skin you do not have to be a veterinary surgeon to use this technique.
Although mainly known for its use in addressing musculoskeletal problems and pain management, Acupressure has far more to offer. Stimulation of these specific points have been observed over millennia to trigger certain responses in the mind and body from relaxation, to reducing anxiety, boosting immunity, improving respiratory health, offering tendon support and so much more! Acupressure can help with many behavioural and physical issues*. It has even been used by national equestrian squads and Olympic veterinary surgeons helping horses recover from the stresses of competition, whilst also spotting potential issues before the horse shows physical signs of a problem.
Is Acupressure suitable for my horse?
Absolutely! The beauty of Acupressure is that it is so safe any horse owner can use it to help their horse and there are lots of free resources out there to help you get started. I highly recommend www.elementalacupressure.com as your first port of call, their Facebook page has a ton of knowledge to help you with all sorts of issues, just use the search facility to find help for your specific needs. Although generally very safe, please do not use on pregnant mares as some of the points are contraindicated in pregnancy.
If you want the best results from Acupressure, it is best to contact a certified Acupressure Practitioner. Practitioners have a deep understanding of the theory behind the Acupressure point selection and can give more focused help for your horse and their unique needs. For example, if your horse has skin issues, although the symptoms may appear the same in Chinese Medicine there will be several different approaches to dealing with that condition. An Acupressure Practitioner will be able to make a detailed assessment to get to the root cause of a symptom and use the most appropriate point selections for that unique case, optimising the chance of improvement.
What happens during an Equine Acupressure Consultation?
Before the practitioner attempts any bodywork, you will firstly be asked some in-depth questions about your horse’s medical history, lifestyle, training regime, how they interact with other horses and people and how they deal with stress. In Chinese Medicine all information about a horse is relevant as unlike Western Medicine it does not differentiate between the physical, mental, and spiritual, it sees everything as interconnected.
Once armed with a full history, the practitioner will begin the session with gentle Shiatsu massage to both introduce themself to your horse and to assess them both physically and energetically. Only after completing both the questionnaire and initial hands-on palpation will it be decided which acupressure points to use.
Most horses love acupressure often going into what we at Elemental Acupressure call “Acu-trance”, a deep state of relaxation, when we hit the right spot. Less commonly, if there is a strong imbalance, horses can initially move away from the pressure, especially if they have not had Acupressure before. There is no right or wrong response to acupressure, every session is unique to that individual horse.
Post-Session Advice
After the session it is recommended that horses have the rest of the day off to allow time to process the changes made, and owners will be given thorough follow-up instructions and a written report. Owners are often shown Acupressure points that they can use in between visits too and many owners say that they enjoy being able to be a proactive part of their horse’s health care team.
How often does my horse need an Equine Acupressure session?
If there is significant imbalance it is usual for a practitioner to need to see your horse for three sessions close together initially if they are to make a real change. Once balanced, depending on the horse and their workload, sessions between 12 weeks and 6 months will usually suffice. Many chiropractors and physiotherapists have commented on how well horses keep when they also have Acupressure sessions as part of their healthcare routine and can certainly tell the difference, finding much less work to do when they see them.
*Please note Acupressure is a complimentary therapy and does not replace veterinary care. Any concerns about your horse’s health or behaviour please contact your vet in the first instance.
Sue Stopforth is founder of QiEquine. She is a holistic bodyworker based in the North West of England, specialising in fascial release and Equine Acupressure. She is a graduate of Elemental Acupressure and is now a Global Ambassador for them, helping teach their pioneering hybrid courses here in the UK.
Sue is also a progressive equine partnerships member.
