01/03/2026
What is it I do?
Following on from a conversation yesterday with a fellow Equine Professional from a different background, it has come to light that there is still some confusion as to 'What is Osteopathy? specifically for horses'
Osteopathy is not Veterinary Physiotherapy and it is not Chiropractic and although some treatment modalities may overlap neither of these were where I personally wanted to be as a Practitioner.
Osteopathy does involve working with the horses musculoskeletal system and understanding its functionality with a full assessment, however it is also about acknowledging and understanding the effects on the body from external and environmental factors alongside nutrition, lifestyle and stress levels. These will ALL have an affect on the physiological and psychological health of the Equine patient.
As a clinical science, there are not shortcuts to be made. A clinical understanding of Equine behavior, nutrition and physiology along with in depth anatomical knowledge are just some of the topics covered in Osteopathic training when you are a student.
It is a full approach to Equine health and can be used as preventative health care, performance enhancement and also specific treatments and rehabilitation alongside a vet led team working on pathologies and other underlying physiological health challenges.
The most damaging phrase that is used in the industry that my mentor taught me right from the beginning is 'We have always done it this way' If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always had!!
If we choose to look harder at what is in front of us, then we can hopefully aid in the prevention of specific challenges for the horse.
Gastric ulceration for example is commonly caused by lifestyle, feed, environment and stress and is a problem within the visceral system. This can quite often cause a reflex reaction into the musculoskeletal system and can present as back pain.
If we choose to keep treating the discomfort in the back, then we are simply fire fighting a secondary symptom of a potentially secondary symptom already. We must understand what is causing the gastric ulceration, treat them, aid the prevention of the problem reoccurring and then we can find a solution to the secondary problem, being the back.
Our aim is to keep your horse as a well oiled machine, and the Osteopath is the horses mechanic. This was a phrase that was commonly heard from Osteopathies founder A T Still.
A good Osteopath will always refer to paraprofessionals as appropriate such as the vet, farrier, an ACPAT trained Physiotherapist or a suitability qualified Chiropractor.
If you would like to understand more about how Osteopathy can benefit your horse, then please do not hesitate to get in touch :)
