Bowen on horses

A gentle approach to healing horses by Christine Barwell

Harry had become difficult to tack up. As soon as Sue, his owner of three years, tried to do up the girth his head went up, he tried to bite and had recently started to kick out. Sue called me having been
recommended the Bowen Therapy by a colleague, whose horse I had previously treated. Harry was also "like a plank" on the right rein and had become reluctant to lift his back legs and to have his feet picked out. When walking forward Harry adopted a crab-like movement whereby the back feet did not quite follow the front. Asked to trot on, Harry threw his head in the air and his stride became choppy. My assessment indicated tension in the lumbar area (of the longissimus dorsi), which was also affecting the gluteus medius muscle (in the rump) on the left side of the body. Tension on one side of the body will cause a
shortening effect on that side (often causing rotation of the pelvis), which can lead to the "plank" effect on the other. At this point Sue
remembered that Harry had slipped out riding a month previously and although he had seemed stiff and uncomfortable at the time he had "worked through it", so she had thought no more about it. Harry received three treatments at weekly intervals and is now back to his normal enthusiastic self.

Why use Bowen on Horses?

There are more than 150 muscles in the horse’s body and whilst bones and joints are the foundation of conformation and performance the muscles will ultimately influence how the horse moves. Understanding
this relationship is paramount if we are to develop a meaningful partnership with the horse/s in our care. Just as we would not expect our cars to run unless all components were well adjusted and working in unison, then so we cannot expect our horses to perform to the best of their ability if there is muscle tension anywhere in the body.

Muscle tension can be defined in many ways, from a dull ache to actual muscle spasm, to a breakdown of muscle fibre. Even though a dull ache
may not appear to be as serious as a muscle spasm, it still causes the muscles around it to compensate in some way. As all surrounding muscles begin this compensation process then, in extreme cases, the whole muscular system can become tight and tense with all its related effects on internal organs, performance and gait.This can show up as
intermittent lameness that appears to move from one leg to another without any apparent cause, digestive problems, loss of stamina, and
many of the problems listed.

Therefore, what began as simply discomfort can go on to create a more serious problem.

An awareness of this knowledge can help with all aspects of horse management and riding.

As well as helping with existing problems, Bowen can be used on a maintenance basis to help prevent small difficulties becoming bigger issues. This is especially advisable for horses competing or in regular work.

What is Bowen on Horses?

Bowen on Horses is a gentle, non-invasive and effective hands-on technique using fingers and thumbs on precise points on the body, whilst applying no more than light eyeball pressure. The moves work on muscles and connective tissue in a systematic order at key points on the horse’s body. The practitioner applies a rolling action, which in turn disturbs the muscle creating energy surges, which affect muscles, ligaments and tendons. Like the Bowen Technique it addresses the whole nervous system, helps to release muscle spasm, relieve congested kidneys and stimulate the lymphatic system. It is subtle and relaxing for the horse. There is no manipulation of hard tissue (bones) during
treatment.

As there is no force with Bowen it is ideal for horses. This gentle approach can act as a catalyst, stimulating the bodies systems to balance themselves.This could have a beneficial effect on endurance horses, for example, who require these levels to normalise at specific points on rides. There are pauses between moves during treatment that allows the body to benefit from each.

How does Bowen work?

The body has its own blueprint of how it should be and how it should perform and will endeavour to regulate and maintain this to the best of its ability, no matter what stresses are placed upon it. The Bowen moves are designed to connect all the parts of the body, releasing neuromuscular imbalances throughout and enabling the body to continue with its self-regulating process. Depending on the extent of the imbalance, this process can take anywhere between several minutes to several days. Additional treatments may be required to enable the process to continue.

A feature of the technique is a series of two-minute intervals where the horse is not touched. This allows the body to absorb the information given in the gentle moves, allowing fine adjustments to take place. Unlike many therapies Bowen does not attempt to impart the will of the therapist on the horse but rather allows the horse to respond in its own time. Bowen treats the body as a whole and each horse will respond
to the moves in different ways according to the underlying cause.

Origins of Bowen Therapy

The late Tom Bowen in Geelong, Australia, developed the Bowen
Technique after he noticed that certain moves on the body had particular beneficial effects. Over a period of about forty years he went
on to develop the technique as we know it today. His work was not just confined to humans, however, as he also had great success with animals, and in particular racehorses.

Alison Goward of Queensland, Australia, developed the use of Bowen on horses.

All Bowen on Horses practitioners must have a complete understanding
of human Bowen. Riders often become aware of their own imbalances
once their horses have been treated and so request treatments for
themselves. This has proved invaluable for those in the dressage arena, but is important no matter which discipline you follow.

Christine has helped many horses and humans to optimise their performance and is qualified in both Bowen on horses and humans, frequently giving treatments to riders when visiting yards. Christine can be contacted on 01945 870935 or by visiting her website www.christinebarwell.com where she will be pleased to answer any queries you may have.

Important note

It is not intended that Bowen on horses or humans should replace proper medical or veterinary care, and advice should always be sought if you are at all concerned about the welfare of either you or your horse.
Veterinary approval must always be obtained before embarking on a course of Bowen treatments for your horse.

The following, and much more, may respond well to Bowen on horses.

• Unevenness or irregular action
• Uncharacteristic change of temperament or deterioration of performance
• Uneven muscle development or muscle wastage
• Uneven shoe wear,dragging of hind feet
• Stiffness on one rein
• Sore or ‘cold back’
• Sluggish or weakened immune system
• Intermittent or unresolved lameness
• Disunited paces
• Resentment when being groomed, tacked/rugged up

How many treatments will my horse need?

A treatment will take approximately 45-60 minutes and up to three treatments, and only occasionally more, usually at seven-day intervals, may be required. Each treatment begins with a visual assessment and simple palpation tests to assess the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems of the horse.

Advice will be given on how to optimise the effectiveness of the treatment and the horse may need time off after a Bowen treatment.

Helping the rider

Christine is qualified in both Bowen on horses and humans and can also help you as well as your horse.

Consider this

If the horse is "out" then the rider may also be "out" and vice versa. The one will always compensate for the other in some way. Does this sound familiar?

How may I help my horse?

• Get to know how your horse moves by watching him from the ground. Assess whether he is moving freely, in a straight line and, on a circle, tracking up, flexing his joints, swinging his back and tail. Check his
length of stride and look for any stiffness. Can he move equally well on both circles?
• Be sensitive to his movements when ridden. Be aware of any changes, they could be an indicator of muscular tension.
• Listen to your horse. An ill-fitting saddle may cause tail swishing, nipping and face pulling.
• Have your horse's saddle checked regularly - a horse's shape will often change with the seasons and according to the amount of work he is doing.
•Teeth need to be attended to regularly. Twice a year being the recommendation.
•If in doubt about your horse's health then get him checked out by a vet.