Complementary Therapies for Horses

A veterinary diagnosis is essential and indeed, in the UK, the Protection of Animals Act makes it unlawful to not seek veterinary care for a sick animal.   However many vets are open minded about complementary therapies and these can be used alongside any orthodox treatment.  Many vets themselves are now trained in alterative therapies for horses and some surgeries offer a range of treatments.   In the case of manipulative therapies for horses, approval to treat must be given by the vet; if your vet does not propose an alternative treatment for your horse, and you have a particular therapy in mind, it is down to you to discuss the possibilities with your vet.

Equine sports massage, Mctimoney and other chiropractic based therapies are particularly useful for horses. Bowen Therapy and Equine Touch are other hands on therapies that are growing in popularity.  Many horses have back problems and these manipulative therapies can often provide substantial relief.

There are several therapies that can be used holistically to raise your horse's overall level of health and well being; for example flower remedies can be very useful for stressed or traumatised horses. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy and hydrotherapy are also used with great success on horses. As with people, alternative therapies for horses place an emphasis upon balancing the overall system to promote health and healing in a holistic manner.   Complementary therapies are often far less traumatic and invasive for horses.

Equine Therapeutic Spas and swimming pools are growing in popularity and have many benefits for both ill horses and as a method of improving overall health and performance.

Qualified horse therapists will hold a membership with their respective professional body and as such will carry indemnity insurance.  

Some insurance companies do provide cover for complementary therapies for horses, so it is worth contacting your insurance company to discuss this.

Search for alternative therapies by town or county using the search box above

You may find the descriptions of various therapies in the main Complementary Practitioner Directory useful.

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