What is Equine Osteopathy
Equine Osteopathy was born out of human osteopathy principles and techniques that were then adapted to the anatomical and physiological designs of the horse.
Osteopaths may use the bones as their primary guide but their perspective of the body extends far beyond the structures… and into the tissues, nerves and organs of the body.
Osteopathy is the study of the relationship between anatomical structure and physiological function.
Therefore, it is never just about the bones.
It is never just about the tissues.
It is never just about the nerves.
It is never just about the organs.
It is never just about the craniosacral system.
It’s everything.
Anatomy is and will always be a never ending study for an osteopath.
How is it that bones move in the way they do?
How do joints move in flexion, in extension, abduction, adduction, rotation and so on?
How and why are those articulating bones are shaped in such a way?
How do the muscles attaching, originating and inserting on them contract, lengthen and move?
How does neurology tell those muscles to move more, or move less?
Where does that neurology come from?
How does it spread throughout the body?
How do the organs come into play?
How does the craniosacral system come into play?
Assessing pinpointed mobility is our way of gaining intel on what we cannot see within the body.
The goal we all collectively share is to reduce chronic pain, find answers faster and ideally avoid run around and guessing games.
The body can produce infinite manifestations of remodeling, malformation and (de)compensations.
Thanks to people and professionals like Becks Nairn, Sharon May Davis, Pamela Eckelbarger & Diane Dzingle (at the Bone Room in Aiken, SC) - amongst many others - we are seeing just how many abnormalities horses are capable of producing. These abnormalities impact a horses mobility in ways we cannot imagine.
Highly recommend this episode with Becks on the EH Podcast: “Feels Like Honest To The Bone”.
