So, what is Equine Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a deeply effective yet gentle treatment. It’s based on the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is also the theory behind acupuncture.

Everything is made up of energy in various forms. Chinese medicine believes that dis-ease and dis-comfort are caused by blockages in the energy flow within the body.

Shiatsu is not a new treatment, but one that’s based on over 5,000 years of theory and practice. Equine shiatsu uses acupressure and stretching techniques to heal and rebalance the horse.

Touch is a natural way for horses to communicate, so shiatsu is very effective when used as a therapy for horses. It can be used alongside equine veterinary treatment or in its own right to address physical, emotional and behavioural problems in the horse.

Shiatsu differs from a lot of treatments because it doesn’t just treat the symptoms but looks deeper into the cause of the physical or behavioural problem.

How can shiatsu help my horse?

Equine shiatsu can help a variety of health conditions, including back, neck and leg problems and many other physical discomforts.

Shiatsu works to rebalance the energy within the meridians, remove blockages and prevent overflow. To essentially keep all channels open and flowing calmly.

An equestrian shiatsu treatment will do this by stretching, massage and the use of acupressure points. It will address the whole length of the meridian(s), so really is an holistic therapy.

From a scientific viewpoint, shiatsu stimulates skin, nerves and soft tissue. This induces chemical changes in the body and brain via messages sent along the spinal column from the specific point or meridian treated.

Stress can be a major cause of problems affecting your horse. The stresses, strains, knocks and bumps of everyday life and even external influences like the changing of the seasons, affect the meridians and the flow of energy through them. This can cause energy channels to become blocked. This leads to empty meridians in some areas and overflowing meridians in others. The symptoms resulting from these imbalances can be physical, emotional or behavioural. Physical pain can also lead to behavioural problems if left untreated.

There are many conditions which shiatsu can help, please contact Jo for further information if your horses’ condition is not listed.