Equine osteopath: what is it?

To have a well-maintained and fulfilled horse, riders call upon various specialists to quickly detect the presence of a problem in the animal and to provide assistance. The equine osteopath is, to this day, one of the most requested specialists by those who raise horses. What is it really?

What are the principles of equine osteopath?

As with the human osteopath, the equine osteopath is the professional who listens to the tissues he has at hand. Of course, the consultation here is a little different.

Here the anamnesis begins with an interview with the horse's owner. The equine osteopath thus gleans as much information as possible in order to give the therapist a treatment path. He must therefore know the horse's medical history and know more about its treatment.

The practitioner will therefore first have to eliminate all pathologies that are not within the scope of his specialty in the event that the animal has not been consulted by a veterinarian before. It should be noted that the equine osteopath and the veterinarian work hand in hand. The same is true with the farrier.

Furthermore, the pathologies that an equine osteopath does not treat are generally similar to those that are not treated in humans. These include, for example, fractures, neurological problems, acute inflammations or degenerative diseases.

That said, once these contraindications are ruled out, the equine osteopath can make contact with the horse in a calm and gentle manner so as not to frighten the animal which may be experiencing stress.

Also, as in human osteopathy, the manipulations that are performed are painless and they are carried out naturally without any brutality. Similarly, like the human osteopath, the equine osteopath will work on the joints, soft tissues, fluids and MRP of horses. You can even ask the equine osteopath for advice about the accessories you want to take for your horse on La Sellerie Française . He will help you make the best choices.

When is it advisable to consult an equine osteopath?

Unlike humans, animals do not have the facility to express their suffering intelligibly. On the other hand, owners are generally close enough to the animals when it comes to detecting problems that arise. It will still be necessary to ensure that certain ailments are not confused with whims.

As a rider, it is important to be attentive to changes in behavior, aggression or lack of obedience. More generally, the equine osteopath will be able to intervene in many cases. If, for example, the horse shows difficulty in curving, rounding on the leg or lowering its hindquarters, the presence of an equine osteopath will be necessary.

If you have difficulty saddling or shoeing the horse or if you notice a refusal of the bit or a lack of coordination with a tendency to stumble or if your horse has difficulty transitioning, the presence of the equine osteopath will be necessary. It is also recommended to do a check-up after a difficult foaling, whether in the foal or the mare, or in the event of a fall or trauma.