Equine and Animal Osteopathy:
Qualified in Equine and Animal Osteopathy, Carolyn McGregor provides consultation, assessment and Osteopathic treatment with advice for owners, with veterinarian referral.
Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy with Animal Healing and Communication can be requested.
Equine and Animal Osteopathy
Each and every horse is equal and deserving when it comes to ensuring its health and well-being. Every horse will be listened to, treated with dignity and gentleness; given full Osteopathic care and attentiveness throughout.
Potential Benefits of Osteopathic treatment may include:
- Improvement in over all health and well-being including emotional well-being;
- Improved performance;
- Improved joint mobility; improved vascular and lymphatic drainage;
- Optimised recovery following injury
- Decreased pain and muscle imbalance.
- Diminished likelihood of further re-injury.
Booking your Equine and Animal Osteopath – What to Expect?
- Vet referral and consent form signed prior to first consultation
The Consultation:
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- A full and comprehensive case history will be taken;
- Observation at rest;
- Observation during walk up and trot up; in a circle;
- Observation when ridden;
- Osteopathic assessment of the horse/dog etc.,
- Osteopathic examination of the horse/dog etc.,
- Osteopathic treatment with advice to owner re. further remedial work; onward referral; Advice about any course of further Osteopathic treatment;
- Follow up – phone call or consultation with re-assessment and re-examination and further Osteopathic treatment where appropriate.
When to consult your Equine and Animal Osteopath?
- Symptoms which may indicate benefit from treatment
- Diagnosis from a veterinarian
Osteopathy can be useful in the following areas:
- Reduced performance
- Gait problems: halt and loss of collection; dis-uniting; short stride; lacking focus and concentration; tracking up; cross-canter problems; pulling uphill or rushing downhill;
- Problems with head carriage;
- Reluctance to trot or canter on certain reins;
- Uneven muscle tone and muscle bulk; muscle imbalances and spasm;
- Scoliosis patterns; vertebral lesions and sacral imbalance;
- Areas of pain and sensitivity;
- Poll and Bridle sensitivity; saddle issues;
- Stiffness in particular areas and stiffness in the older horse;
- Maintaining mobility in competition horses;
- Assistance in preventing bucking between transitions;
- Changes in behaviour: bucking; bolting; rearing; kicking; refusing to jump; refusal to load into trailer; sensitivity to brushing; difficulty with shoeing;
- Osteopathic treatment to assist in rehabilitation of diagnosed conditions such as lameness or arthritis;
- Osteopathic treatment following ligament injury; tendon injury; spinal and other joint dysfunction.
An essential part of the Osteopathic assessment is the Walk Up and Trot Up in every case.
Observation and Assessment in Trot Up
Conformation and foot conformation is also assessed. The foot confirmation can affect the foot flight of your horse.
The horse in motion is assessed in relation to its foot conformation and the foot flight: hoof take off; hoof flight; hoof fall; hoof placement.
I am always happy to work in conjunction with you; your vet; farrier and equine dentist and saddler. Sharing specialist skills and knowledge for the improved health and well-being of your horse.
Observation and Assessment in a circle – refining understanding of factors impeding gait and mobility.
Observation and Assessment in Canter: Observation of the ridden horse in canter will include listening to the footfall. Observation of strike off and hind-limb tightness. Observing how the horse engages the hocks beneath him so the forelimbs can clear the ground.
Equine and Animal Osteopathic treatment principles encompass many Osteopathic techniques tailored specifically to the individual horse or animal according to their presenting symptoms; a detailed case history; active assessment in walk up, trot up, and canter; with thorough examination and explanation for the owner or trainer.
Equine and Animal Osteopathic treatment may consist of a number of Osteopathic techniques including:
- Soft tissue massage technique Stroking – to soothe, calm the horse and particular areas of the body prior to or after treatment. Can be used during treatment when transitioning to different areas of the body;
- Soft tissue massage technique Effluourage – aids improved lymphatic and venous drainage; helpful in resolution of swelling over an old injury.
- Soft tissue massage technique Petrissage – involves a number of refined and subtle techniques of kneading, compression, squeezing, picking up and skin rolling – all assist in increasing circulation and oxygenation by separating muscle fibres and re-setting the resting tone of muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs – vital in enhancing stretching and flexibility through a profound understanding of the anatomy of the musculo-skeletal system; the connective tissues and the physiology of stretching.
- Stimulatory massage techniques are used rhythmically in therapeutic sessions and during warm up/cool down sessions. Used to relax muscles and increase circulation
- Articulation and mobilisation techniques – Osteopathic principles, practice and treatment at its most refined, to assist and enable deep healing and improved mobility.
- Passive range of motion and Stretching techniques for the entire horse – used following warm up either from being worked or through soft tissue massage techniques. Aids relaxation; decreased muscle tension; increased circulation; increased elasticity; increased flexibility; increased co-ordination; diminished likelihood of ligament sprain or strain; increased stride length.
Acknowledgements:
With heartfelt gratitude to Buddy and Paul for their tremendous patience and kindness throughout; and for Annie Bungeroth my photographer.
In memory of my father Ken who gave me so much and for whom my Equine and Animal Osteopathy is my living gift of thanks.
Healing:
An inherent ability acknowledged early in childhood and refined and further developed over many years enables a greater degree of listening to the horse. The healing connection between myself and the horse is intuitive, gentle and accomplished. Insight and understanding through the healing act with communication may occur naturally in the Osteopathic treatment, according to the needs of the horse and its presenting symptoms. Guided by this process, my hands may gently come to rest over specific areas until the healing is completed.
Healing is a specific act and requires full concentration and quiet attunement. Healing can facilitate emotional as well as physical well-being. Healing when offered with Equine and Animal Osteopathic treatment principles, often enables the animal to relax more deeply and deepens the working relationship I may have with your horse; further optimising the efficacy of the principles and practice of Osteopathy.
Ethical considerations:
Osteopathy should not be used as a substitute for veterinary care and attention.
Please note that paragraph 19, Section 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and the Animal Welfare Act and the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct states that all animals must be seen by a veterinary surgeon and that the veterinary surgeon must be content for Osteopathy to be given.
With any concerns you may have about an animal’s health or well-being, your first port of call must be a veterinarian. Only a vet may make a diagnosis or prescribe.
Regarding Homoeopathy:
Please note that an owner may provide Homoeopathy for the animal in their care.
A veterinary surgeon may provide Homoeopathy. Under UK law it is illegal for a Registered Homoeopath who is not a veterinary surgeon to prescribe Homoeopathy for an animal.
Healing – definition: channelling healing energy through the hands from a universal source of energy. Healing should not be a substitute for veterinary care and attention.
Carolyn McGregor adheres to the strict code of conduct and ethics of her Registering bodies, maintains current indemnity insurance for the treatment of Equine/animals and is licensed in the provision of Equine/Animal Osteopathy having completed a one year post graduate training April 2014 with Stuart McGregor at the Osteopathic Centre for Animals, Orchard House, Portway, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 9BY. United Kingdom.
To book an appointment with Carolyn McGregor please contact Mobile: 07766330489 or visit the website: www.carolynmcgregorosteopath.com
Registered with the General Osteopathic Council, Osteopathy House, 176 Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 3YY. Tel: 0207 357 6655
Registered with the Institute of Osteopathy, Park Terrace, 3 Manor Road, Luton, Beds. LU1 3HN. Tel: 01582 488455
Registered with the Alliance of Registered Homoeopaths, Millbrook, Millbrook Hill, Nutley, East Sussex, TN22 3PJ