Equine Bowen Therapy
Equine Bowen Therapy has been adapted from an interpretation of the work of the late Thomas Ambrose Bowen, born 1916 in Geelong, Australia. Tom Bowen was best known for his work with people however; it is also believed that he worked with greyhounds and racehorses.
The Bowen Technique for people was brought to the UK approximately 10 years ago, and has steadily grown in popularity as a holistic therapy. All qualified Equine Bowen Therapists are qualified human Bowen Therapists; therefore they are able to work with horse and rider.
Equine Bowen Therapy is a straightforward, non-diagnostic, hands-on therapy. It aims to structurally rebalance the body by addressing the whole central nervous system. It helps to release muscle spasm, increase circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system.
The therapist performs specific rolling actions over muscles, ligaments and tendons, at precise junctions of the body. The moves are gentle and non-invasive, but can effect changes to deep tissue and all the bodily systems. During the treatment the therapist will take short intervals to allow the body to rest, absorb the vibration of the therapy, and respond. The treatment takes approximately 45 minutes.
Conditions that have responded well to Equine Bowen Therapy
Duke, 28 years old
- Unlevelness, disunited gait or irregular action
- Uneven wear of shoes
- Muscle atrophy or uneven development
- Stiffness on one rein
- Head shaking
- Cold back
- Sluggish lymphatic system or weakened immune system
- Filled legs
- Respiratory problems
- Uncharacteristic changes to temperament
- Deterioration of performance
Regular maintenance treatments can be beneficial, particularly for hard working or elderly horses.
Treating Horse and Rider
When treating with Bowen the body is addressed as a whole. A holistic approach to the ridden horse can also include treating the rider to create a balanced unit.
Stiffness and restriction in the rider may affect the horse’s straightness and suppleness. People are commonly very one-sided; this may be due to their work, driving long distances, sport (e.g. tennis or golf), or an injury. When one side of the body becomes much stronger than the other, imbalances may be manifested as one shoulder carried lower than the other and/or one hip held higher.
Example
The type of asymmetry in the rider pictured left will undoubtedly affect the horse. The effect may be manifested as stiffness on one rein, falling in or out on circles and turns, reluctance to move forward, shortened stride, disunited canter or only offering canter on one lead, or napping and other evading behaviour.
Over time the horse’s musculature may develop to support the compromised way it has been working to accommodate the unbalanced rider. If your horse feels very one-sided, ask yourself what he is feeling. You may be thinking my horse is more comfortable and easy to the right, and your horse may be thinking my rider is more comfortable and easy to the right. After all, whose lifestyle creates the greatest degree of one sidedness? When did you last see a horse play tennis, drive a car or write a letter?
Treating the horse with Bowen can help to improve the situation, but if the rider remains unbalanced the problems in the horse are likely to return. Therefore, a program of treating both horse and rider may be appropriate.
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