FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is There Anything I Should Do Before You Visit?

A: Yes. Make sure that your horse is in a quiet area for me to work. This helps him to concentrate on the moves and to relax. A stable is best, so that he is free to move around, urinate and drink during the breaks. If a stable is not available, tie him in a quiet area with few distractions. Feed him an hour before or after treatment if necessary. He can have a haynet during treatment if he doesn't settle. Ensure he has plenty of fresh water available and a deep bed.

Also have your tack ready before I come. Not only will I want to see the fit, but I may need to see your horse's range of neck and head motion before treatment, and this is easier if he is wearing a bridle.

Q: Is There Anything I Need To Do Before I Arrange An Appointment?

A: Please ask permission from your vet that he is happy for me to treat your horse. All complementary therapists need this permission. I will ask you to sign your horse's record to say you have done so. I do not usually need to speak to your vet, unless he asks. However I may refer you back to your vet if I feel it is in the best interests of your horse. I can also send him a therapy report after treatment if required.

Q: Does My Horse Need To Be Clean?

A: No wet mud please, and scrape off the worst of any dry mud, so that I can palpate his body. Also no application of mane and tail conditioner ( it gets onto the body ), as this makes the skin very slippery and difficult to work over. So just ensure your horse is reasonably clean but not polished, thanks.

Q: Do I Need To Ride My Horse?

A: Usually not. I can observe a great deal from your horse just from being walked, trotted, turned and backed up in hand. However, there may be a problem you find specifically in canter, or whilst performing a particular dressage movement or during flight over a jump, and in these circumstances I will see the horse ridden. Please ensure the menage is free for me to see you ride when I arrive. In hand work however, I just need a flat hard surface.  

Q: Do I Need To Be There?

A: Ideally yes, especially if I am seeing your horse for the first time. If you cannot be there, please let me know when you book your appointment so that you can give me your horse's history over the phone. However there must be someone on site when I visit, to walk and trot up your horse, and to pass on aftercare to. Please note, I do not bring in or turn out horses as I am not insured to do so.

Q: What Hours And Days Do You Work?

A: I work five to six days per week. I rotate my working days so that some weekends and evenings each month are included. Weekdays you will need to book approx 2 weeks in advance, weekends and evenings 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Occasionally I have cancellations and can bring a booking forward. If you would like to do this, let me know when you book and I will put your name on a first refusal basis.

Q: What Reactions, If Any, Will My Horse Have After Treatment?

A: Horses, like people, are all different and any reactions will vary from horse to horse. Most horses will be stiff one or two days after treatment. This will be due to lactic acid and toxins being released and removed from the body. If any area that once was congested, suddenly begins to release and blood and lymph begin to flow, then this area will naturally take a little time to relearn its new movement. Blood vessels which had little flow passing through will suddenly start to fill with blood; muscles, ligaments and tendons that were in spasm or had little motion will start to work again; other muscles will relax, and the whole body begins to rebalance.

On average, the more chronic a problem then the longer it takes for the body to rebalance, but this is not always the case.

Some horses will seem extremely tired, and may sleep for longer periods. This is good, as all bodies heal better when they are in a restful state.

A few days after treatment, most horses will become very energised and full of beans. If you had been in pain for a while and suddenly had this removed, then you would feel good too! However, I sometimes get calls from clients saying that their horse has become very lively, perhaps jogs on a hack, or is now too forward going. Powerful warmbloods who were once stuck, when released soon have a huge stride in working trot. This may be too much for some people. Remember this is your horse working as he should do when pain and restriction free. Ask an experienced instructor to watch and then ride your horse and get their feedback. A good rider will relish this new impulsion and power. Do learn how to ride this instead of holding your horse back.

Occasionally, after Bowen Treatment, a horse which previously had restrictions in its hindquarters, begins to work better with a larger stride but becomes sore behind the saddle area. When I see this I recheck the saddle fit and ask to see the horse ridden. Invariably, what has happened is that because the horse now has an increased lumbar swing, the saddle begins to move dramatically under the cantle area. Sometimes the new movement is so great that the rear of the saddle panels bang or cross over the spine, especially in trot. This was not seen before treatment because the horse had little movement in its lumbar area. But under these circumstances, I recommend that a saddler rechecks or amends saddle fit.    

Horses after treatment may also become more sensitive and less tolerant to any other thing that gives them pain. Their primary cause of pain has been removed and now any other causes of pain become magnified. A badly fitting bridle, or incorrect foot balance now becomes very important. This is because the horse rebalances its whole body instead of holding it to restrict movement. With free movement it needs to have perfect balance throughout the rest of his body, thus tack and foot imbalances must be addressed.