Alternative therapies - what do you rate/hate?

[BBP]

hi all,
Just looking for some recommendations for alternative therapies that people have seen good results with, or that they don't rate at all. i was at YHL over the weekend listening to talks on the Masterson technique and TTouch and was thinking how nice it would be to be able to do some work with my horse to help him relax, to spend some extra time with him whilst he is stabled at night and that might help some of our physical issues (i say our, because I can't help but think my slipped disc and sciatica have contributed towards his way of going).

I'm looking for ideas on a) what sort of professional worker I could get out to help us and b) something I can do myself without needing detailed anatomical knowledge.

One thing I need to target with him (and I will be speaking to my vet about this) is whatever underlying cause there is behind his movement in canter. On the right rein he bends left, has a high head carriage and tilts his head nose outwards. He does this ridden, on the lunge and free schooling, and always has (I thought it was a schooling issue caused by my bad back but there is obviously an ingrained physical problem there now). Yesterday when I was playing with the masterson technique I was holding my fingers up near his poll and as he turned his head away I felt a deep clunk clunk near his axis and a few vertebrae down. never noticed this before! i click all over so don't know if it is relevant or not. He is seen regularly by an equine physio who has said that my crooked back pushes his saddle into his right shoulder and causes discomfort there and also in his lumbar region, but any work done has never resolved this issue.

I am under regular treatment from the chiropractor and always feel hugely better afterwards, so keeping this up may help him, but what else can I try to help make him more comfortable (obviously if the vet doesn't find anything nasty)?

Thanks!

 

[be positive]

I use a physio for my horses but recently met an osteopath who moved to my area she came out to look at my horse who has had regular physio but in the back of my mind I have felt something was not being addressed. The osteo worked on his jaw and neck, the areas I had just felt were not right as like your horse he had been holding himself tightly at times, the difference after one treatment was noticeable, he is less tense through his neck and more relaxed in the jaw so he will have more treatments in conjunction with the ongoing physio who is happy to work with another professional to help get my boy right.
I think sometimes a fresh pair of eyes, or in this case hands can pick up something new, it sounds as if it may be time to try a different approach to your horse especially as you are doing all you can to get yourself straighter.