Little confused... would like some advice

Chestnutmare

Chestnutmare

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Toby has a great paddock with plenty of grass in he gets a large haylage net of a night with 3/4 sections of hay (dry).
He is usually fed 1 small scoop of high fibre mix and 1 round scoop of hi fi original.
He has been doing really well on all this up until now.....

This is where confussion starts for me..

I had a lady come on Tuesday to do Bowen Therapy massage on him, she indicated that his back muscles were twitching somewhat and that his right shoulder was sore, and that for the next 10days I couldn't touch him or groom him as it will un-do the good she has done ??????
I am little sceptical about it all as not really understanding much about how this all works, because I usually have a equine physio come out if needed.

I am hating not being able to touch him or groom him, exercise or anything, he is dirty, loose hair laying on him and bedding on him where he been sleeping etc and it's really winding me up not being able to at least groom him, apparently if I do it will un do everything???.....
She didn't really explain much to be honest, she has come recommended from others on the yard.

I am having his saddle checked next month - earliest saddler can come out as I want to make sure everything has been done and checked then he's only been with me just over a month now and saddle will be last thing done.
I wanted his back looked at due to him 'feeling' slightly tense through his back and not wanting to go forward from my leg, voice or anything.

Now..... last night getting him in I noticed he was rather 'tucked up' even though he's been out on his grass all day he goes out at about 7am and comes in roughly 5.30 and 6 each day.
This morning he is again still tucked up I have reduced his feed by half both am and pm as he is not in work whilst having this Bowen treatment.
But to be honest I am soo confused about it all, just want whats best for Toby at the end of the day, I don't know if the tucked up look has anything to do with the treatment he had or the reduced levels of feed, although still not reduced his haynet at all, I'd rather he had as much of that as he wanted.

Please can someone shed any light on this for me????

Giant Cadbury buttons are open so please help yourself.
 
Try pming Bowen_4_horses (I think her name is) and see if she can tell you why he's to be left. (She's also a Saddle Company fitter)
 
jemima_too said:
Try pming Bowen_4_horses (I think her name is) and see if she can tell you why he's to be left. (She's also a Saddle Company fitter)
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Thanks I will do this, as the lady didn't really offer any advice on it really, both myself and the other new livery are left a little unsure of everything she too had her new boy done she's owned her one for 3mths and he needs to start work all over again (he's a stunning 6yr old Andalusian).
 
tucked up I thought - food straight away but he has plenty of forage in his grazing and has plenty of hay for a 15.1hh probably too much at times but rather he have more of that then feed.

I hope I can get him back up to normality again,
Thanks
 
I had a Bowen treatment a few months ago and to be honest I thought it was a load of twaddle! I certainly won't be wasting my money

In the time you have not been allowed to touch your horse he has lain down a few times and no doubt put some form of pressure on his back/shoulder.

Being tucked up for a couple of days to me soounds like a visit from the vet may be in order. Does he have a temperature - is he looking uncomfortable in the way he moves. Is he eating as normal. Is he drinking.

One of the best thing for anyones horse is a thorough grooming with a body brush - really putting your back into it for 45mins each day.
 
Merlywerly said:
I had a lady come on Tuesday to do Bowen Therapy massage on him, she indicated that his back muscles were twitching somewhat and that his right shoulder was sore, and that for the next 10days I couldn't touch him or groom him as it will un-do the good she has done ??????
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Oh for heaven's sake :mad: Does no one else wonder why people keep paying these nutters when there is neither scientific evidence nor rationale to support it?

No offence to the op, of course.
 
Evelyn said:
I had a Bowen treatment a few months ago and to be honest I thought it was a load of twaddle! I certainly won't be wasting my money

In the time you have not been allowed to touch your horse he has lain down a few times and no doubt put some form of pressure on his back/shoulder.

Being tucked up for a couple of days to me soounds like a visit from the vet may be in order. Does he have a temperature - is he looking uncomfortable in the way he moves. Is he eating as normal. Is he drinking.

One of the best thing for anyones horse is a thorough grooming with a body brush - really putting your back into it for 45mins each day.
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He is quite warm yes, but have put that down to weather as it is still quite warm where I am, I feel the cold and am still in t shirts and sweat like mad at yard he was quite toasty this am.

He's eating and drinking quite normally too yes no difference there at all. he's a ganit lol

I love to groom and will do it for ages too but can't even do that apparently??...

oh I dunno this is all just too confusing for my small brain lol
 
JFTD said:
Oh for heaven's sake :mad: Does no one else wonder why people keep paying these nutters when there is neither scientific evidence nor rationale to support it?

No offence to the op, of course.
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I am quite sceptical about it to be honest I have only ever had a VERY good physio, hence reason for my thread as I am not sure about it really, I just want to say sod it and get on with doing what I was doing with him start riding again and give him a good groom.

I have the saddler out next month, even though I personally believe his saddle fits him quite well. (i am no professional) but from experience.
 
Merlywerly said:
I just want to say sod it and get on with doing what I was doing with him start riding again and give him a good groom.
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Sounds like a bloody good idea to me. The grooming and riding if he's ok, not if he's not, obviously.

Saddle fitter is always a good idea though.
 
well I have googled this and found the aftercare part to which it says that no patting, grooming and stroking on the actual day as to not disturb the release of toxins.
NOT do nothing for 10days!!

It says you can ride long and low no tight circling or lunging, but surely a walk around the track on my yard would benefit this OK?...
but if I did this the lady would not treat him, or would go back to square one with him, she has already advised this.

Arrrggghhhhhhh HELP!
 
Merlywerly said:
well I have googled this and found the aftercare part to which it says that no patting, grooming and stroking on the actual day as to not disturb the release of toxins.
NOT do nothing for 10days!!

It says you can ride long and low no tight circling or lunging, but surely a walk around the track on my yard would benefit this OK?...
but if I did this the lady would not treat him, or would go back to square one with him, she has already advised this.

Arrrggghhhhhhh HELP!
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TBH I think that if you have no faith in the treatment the question you need to be asking yourself is 'WTF am I wasting my money for?'

If I were in your shoes I would have only left him for 24hs, 48hrs at the most. Grooming is good for our horses and helps circulation (scientifically proven) and its good for you.

The only alternative therapy I use is a chiropractor and I am a scientist by trade so a natural sceptic. I do also hail from the 'Treat them as horses, love and care for them but DONT wrap them in cotton wool' ilk (and I own a TB)

As for being tucked up my first thought was worms also - I suggest you get a worm count done as it will put your mind at rest - the fact he has been wormed does not really matter if he is riddled with worms and the count will help you treat him if this is the case.

Its like aromatherapists - I just want to stick incense sticks up their noses - twaddle!

Please note that most of this reply is done with my tongue stuck firmly in my cheek and I am not trying to cause offence at all :eek:

*Braces self for onslaught!* :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
 
We had a Bowen Therapist out to see Little Cob.

I didn't know much about it and was clutching at straws for the lad (he'd been to the AHT for a lameness work up; the diagnosis was something sacroilliac and something neurologial, with no recommended treatment).

Long story short: at the end of a (I think) two hour session, the pony was moving better than he had in about a year. He was brighter eyed and so much easier in his movement, with his hindlegs moving in much better order, i.e. not looking like a constipated cow.

OP - I don't remember being told not to touch him afterwards... He wasn't being ridden and lives out 24/7, so I don't know if that had any bearing on it.
 
I have a had a very well respected physio tell me not to touch my horse after treatment for about a week, if it helps. Don't think it's something isolated to Bowen :)

J&C
 
well he got a groom tonight, was just a quick flick with the flick brush to get excess loose hair off and groomed his mane and tail weather or not bowen lady will notice this on her next visit I am not sure, I will wait and see what she says then.

He wasn't so tucked up tonight either, have upped his feed a little again see if that makes any difference, they are due to be wormed shortly and YO does a count anyway at this time.

Thanks for all the feed back everyone.
 
One of my dogs regularly had Bowen Therapy simply because I had exhausted every other treatment for him. He loved the therapist and would sit on her (58kg rottie :D ) ready for treatment, then when he had enough he would make it very clear and move away.

She did tell me not to do too much with him for 24-48 hours and he would tell me when he was ready to pick up his normal routine. He used to sleep for most of the 24 hours after a session and then life would go back to normal.

My husband had Bowen Therapy too as he broke his neck a few years ago and has a plate in it. It did absolutely nothing for him.

I have also done a basic Equine Touch course myself (which is based on similar principles) and I don't recall anything like the 10 day rule you have been given.

I have the osteo regularly for my horse and have just had a physio for one and both of them tell me not to groom or do anything with them for 24 hours, and no riding for 48 hours.

I can't understand the logic behind the 10 day zone and I would email or ring her and specifically question it. As suggested I would also email the other Bowen Therapist you have the details for.

Your horses' welfare is the main concern and if you feel the treatment and/or no touch rule has caused something detrimental then I would return to normal routine asap and see what happens. You won't cause any serious harm to him by doing this.
 
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