Mctimoney/Osteopathy/Bowen/ETC....which?

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As subject title really, if you wanted your horse to have a routine checkup to make sure everything was where it should be, no stress or tension and was ready for the new season which would you go for.

There seem to be so many options so which one and why????

Please feel free to add/comment on any I might have missed
 
Bowen is muscle release therapy and osteopathy is bones/adjustment so IMHO I would have both.

Not knowing where you are in the UK my equine osteopath is magical. His name is Stuart McGregor and his website is www.mcgregor-ba.com

I would spend my last penny I had with him
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Osteopath in horses??just curious...how the hell do they adjust bones/alignment in such a big animal??Only ask as surely it a physical impossibility on a humans part?Only had to have a physio to mine atm(having canter issues STILL so doing some research,vet first port of call but would like to have an idea
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)so interested to hear how they work and what they do and the results people have had?
Also the Mctimoney,what do they do exactly and what problem did your horse have to warrant one and what results have you all had??
OP didnt mean to hijack
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Bowen did nothing for my horse whatsoever!
However, my Chartered Equine Physio did the trick and it didn't cost much more than Bowen - and BTW, she spent a lot more time with my horse that the Bowen person did!

Sorry, I only tell it like I found it...!
 
Where r u based? I hv a lady out who's mctimony and sports massage, and does stress pt therapy so best of all worlds! That's oxforshire. She's v good!
 
hadfos - equine osteopaths don't actually tend to do much manipulation (''cracking'') on the joints as like you say the horse is obviously far too big! There are some areas you can adjust, such as the upper neck by using the head as a kind of lever or the hips by using the hind leg as a long lever - using levers reduces the amount of force you need to exert.
Also dont be fooled osteopaths work with bones and bones alone!! Alot of work is done using articulation of the joints, soft tissue release, myofascial release and tuning in to the horses cranial rhythm - horses respond exceptionally well to cranial work!
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Also dont be fooled osteopaths work with bones and bones alone!!

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I went for an osteo session myself before Xmas and as well as work on my spine and neck, he did quite a bit of work on the muscles across my back as well... The same clinic did my horse the day after and the osteo seemed to do muscle work (like my physio does) plus lots of work to release soft tissue spasms, clicking things, and what I can only describe as using backwards movement in a v specific way to help release some soreness down the SI area of his spine. She did the lever thing with his legs that you described as well!

I've used a McT and don't really rate them. One I saw in Oxford had no idea what she was talking about (and said totally different things to every other equine professional who has seen him, including my vet!) and the other who, whilst he was improved afterwards, didn't do anything my physio doesn't do, charged me twice the price for half the amount of time, and spent the entire 30 mins slagging off all other equine professions. So after 2 bad McT experiences, I will be sticking with my usual physio and the osteo if he needs a bit more.
 
My horsie back guy is an osteopath, qulified with humans first and then horses. He doesnt do any bones as far as I can see! He doesnt move the legs around, do the tell swinging stuff or do any hard core manipulation.
He basically works to release tension deep within the muscles, which helps the horses posture and helps the horses body to support itself better I think. Hes written a lot of papers on horses posture. Hes called Gavin Scofield and ive always been very impressed with the results. Hes very precise with his method, he only works on the particular area that is the problem and doesnt do anything unecessary.,

My friend uses an equine touch person on her horse. I was sceptical at first and while her methods looked more traditional than my guy they seemed to work. She seems to stop my friends horse from having any problems with its back despite having bone spavins.
 
bowen for mine all the way

ive had all diffrent tryed on mine and bowen as worked the best by miles all the people i used were recommened by people that loved them!

i think what we forget is some horses respond do diffrent techniques and diffrent people and some are good at what they do some are ok and some are just rubbish

so its who you can find that works
 
If no specific problems, I would probably go for McTimoney though my lady does the equine massage too.

However, my old boy had sore back muscles due to saddle problems and Bone Spavin - he had physio, McTimoney and Bowen but responded much better to the Bowen than anything, I really rate it.

I think, like lots of things, horses respond better to some treatments than others.
 
Always have Mctimoney, have a friend and beside Mctimoney she is also a Sports Massage Therapist and Equine Touch Practitioner , get the best of all 3.
 
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