Holistic Approach............what does that mean?

As an Equine Massage Therapist I take a holistic approach to treatment, you may have heard this term before, but what does this really mean❓

“A holistic approach” means considering the horse in their totality, in order to create an environment for the maintenance or restoration of health 🔄

This is why I will take time to ask you a series of questions about your horse at their initial assessment 📝

You may wonder why I am asking certain questions, but it is to get a good picture of factors that may affect your horse ✔️

These include:

🔶Physical traits
🔹Conformation
🔹Locomotion (the way they move)

🔶Psychological traits
🔹Emotional state
🔹Any ‘vices’ or habits

🔶Factors affecting the internal environment of the horse
🔹Access to forage, and forage type
🔹Any additional feed given
🔹Any medication or supplements

🔶Factors affecting the external environment of the horse
🔹Amount of turnout
🔹Types of ground or terrain being covered
🔹Types of exercise and training
🔹Is the horse shod or barefoot
🔹Type/style of tack being used
🔹Fit of the tack being used

Any dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system requires that an overall assessment be made in order for the causative factors to be identified 🧐

If the right conditions are present the body with strive to heal, repair and maintain itself 👍🏻

Massage therapy helps us to trigger the body into getting itself back to optimal health 👌🏼

Using this holistic approach means alongside massage therapy we can also work together as therapist and owner 👥to come up with a plan to eliminate the cause of any muscular dysfunction found ✍🏻

If you think this approach could be what your horse needs, please do get in touch for more information or to book an initial assessment 📲