what does "wholistic"
really mean?

general approach

feeding
& nutritional therapy

exercise physiology
& sports medicine

internal medicine

physical therapy
& rehabilitation

"prehab"

manual & movement
therapies

osteopathic care
of the spine

homeopathy
& homotoxicology

medical intuitive evaluation

energy medicine

Anima Herbal Solutions

"PREHAB"

Prehab: Avoiding the need for rehab
"Prehab" is a word I made up to convey the concept: "fix it before it really breaks!"

I'm all for the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach, but when it comes to athletic horses, I think we need to redefine what it means to be broken.

Seeing resistance for what it really is.  Resistance, stiffness, unevenness, heaviness, lack of impulsion, or unwillingness to pick up a lead or perform a certain maneuver is not simply bad behavior or a training issue - it's a warning sign.

And if left unheeded, it's an injury in the making. The injury may take the form of an acute tendon or ligament strain, or it may be more subtle, such as the slow but persistent march of degenerative joint disease.

These training/behavioral/gait issues can become a tangle of inter-related factors after awhile, especially once the movement pattern becomes habitual. That's why it's important to see these "horse-rider disconnects" as real problems and sort them out as soon as possible.

Addressing the problem.  Evaluation typically involves careful examination of the horse's posture and movement patterns, the musculoskeletal system, teeth, feet, tack (bridle/bit, saddle fit and placement, etc.) and also how the rider might be influencing the situation. I find medical intuitive evaluation to be particularly useful in working up these cases, as it helps me better understand what is bugging the horse.

In some cases the problem is resolved simply by identifying and addressing the cause(s) of physical discomfort (saddle, saddle pad, teeth, bit, etc.). In other cases, some retraining is necessary after the physical factors have been addressed.

These problems do have a definite cause (they're not just in the rider's - or the horse's - mind), and they can have a positive outcome. Not only does resolving the problem restore the joy to riding and fooling around with your horse; addressing them early can prevent more serious or unresolvable problems further down the road.