Acupoint Therapies

12/02/2025

The pelvis, dont ignore it when looking at the shoulders !!! The whole body will tell you a story

I see allsorts when I am out and about, tilted forward, tilted back, tilted sideways, one side higher than the other, pokey up tuber sacrale, one tuber coxae waving hello in full view while the other is shy and hides away.

I have gone to work on a horse that had eating issues after the dentist, yet was presented with the horse backing up to get a good scratch on their tuber ishciums and while we are there we may as well have a good old feel to make sure one is not heading down towards the hocks while the other is reaching for the sun😉 and when you ask the owner their answer is "oh yes they are always asking for their butt to be scratched" ummm that tells me alot

Two places i look when checking the back is the scapula and pelvic angle now I dont want to draw lines on them trying to achieve the perfect degree angle of what a text book tells, horses bodies are not textbook perfect so why do we strive to see lines that a horse may not fit into??
As always I try to make things understandable and in digestible bites and well this is how I explain it to owners
Think of two chairs back to back with a cover over them like when we used to build dens, the more the chairs tilt towards each other the more the cover will sag and that cover is your horses middle, it also creates the tell tale atrophy, if the chairs are twisted it will create a twist through the body, if the chairs are to far apart it will create a tighter restrictive middle.

We need to change the position of the chair backs to bring the cover back to a less saggy middle🙂

Now we can manipulate, push, pull and often achieve a temporary change yet often because the soft and connective tissue surrounding the area has been that way for a long time its like an pulling an elastic band and not expecting it to just go back to where it was before when you let go,.we often think its only a pelvis or scapula issue yet mostly these angles change because of something else going on so often all we are doing is just chasing our own tails

Pain, pain anywhere in the body will always affect other areas, ever had a horse that is sore at the poll, and yet has gut issues ?? They come in a tandem and while we concentrate only on the poll to "fix" the area we often forget there is a head in front of it and a whole lot of body behind it, so would we start at the point of pain or work our way round to ask did the source of pain stem from one singular area, if your horse is camping under with the hinds then we find something somewhere else then just addressing one area is like leaving a door open to problems further down the line.

Which side is the wrong side?? We often see one side as an issue when both are not correct think of the pelvis like a box when one side is shifted then all the soft tissue connections on both sides will compensate one side may be strong yet to taut the other may be lax yet both need to taken into consideration.

Shoulder assymetry, well first there is no perfection in symmetry, if I had a penny every time I saw a picture of a dorsal view of the horse where everyone is pointing out the shoulder discrepancy yet no one notices the pelvis I would be rich and you can jack one foot up till the cows come home but every cow will probably have a problem in their back, every high low heel horse i have met i have never be concerned about the scapulas my concern always focuses on their back.
Remember different limbs have a different function in movement, the two sides of the body have different organ location, the two sides are not a mirror image of each other so why would we strive for perfection in symmetry.
Stop looking at just the scapulas as the only issue scan your eyes across the horse and see if you can find similar issues at the jaw, eyes, occiput, limbs, pelvis, and your horse must always be standing square to assess these !!!

A hamstring issue is hardly ever a hamstring problem look where the tendons attatch we can massage the area till our hands are sore but we also need to find the reason why or else it will just be a rinse and repeat, how many of you have been given homework of a hamstring massage yet they are still the problem area on the therapist return, I have never ever given a hamstring massage technique as homework for my clients as the problem has never been there they are just the result not the reason. Have you ever been told the reason why???

I dont live in a world of perfection I live in a world of this is how the horse is and can I make it better, I dont want to keep things as the are for the owner and the horse as both cannot stagnate and not move forward, but i dont want the owner to not see what i see and its why I try to be less jargon more action.

I see many many horses that are out there that do ok but my philosophy is it always could be better just dont strive for perfection as often that is the end of the rainbow we just can't reach and we can often miss out on enjoying our time with our horses trying to reach an impossible goal.

Of course this is my own opinion and experience of many horses out there doing ok with all those imperfections that leave the social media world aghast🙂

11/17/2025

The “Stifle Lameness” That Wasn’t: A Story About Referred Pain

I once had a client who told me about a horse that developed an odd, on-again off-again hind-end lameness that no one could quite pin down. Some days the horse looked off behind, as if his stifle was sore; other days he moved completely normally. Nothing about it followed the usual patterns. Things that should have made a stifle issue worse didn’t seem to, and things that “should have” helped it, didn’t.

We were all very confused.

One day, the vet happened to be on the property with a brand-new scope and offered to scope several horses for gastric ulcers — partly to familiarize themselves with the equipment. When they scoped this particular horse, they found significant stomach ulcers.

The horse was placed on a veterinarian-directed ulcer-care plan, and within a few weeks, something unexpected happened:
the ulcers healed, and the mysterious “stifle lameness” vanished along with them.

It turned out the stifle itself had never been the problem. The horse had been expressing ulcer-related visceral pain as stifle discomfort — a classic example of referred pain.

Why Ulcers Can Look Like Hind-End or Stifle Issues

This situation is a great illustration of how the equine body handles pain. Signals from the internal organs and the limbs travel through overlapping pathways in the spinal cord.

Here’s what science tells us:

1. Visceral nerves and musculoskeletal nerves converge.

The stomach and the hindquarters share overlapping spinal segments, especially through the thoracolumbar region. When the stomach is irritated, the brain can misinterpret those signals as coming from the back, pelvis, or stifle.

2. Fascia connects everything.

The deep fascial membranes link the viscera to the musculoskeletal system. When the gut is irritated, the horse may brace through the abdomen and back, altering pelvic motion and limb loading.

3. Protective guarding changes movement patterns.

A horse in visceral discomfort often holds tension through the core, diaphragm, and back. This can create subtle gait irregularities that look orthopedic but aren’t.

When the gastric discomfort resolved under the veterinarian’s care, the nervous system stopped sending those distress signals — and the hind-end “lameness” disappeared.

✳️ Why This Matters

Not every hind-end irregularity originates in a limb. Sometimes the body is expressing visceral discomfort through movement changes.

This story is a reminder of how important it is to work closely with a wonderful veterinarian, and to consider the whole horse — inside and out.

https://koperequine.com/fascia-the-skeleton-of-the-nerves/

10/28/2025

Check out the wildlife rehab using acupuncture!! 😍

10/12/2025

This new platform, called Hale and Hearty Horses is foremost a podcast to educate horse owners, trainers and caretakers about integrative healthcare for horses and holistic practices they can uitlize themselves. Because every horse deserves health in body, mind and spirit. Find Hale and Hearty Horses on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. And of course on Haleandheartyhorses.com.

10/12/2025

https://youtube.com/shorts/7nJ0ryC-DtM?feature=share

One of the greatest joys is getting this kind of thank you from a client. Warms my heart. Congratulations to my client the winner of the 2025 TB Makeover F...

10/12/2025

Jacquelyn’s story and her strength through the heart break of losing her son is beyond words. Her and her horses are dear to me as is the time we quietly spend in the barn during her horses sessions.

Congratulations Jacquelyn on this tribute to Austin. You have taken what would have broken most and used it to help others in need.

“You can find her book “The Dash” on Amazon. The Dash is a deeply personal and powerful tribute written by Jacquelyn Dickey in honor of her son, Austin Dickey was a gifted photographer, adventurer, and gentle soul who died by su***de at the age of 30. Through a blend of journal entries, photographic reflections, and raw storytelling, the book explores Austin’s vibrant life, his art, and the deep grief left in the wake of his passing.

The title refers to the symbolic dash between the dates of birth and death — the short line that represents an entire lifetime. This book is Jacquelyn’s way of making sure Austin’s dash is not defined by how his life ended, but by the love he gave, the beauty he captured, and the way he lived. It is both a memorial and a message: a voice speaking into the silence that su***de leaves behind, a hand reaching out to others who grieve, and a testament to the enduring bond between a mother and her son.”

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19eUBNPRYq/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/13/2025

We will go out on a limb here…
Horses need their ribs to be functional.

That should not be a shocking or controversial topic, yet it is. Clinical significance of ECVM is highly controversial between veterinarians. ECVM horses are sometimes missing their first ribs.

I have heard the excuse that these horses have an anatomical variant. That if it was clinically significant or a malformation they could not be competing. That if they can compete with it- it must be a “normal variant” and not a malformation. If that is the logic used then that rule must stand for all – navicular, hock arthritis, OCDs, kissing spine, neck arthritis. As those are all accepted clinically significant diseases. We recognize that horses can be born with, develop early on, or can occur with use but yet often do compete successfully with these conditions.

Yes that missing rib and malformed lower neck can be the cause of pain, reactivity, lameness, girthiness, behavioral concerns, tripping/stumbling ex. Yes, it is a significant diagnosis, similar to the rest mentioned above. Some horses can be managed to have successful careers, and some cannot. However, missing your first rib, having your ventral neck muscles malformed and compressing your brachial plexus in the wrong area is indeed clinically significant, no one will ever convince us otherwise.

All to often, owners have been told heir horse’s necks were normal, but yet the malformation is present. Owners, trainers, and veterinarians who cite one paper determining that ECVM is not clinically significant, ignore their horses’ clinical signs, and discredit ECVM as a possible clinical cause - will always be invited to come see a necropsy with Rexos. Not all ECVM horses are unusable, similar to kissing spines- some struggle while others do not. They all however need support, management, and to be heard when they give subtle signs of pain. When you necropsy a horse who is clinically affected - their bodies so vividly tell a story of disfunction and pain. These horses show their stories of pain so clearly in necropsies. They can have one or more missing ribs, incorrect muscle attachments (thus biomechanics affected), serious nerve entrapments, trachea malformations, and more. It is impossible to walk away thinking this is not clinically significant.

Photo of rudimentary first rib, with abnormal brachial plexus placement trapped under. Yes that would be painful and cause tripping/forelimb lameness.

09/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FKdkRMBa7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/05/2025

Prescriptions are essential for health, but they often come with a side effect that’s frequently overlooked: nutrient depletion. From Adderall to antibiotics, these medications may be life-saving but can quietly strip your body of key nutrients like magnesium, vitamin C, and folic acid.⁠

Even after finishing your medication, its impact on your nutrient levels can linger for months or even years. Understanding how your medication affects your body is crucial. For example, Adderall may help with focus but can deplete your magnesium reserves, which are essential for mental health 🧠.⁠

But don’t worry! Knowledge is power. With the expertise of .pharmd we've crafted this drug-induced nutrient depletion chart to help you understand which nutrients might be affected by your medications. Don’t just treat the symptoms—stay informed and maintain a balanced, nourished body 💪🏼.

03/06/2025

Women’s harmones

01/19/2025

Strongly agree! Forcing position always causes compensatory injury in key areas of the body. Developing the horse to handle ridden work and thrive mentally, physically and emotionally requires a skilled team.

12/07/2024

Beautiful home grown scoby for my kombucha.