Horses and Ponies of all types

If you wish, go straight to the DISEASES list

These beautiful and sensitive creatures have served mankind for millennia. They have been dragged into war for us, about 8 million having been killed in the First World War (against 8.5 million military personnel). They have carried us hither and thither, ploughed our fields, helped build empires, helped destroy empires, carried our goods, mined our coal, worked our livestock, provided motive power, entertained us and been loyal companions, ever since their first association with man. Here we try to pay back some of that loyalty and service, with a special care that recognises their special needs.

We treat horses with homeopathy, acupuncture, herbs (herbal medicine), chiropractic manipulation and nutritional therapy as the main therapies offered. Other therapies may be used, according to need. The most common equine conditions that we are asked to help are: laminitis, chronic laminitis, mud fever, sweet itch, sarcoids, head shaking (headshaking, head-shaking), eye problems, skin problems, back problems, COPD (C.O.P.D.), urticaria, moonblindness and lameness but we take on any problem presented, with a positive approach.

We have a particular interest in equine backs (horses' backs and ponies' backs) and much of the equine workload involves back work.

We usually see horses at their homes or places of livery. We have also seen patients at veterinary premises and veterinary university clinics. Owing to planning complications and road safety, we are unable to see horses at the AVMC premises but facilities are available at a nearby organic and holistic livery yard, where horses can visit or even stay, as necessary. This is particularly helpful for very distant patients that may require more than one treatment.

With a full holistic programme, horses are released from constraining factors, allowing them to demonstrate their stunning healing ability. Many diseases, traditionally thought to signal the end of working life, appear to be reversible under this system. At the AVMC, we concentrate on grazing, diet, saddling and tack, shoeing, teeth, backs, riding, stabling, pasture management, supplementation, parasitology and behavioural aspects, prior to making medical input.

We also take into account the results of any veterinary investigations that have taken place, including blood sample results, X-Ray pictures, Ultrasound scans, MRI scans, Scintigraphy scans, specialist reports etc. It is very helpful if these can be available at the time of the visit.

We then select appropriate therapy, whether homeopathic, herbal, acupuncture, chiropractic or other therapy. It may even be an integrated combination of these. We also advise on future management for health, to boost our chances of a successful outcome.

The reason for this strategy is to optimise and maximise healing ability, so that the best use is made of the extraordinary capacity of natural medicine to stimulate the regenerative and healing mechanisms innate in the horse's body. Having studied and developed a strategy to remove the obstacles, we then use one or other of the natural medicine strategies, or a properly-integrated combination of them, to apply the healing stimulus.

The use of homeopathy, acupuncture (equine acupuncture), herbs and other alternative therapies does not rule out the need for a proper examination and assessment of each patient, necessary diagnostic tests, appropriate measures to repair injury and a study of natural lifestyle and diet, in order to be able to speed recovery. We have enjoyed a good measure of success through this methodology, seeing, as in other species, recoveries from diseases usually associated with a poor prognosis in conventional terms and wisdom.

• Have you ever been told that your horse is now untreatable?

• Have you ever been told that your horse works like that, because he is 'ungenuine'?

• Does your horse nap?

• Does your horse hold his head up too high, when working?

• Does he have a short stride at the front?

• Does he have difficulty bringing his hind legs beneath him?

• Is he harder work on either rein?

• Are his back and neck, shoulders and hind-quarters correctly and symmetrically muscled?

• Does your horse dislike his saddle or other tack?

• Have you been given the old 'box-rest and bute' line?

• Have you ever been told to work him on bute, until he can cope no longer?

• Do you know what is really in the feeds or supplements you are using?

• Are you confused by manufacturers' claims?

If so, there may be another way .......

Have faith in your horse and look into ways to help him to release himself from his problems.

The AVMC is conducting objective analysis of clinical outcomes from cases seen. These results are being updated on an ongoing basis. To view them, click here.

See also:

DISEASES

To give examples, these conditions contribute to the workload of the AVMC:

Click on any condition for more information. Send a request if a disease is not shown or is not yet covered. N.B. Some of these links are in preparation.

While the only promises that can be made are that we will always concentrate and put in maximum effort on your horse's behalf, and strive for excellence in the application of holistic natural medicine techniques, we can happily report an encouraging level of success in such troublesome and chronic conditions. A great many horses have surprised their human companions with their ability to defy prognosis and recover. Follow a full (and sometimes demanding) holistic programme and trust your horse.

Click Homeopathy for horses

Click Acupuncture for horses

Click Herbal Medicine for horses - Herbs for horses

Click Chiropractic for horses

Click Natural Feeding for horses

See also: Pet Care

Common signs of ill health or impending ill health are: loss of fun, inability to make certain movements, inability to jump, difficulty jumping, stiffness on rising, stiffness coming out of stable, lameness (limping), reduced exercise tolerance, reduced stamina, decreased appetite, noisy breathing, heavy breathing, rapid breathing, increased thirst, laziness, sleepiness, head tilt, head shaking (shaking head), loss of balance, poor coat (dull coat), dull eye, excessive blinking, bleeding, sickness, diarrhoea, abnormal discharges, difficulty urinating, frequent urination, difficulty defaecating, blood in urine, abnormal odours (breath, skin, discharges), frequent nose clearing, coughing, loss of muscle (muscle loss), unexpected weight loss, increased appetite with reduced weight, scratching (itchiness).

While much of this material may also apply to donkeys and mules, there is a page dedicated to donkeys and their relatives.

To view some of the pages (.pdf) on this site, you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.0 or later - download it here for free: To return to the web site from a .pdf file, press your browser's 'BACK' button.

Articles: Acupuncture for Horses - Homeopathy for Horses - Herbs for Horses - Alternative Medicine for Horses - Laminitis - Navicular - Natural Medicine, Your Horse, Welfare and the Law - Pelvic Misalignment - Saddling, Back to Basics - Back & Neck Problems in Horses - Poisonous Plants - Beneficial Plants - Head Shaking

Copyright © AVMC - March 2007

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Copyright © 2007 Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre
Chinham House, Stanford in the Vale, Oxon SN7 8NQ (UK)
Tel.: #44 (0)1367 710324 - Fax: #44 (0)1367 718243
www.alternativevet.org
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Last modified: January 21, 2008

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