Horse Health
An Introduction to
Equine Cranial
Sacral Therapy
The cranial sacral system is the uninterrupted structure that connects the horse’s head to its tail.
written by Barbara Dreyer
What is Equine Cranial Sacral
Therapy?
Equine Cranial Sacral therapy is a gentle,
sensitive, non-intrusive and amazingly
powerful form of deep tissue correction.
Malfunctions of the Cranial Sacral
System create many physiological and
emotional consequences. These
consequences often come
out in a disguised form as
the malfunction travels
through the Cranial
Sacral System.
Example one:
A horse who is
suffering with poll
tension will proceed to
show misaligned/out of
rhythm hind limb action.
Re-Balancing of the Cranial
Sacral
Today’s working horses often live
their day to day lives with a state of
physical and emotional imbalance. By
recognising the neurological based
workings of the Cranial Sacral, the
therapist is able to intellectually
and ultimately re-balance the
horse’s own energy forces
without the need for feats
of strength or any forms
of direct manipulation.
This re-balancing of
the Cranial sacral
System allows each
horse to enter a
state of physical and
emotional release and
relaxation, strengthening
the horses mind and body to
continue their healing process. The
despondent and tired horse is revived,
the restless and anxious horse is calmed,
while the physically restricted horse
enjoys release.
Traditionally and highly respected
Asian medicine
recognises
Does your
horse try to
put his tongue
over the bit?
Example two: A horse housing a
malfunction of the sacral vertebrae (base
of tail) will suddenly begin to place his
tongue over the bit in attempts to create
poll flexion, with the aim of releasing
tension through the Cranial Sacral
System through the sacral vertebrae.
the need for balance between all
systems, allowing optimal well-being
by placing the emphasis upon the
health and flexibility of its spine with its
components, ensuring correct neural
interventions throughout the horses
body. This neural relationship links the
horse’s internal systems including blood
flow, immune response, proprioceptive
sense, vision, hearing and levels of
flexion within the skull, including jaw
and poll.
Each respective malfunction will
automatically create an unnatural
wear and tear on the horse’s muscles,
tendons, ligaments, joints and myofascial
network, all of which proceed to create
an imbalanced form within the cranial
system. Quite often the origins of many
malfunctions can be tracked back to the
horses mouth, where the tension radiates
through to the forehead, poll, neck and
back, right through to the tail. This
can affect temperament and can turn a
normally calm horse into a unruly one.
cause it to nap, head shake, rear and bite.
THE CORELINK
The Cranial Sacral system is often referred
to as the horse’s ‘corelink’ and is composed
of the following components:
1: Skeletal structure of the cranium
2: Entire spinal column- cervical, thoracic,
lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae
3: Central nervous system
4: Inner tissues and fluid of the cervical,
thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal
vertebrae
5: Dural tube
42
Everything Horse Magazine • Issue 25• October 2015