| It is dark and downright cold this morning! The ride | | | | Balancing the flow of energy throughout his body |
| starts at 5:00 a.m. and it is 3:30 a.m. Too cold to sleep | | | | Boosting his immune system |
| and Samson, my 8-year-old gelding, is probably just as | | | | Reducing the potential for fatigue |
| cold and stiff as I am. I can hear him moving around in | | | | Increasing fluid in his joints to enhance flexibility |
| his pen just trying to keep his blood circulating. I'd better | | | | Reducing any minor soreness or pain |
| get up and do something to help him warm-up and | | | | Sending more blood and nutrients to his four limbs, and |
| prepare for the many miles ahead.... | | | | Supporting his body's ability to regulate his temperature |
| Endurance and pleasure trail riders know how | | | | in relation to the external temperature. |
| important it is to have their horses feel energized and | | | | Additionally, when you take a break from the trail or at |
| warm before heading out for a cold, early morning ride. | | | | the vet checks on an endurance ride, use the |
| Cold, stiff muscles, tendons, and joints can cause | | | | acupressure points shown in the chart, "Fitness |
| injuries and certainly will affect the animal's ability to | | | | Warm-up," to give your horse that extra edge. Your |
| perform at his best. Many riders are offering their | | | | horse will enjoy the ride and you will be more assured |
| horses' Acupressure Sessions as part of their | | | | of hearing those glorious words from the vet - "Fit to |
| conditioning routine to maintain their animal's health and | | | | continue!" |
| fitness. | | | | A GUIDE TO AN ACUPRESSURE SESSION |
| Acupressure is an ancient healing art. This noninvasive, | | | | Start by finding a location where you and your horse |
| deceptively gentle complementary modality can | | | | feel safe and where there are few distractions. Slowly, |
| profoundly impact your horse's balance of energy, | | | | take three even breaths. Think about how you want |
| health, and general attitude. For trail riders, acupressure | | | | to help your horse feel better; taking a moment to |
| is particularly powerful because it is safe, drug-free, | | | | formulate the intent of your treatment is very |
| and always available. | | | | important. Begin by resting one hand near your horse's |
| Our friend Sara was riding in the high planes of the | | | | shoulder. Place the heel of your other hand just off the |
| Colorado Rocky Mountains last summer with a group | | | | mid-line of your horse's neck at the poll and gently |
| of her horse-buddies. Two days into the four-day ride, | | | | stroke down his neck. Continue stroking down the |
| she noticed that her 16-year-old mare, Gracie, was | | | | horse's back to the hindquarters staying to the side of |
| having difficulty breathing and showing signs of | | | | the midline. To finish, stroke down the outside of his leg |
| distress. She was not sure if it was the altitude or over | | | | to the coronet band. Your opposite hand can trail along |
| exertion, but she knew she had to do something | | | | the same path touching the horse lightly. Repeat this |
| quickly. They were at least 25 miles from any hope of | | | | stroking procedure three times on each side of your |
| finding a veterinarian. | | | | horse. |
| Luckily, Sara had studied acupressure and had her | | | | Now you are ready for Point Work. Rest one hand on |
| acupressure text with her. She searched through the | | | | your horse wherever it feels comfortable. You are |
| book and found specific acupressure points to use for | | | | going to perform the actual Point Work with the other |
| respiratory issues and anxiety and was able perform | | | | hand. Use either the thumb or two-finger technique |
| a session that address the problems Gracie was | | | | depending on what is most comfortable for you. |
| exhibiting. By the next morning, Gracie was bright-eyed | | | | Thumb technique: Place the tip of your thumb directly |
| and ready to hit the trail. | | | | on the acupressure point, also called "acupoint," and |
| Acupressure has been used to treat animals for 1000's | | | | hold the point gently, but with intent, while counting to |
| of years. It is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine | | | | 30 slowly. |
| and since the Chinese valued their horses and live | | | | Two-finger technique: Put your middle finger on top of |
| stock so highly they used acupressure to keep them | | | | your index finger and then place your index finger |
| healthy and strong. Acupressure has proven to: | | | | gently, but with intentional firmness, directly on the |
| Relieve muscle spasms | | | | acupressure point while counting to 30 slowly. |
| Build the immune system | | | | Follow the "Fitness Warm-up" chart during the Point |
| Release natural cortisones to reduce swelling | | | | Work segment of your treatment. Watch your horse's |
| Release endorphins necessary to reduce pain | | | | reaction to the point work. Healthy energy releases |
| Enhance mental clarity required for focus in training and | | | | are: yawning, deep breathing, stretching, muscle |
| performance | | | | twitches, release of air, and softening of the eye. If |
| Resolve injuries more readily by removing toxins and | | | | your horse is overly reactive to a particular point or |
| increasing blood supply. | | | | exhibits a pain reaction stop holding that point and |
| As Bobbi Richine, long-time endurance rider and owner | | | | move on to the next. Try that point again at a later |
| of Rocky Mountain Training Center in Colorado, USA, | | | | session to see if he is more comfortable. |
| points out, "Endurance riding has its challenges. You | | | | To complete your treatment session, rest your hand |
| have to be committed to considerable conditioning and | | | | comfortably on the horse's shoulder. Place the heel of |
| consistent acupressure sessions can greatly affect | | | | your other hand just off his poll and stoke down his |
| your horse's soundness and the outcome of a ride!" | | | | neck, continue stroking over his back to his |
| Acupressure Session | | | | hindquarters, keeping your hand to the side of his spine |
| Offering your horse an acupressure session along with | | | | and down the outside of his leg in exactly the same |
| fitness conditioning program will help to enhance the | | | | way you did to start the session. Your opposite hand |
| flow of Chi, life-force energy (pronounced "Chee," also | | | | can lightly trail along the same path the working hand. |
| seen as "Qi"), and blood. By performing an | | | | Repeat this procedure three times on each side of |
| acupressure session you are actually giving your horse | | | | your horse. It can take 24-hours for the effects of an |
| the advantage of: | | | | acupressure treatment to be experienced. |