Case studies

Sam

Sam is a 13 year old Standard bred that became dangerous and threw his rider off. He had damaged his sacral area in the paddock. After 3 treatments he looked like a different horse!

After the Bowen Sam is smiling!! And he does look happier overall. His ears are up and forward. His neck has softened and he has a better top line. His back is softer, and he is not standing under. He is still about the same weight. His coat is less oily and he looks health.

Indy

When Indy was young she had a tendency to pull back when tied to fences. She can still "freak out" in confined spaces such as floats, regardless of if she is tied up or not. (she has a small-spaces phobia) As all her neck muscles seem to be affected in some way, from the poll through to her cranial deep pectoral, it could have been a result of this pulling back. Indy looks more muscle-toned now than she was before the Bowen, although she has not had any extra exercise. Her top-line is more pronounced and the bracio area is softening. She seems to have a problem in her neck and deep pectoral area that has been preventing her from working well on right hand circles. She is no longer standing under herself, and is tracking up at both the walk and the trot.

She was not standing square for this photo, but it does show that before the bowen she was standing under. Also note the muscle tone of the hind leg after the bowen. Her coat is glossier and not as course. Also note the bracio muscles in her neck are now less-pronounced. Her posture and way of going has improved.

Breeze

Tracey had only had Breeze for two weeks when I started the Bowen on him. He is a 24 year old ex hunter. When I first photographed him he was looking very sad, and he did look his age. But after three Bowen sessions his coat is looking better, and his eyes are brighter. As the photo shows, he is no longer standing under himself, and he is starting to develop a top line and a good outline. His bracio is still pronounced and tight, but I believe that will muscle will slowly get smaller as the other muscles tone up. Bowen can prolong the working life off a horse, and retired horses can be brought back into light work.

Star

Star is a recovering laminitic pony, and because of this and her tendency to over-eat, she will always be an at risk pony. Possibly due to being tangled in a fence, she was lame on her left hind when I started the Bowen. She was also very cresty.

Interestingly she also had a very high heart rate on the first day of bowen, and I am unsure if she was nervous or had been running around before she was caught. Her heart rate seems to sit on the high side, and this may be caused by her excessive weight.

She is no longer standing under herself, and is tracking up at both the walk and the trot. Her left hind is no longer stiff and stilted in its movement. She is moving freer and seems happier in herself.

Star has lost weight over the three weeks. Her crest and neck are softer, which is a good sign. Her entire profile has softened, and her mid-section looks longer than it was when I started the Bowen.