There is, and always will be, a heavy debate about the use of alternative therapies on horses. To me, it's been useful. However, there is a lot more to it's success than just a simple treatment. I'm not saying that they are for everyone or every horse. If you are considering using alternative therapies, here are some things to keep in mind and how those therapies could possibly fail.
*I generalized alternative therapies instead of going into each one available along with putting everyone who practices those therapies in the "equine therapist" category. This isn't technically correct, but it gives you the basic idea. Mostly, I am referring to chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and massage and laser therapy.
1. It should be used in conjunction with a veterinarian's diagnosis and treatment, not as a replacement.
There are a lot of vets out there these days that approve of or perform chiropractic, acupuncture, laser therapy, etc. under the right circumstances. The equine therapist I use wants the vet to diagnose and approve the work that she will be doing and to make sure that her treatments won't interfere with the veterinarian's. Because she is working with the vet, not trying to replace him, he approves and the horses aren't put at risk.
On another note, if you have someone that performs alternative therapies that IS pushing their services in place of veterinarian diagnosis and care, I would highly recommend not using them.
2. Don't expect a miracle cure.
Alternative therapies can help aid in recovery, but don't expect that someone can magically fix your horse overnight.
3. They can be very useful as a preventative.
Horses tend to be more likely to obtain injuries when they aren't moving correctly. For instance, if a horses is out of alignment or has body soreness, they probably aren't moving evenly. This can put more pressure or decrease the efficiency of another limb and that can lead to injuries/damage in joints and tendons. Keeping your horse loose and aligned helps prevent the damage to other areas. No, that doesn't mean that your horse is suddenly invincible, but it does decrease the risk of injury.
5. There are many factors in keeping a horse sound.
No veterinary treatment or alternative therapy is going to fix a horse that is shod, ridden, trained, or fed incorrectly in the long run. An ill fitting saddle won't do you any favors either. Don't expect treatments to compensate for all of that. Everthing has an equal part to play.
6. It usually takes more than one treatment.
How often do you hear of people getting one chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, or laser therapy treatment and suddenly being and staying completely fine? Very rarely. I don't see why horses would be any different. Be willing to do it correctly or don't waste money doing it at all. This is why you need to go with a therapist that is reputable and known to be honest.
7. Do your part.
This one pretty much goes with #5, but there is more to add to it. There are lots of things you can do yourself to help your horse. If they need their feet packed or leg work done, do it. Learn how to stretch them correctly and make it part of your routine. If you have them, use therapeutic blankets such as Thermotex or Back on Track. Educate yourself on the basics of equine nutrition and what your horse needs to feel well. There are a lot of things you can do to help extend the results of alternative therapies.
8. Avoid the uneducated therapists.
Before you let someone that isn't a vet go to tweaking, poking, or lasering your horse, do some homework. Ask about what training/certifications they have and what type of equipment, when applicable, they use. Try to go with someone that is recommended/approved by your vet. There are many equine "therapists" that have little to no official training. Make sure you pick one that does. Also, remember that it isn't their job to diagnose illnesses and injuries. If they are credible, they will want a vet's diagnosis. No one with a brain wants to put themself at risk of a law suit. The equine therapist we use is a certified thermographer (thermal camera imaging). However, she only uses it to see if there's a problem showing up, not to diagnose what that problem is. If something looks suspicious, she won't touch it until the vet has a look. Thermal imaging should NEVER be used to diagnose injuries or illnesses!
I've found that, when used correctly with realistic expectations, alternative therapies can be a very good investment. They aren't going to make your horse run faster, jump higher, or move better than it is designed to do. What alternative therapies can do is help, not make, your horse perform to the best of it's capabilities while keeping them sound and healthy longer.
