When you have a partner who carries your full weight while leaping over obstacles and performs feats of physical strength and flexibility without complaint or hesitation, it seems only fair that all options be explored in the interest of insuring his or her optimal health. Horse owners understand this and have begun seeking therapies for physical and behavioral issues that once were considered outside the mainstream of traditional western medicine.
Licensed massage therapist Annie Parsons working with her Irish Draught Thoroughbred, Ulysses. Photo by Danielle Zerbonne
While first turning to conventional veterinarian treatments, many Island horse owners also seek alternatives: massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapies.
Dr. Angela Jasper, a Falmouth-based veterinarian who practices acupuncture and chiropractic on scores of Island equines (and the occasional canine), employs the different modalities of both western and eastern medicine in her treatments.
Most of her work is done with competitive sport horses, even competitive dogs, and older, arthritic animals with chronic problems.
"I have a different approach from most regular vets. I like to integrate both modalities" Dr. Jasper says. "When I practiced regular medicine, the horses weren't happy to see me. It was, 'Here's the lady who comes to give shots!' Now the horses are happy to see me. That's rewarding."
Dr. Jasper explains that feedback in conventional medicine is usually instant, and although acupuncture can stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation, and cause the release of hormones, the results aren't always immediate. "It's not like with one treatment they get better. You have to build on the change."
On a recent visit to treat Barney, a 20-year-old quarter horse gelding owned by Laura Campbell, Dr. Jasper combined all three modalities in an attempt to alleviate some of the discomfort stemming from Barney's chronic Lyme disease. "Lyme," she says, "wreaks havoc on horses." Using a smooth-tipped instrument shaped like a pen cap she scans the length of Barney's body along what are known as meridians, or "energy highways," looking for muscle reactions that indicate areas needing attention. "It's not always 100 percent," she says. "Sometimes it's more of an art than a science."
Using a large foam box to stand on in order to reach the animal's spine and work on his hips from above, she moves on to do chiropractic adjustments. "I always notice a difference," after Dr. Jasper works on Barney, Ms. Campbell says. "It's a very profound change."
The horse stands quietly, receiving gentle kisses from his owner as thin straight pink-tipped acupuncture needles are inserted. "He's loving this," says Ms. Campbell. "He's a very demonstrative horse." After the needles are removed, one comes out with a pronounced bend, meaning energy has moved through it.
The horses belonging to Ginny Lobdell of Malabar Farm in Oak Bluffs have also benefited from Dr. Jasper's treatments. Ms. Lobdell explains that horses, which must be balanced to carry riders, have to be able to move their limbs freely and effortlessly to be less prone to injury. A horse with a sore back might have trouble executing certain movements, might move stiffly or even misbehave. If they carry their head crooked, that could mean a loss of alignment someplace in their body. "If a horse is lame in one foot, and then favors it, a problem can start to migrate. It's like if you walk too long with crutches or a cane," Ms. Lobdell says. "Your good leg starts to go bad."
Dr. Angela Jasper works on Barney's hips as owner Laura Campbell looks on. Photo by Danielle Zerbonne
Dr. Jasper has worked on her horses long enough to know their bodies as well as their personalities. "If you have a good practitioner, they stay with you for a while and really get to know your horse."
As Ms. Lobdell's own experience has shown her, "Horses generally want to please you. They'll do anything for you if what you're asking is fair. If you're going to ask for hard work, you owe it to them to make sure they're in the best physical shape they can be."
Annie Parsons, a certified massage therapist who works on equines, canines and humans, knows from experience that horses "absolutely love it."
She says, "They drop their heads, their eyes will go half mast, but they've got at least one ear trained on you at all times. They'll move their body to the spot they want you to work on." It takes about two hours to fully massage a horse. "You're looking for inconsistencies. Most of it is very subtle."
Martha's Vineyard Community Animal Rehabilitation and Education Sanctuary (MV CARES), which is in the midst of applying for non-profit status, is Ms. Parsons's labor of love, with its mission to help restore emotional and physical health of horses and other animals in need.
Acupuncture, massage and chiropractic therapies are just a tip of the alternative health iceberg. Islander Phoenix Russell practices a newer therapy, known as Equine Structural Integration. She stresses that what she does is different than massage. "I manipulate the connective tissue, not the muscle. I work on balancing the entire body."
Some of the benefits Ms. Russell has observed include increased energy, improved movement, and longer strides.
Vickie Thurber of Rising Tide Therapeutic Equestrian Center has been learning applied kinesiology techniques, a method of testing muscles to determine body function. "It's another way to check in with them to make sure they're really comfortable," she says.
Dr. Jasper sums it up: "I resonate with horses, it's in my blood. Every single one of them has something to teach us."
