Equine Therapies

Since horse injuries and ailments are stressful for both the horse and the horse owner, today’s horse enthusiast is constantly seeking new alternative equine therapies. Gladstone Equine concentrates here on alternative therapies to relieve injuries and ailments that result from training stress, trauma, and environmental conditions.

The first thing to remember is that all equine therapies should include the assessment of a good veterinarian. We have found that there are many effective alternative treatments and therapies, but none are a substitute for a trained veterinarian.

We can’t stress this point enough. We hear all the time about the disagreements between traditional vets and alternative practitioners. There is no need for argument. The best and most progressive vets in the country include chiropractic, acupuncture, and LEPT as a key component of complete equine care.

Every horse owner should also have a quality reference manual on veterinary horse care, and no stable should be without a comprehensive anatomical wall chart. Gladstone Equine’s Library includes a number of good reference books and both general and specific anatomical charts. Finally, visit our affiliate partner State Line Tack to find basic horse health care supplies like leg wraps, dressings and routine medications.

Here are the alternative equine therapies that we address. We’ve collected information for you from many sources.

Click on the text link and you’ll be presented with Gladstone Equine's feature article, which includes an explanation of the therapy, followed by sources of additional information and practitioners.

We hope you find these insights useful, and we welcome your comments, anecdotes and most of all, your experiences with the suggested remedies and others that you’ve found valuable.

Acupuncture & Acupressure : Widely practiced, these therapies originate in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Blistering and Pin Firing: Barbaric old school tactics
Equine Chiropractic: A new tool available to the horse owner.
Equine Hydrotherapy: Equine Spas have spread to North America
Equine Massage Some therapists are well-trained; others are not. Know how to tell the difference
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: Studies imply success in treating bone and tendon injuries.
Magnetic Therapy: Poorly understood, but does it work?
Low Energy Photo Therapy (LEPT): Ancient Greeks knew that light had the power to heal. Also known as Low Energy Photo Therapy, it’s mainstream again.

Central Virginia’s distributor of the STS-2 Scanner and Light Therapy Treatment Systems from Sumerel Therapeutics. Call or email us today to purchase your own unit or to schedule an appointment for your horse. 804-337-7190