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Craniosacral therapy has become a widespread and frequently used therapy for horses. This therapy form is recognized for its relaxing effects on all horses, and its gentle nature makes it suitable even for highly sensitive horses, who might otherwise experience significant discomfort with other therapy forms.
Although the techniques in craniosacral therapy may appear minimal, they are indeed quite profound and can be effective even in cases of severe tension.
Within craniosacral therapy, there are three primary branches:
craniosacral therapy is not necessarily the same when performed by different practitioners. Some therapists specialize in one approach, while others may combine them or integrate CST with other forms of therapy.
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Regardless of the approach, the foundation of all branches of CST is the movement between the skull and the horse's sacrum (the "sacrum" in Latin, hence the name "Craniosacral Therapy"). The therapy is aimed at addressing the movement and balance between the skull and the sacrum.
Some therapists specialize in one of these approaches, while others may combine them or integrate craniosacral therapy with other forms of therapy. Each of these branches shares the common goal of addressing imbalances in the body, but they differ in their methods and underlying philosophies.
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When a horse therapist practices craniosacral therapy, horse owners might be tempted to ask questions like, "Are you actually doing anything?" or "Shouldn't you be starting?" or "You're barely touching it, aren't you?" This reaction is understandable given the nature of craniosacral therapy, which involves only gentle touch.
The impact of craniosacral therapy is indeed based on very gentle contact. The subtle pressures and pulls applied by the therapist are so slight that the therapist's finger movements may be almost imperceptible. A significant part of the mechanism of action in craniosacral therapy is activated by maintaining contact with specific anatomical structures until the tissue responds. This process can take anything from a few seconds to several minutes.
When the horse's body responds with relaxation during craniosacral therapy, the horse typically exhibits behaviors such as smacking its lips, yawning, shaking its head, or perhaps showing brief signs of discomfort before relaxing completely. All these responses are the body's way of indicating that the parasympathetic nervous system is being stimulated, and that relaxation is occurring in the body. Thus, by observing the horse's behavior, it is possible to see that tensions are being released and that the techniques are effective.
Craniosacral therapy was developed as a part of osteopathy, and as such, the technique is intended to be used in conjunction with other techniques such as massage, joint mobilization, and various fascia techniques.
In some cases, craniosacral therapy may be the exact right approach for a particular horse, and there may be no need to supplement it with anything else. However, in other instances, it might not be the effective approach for an individual horse. For most horses, a combination of craniosacral therapy and other techniques tends to be the optimal solution.
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Craniosacral therapy's history dates back to the 1920s, with the pivotal work of Dr. William Sutherland, an American physician. Sutherland discovered that there is a constant movement in the skull, which consists of 34 bones joined by small, thin joint lines known as "sutures." Ideally, there should be a constant movement in these joint lines, where the skull slightly expands and then contracts again, and so on. This movement is very subtle and requires sensitive, trained fingers to detect it. Despite its small scale, this movement is significant for the functioning of the horse's body and overall health.
The reason for this movement is the presence of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavity between the brain and the skull. This fluid is also found in the space between the nerves in the spinal cord and the inner surface of all the cervical, thoracic, lumbar vertebrae, and extends into the sacrum. Thus, the fluid is contained within the system from the skull down to the sacrum. There is a constant production of this fluid, and it continuously seeps out, creating a pulsating movement as the pressure in the skull changes constantly.
Sutherland identified this mechanism about 100 years ago and began to explore what happens to the body when the skull – or specific parts of it – does not move optimally or in symmetrical balance. This interest was the foundation for the development of craniosacral therapy, which initially focused on gentle pushes and pulls aimed at restoring and optimizing the movement and balance in this system.
Later, it was found that the same type of gentle stretches and pressures also have a relaxing effect on the rest of the body. As a result, techniques from craniosacral therapy are now applied across the entire body and across many different species, including horses. This therapy is known for its gentle, non-invasive approach, focusing on enhancing the body's natural healing processes and improving overall well-being.
Craniosacral therapy should not be performed on pregnant mares. Additionally, if a horse is in any way ill, injured, or medicated, it is always advisable to consult with the horse's veterinarian before beginning craniosacral therapy.
Sources
Kraniosakrale Terapie bei Pferde af Salomon & Salomon
Lærebog i Kranio Sakral Terapi af Stanley Rosenberg
Kraniosakrale Pferdeosteopahie für Tierärtze af Pascal Evrard
Cranio Sacral Therapy af John Upledger
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