Have you had a horse that was not moving near the same one direction versus another, but not necessarily “lame”? Maybe a horse that has not responded to traditional western medicine? Acupuncture has absolutely been a game changer for the pain management of our equine athletes.

Acupuncture takes into consideration the animal as a whole. The general theory is based on the premise that there are patterns of vital force called Qi (pronounced “chi”) throughout the body, which are related to the internal organs and musculoskeletal system. Pain or illness result when the flow of Qi is disrupted due to pathological factors, such as bacteria and viruses, trauma, stress, poor diet or other conditions. Acupuncture focuses on restoring the flow of Qi in the body by inserting very fine needles into the skin at particular acupuncture points.

Stimulation of these points resolves the blockage of Qi, relieving pain and restoring the body’s ability to heal itself. Acupuncture is a very safe medical procedure when performed by a qualified veterinarian. Very few negative side effects have been reported in clinical cases.