Frequently Asked Questions

Echo Equine Wellness is a full-service wellness practice focusing on whole horse treatment, including nutrition, horse-human connection and training, Equine Osteopathy and Physiotherapy.

Echo Equine Wellness offers a range of services, including nutrition consultations, ration balancing, Horse-Human Connection Coaching, fecal egg counts for strategic deworming practices, Equine Osteopathy and Physiotherapy!

Equine osteopathy aims to improve overall health and wellness by treating the entire horse, rather than just addressing a specific condition or disease. This includes osteopathic manipulative medicine, which involves stretching, massaging, and moving the musculoskeletal system. It is the use of hands-on, manual treatments to reduce pain, increase physical mobility, and improve the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids.

Equine Craniosacral Therapy (often abbreviated as ECS or Equine CST) is a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork adapted from human craniosacral therapy for use on horses. It focuses on the craniosacral system—a vital network connecting the skull (cranium), spinal column, and sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine)—to promote the horse's natural self-healing processes. This therapy emphasizes subtle rhythms in the body, similar to a tide-like pulse driven by the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which nourishes and protects the brain and spinal cord.

The foundational concepts of craniosacral therapy were pioneered in the early 1900s by osteopath William Garner Sutherland, who observed that the cranial bones exhibit a subtle, rhythmic motion that influences the entire body's tissues and fluids. In the 1970s, osteopath John Upledger refined it into a structured therapeutic approach for humans. Equine adaptations emerged in the late 1990s, mainly through the work of U.S.-based practitioner Maureen Rogers, who tailored techniques to horses' unique anatomy and physiology. Today, it's widely taught in certification programs and used by equine therapists worldwide.

Practitioners use extremely light touch—often just the fingertips or cupped hands—with pressures as subtle as 5 grams (about the weight of a nickel). No forceful manipulations, cracking, or deep tissue work is involved, making it safe and suitable even for sensitive, nervous, or injured horses. 

This approach views the body holistically, addressing how physical restrictions can stem from emotional stress, trauma, or daily strains, and supports the autonomic nervous system for overall resilience.