Wild horses are highly resilient animals with a great capacity to adjust to change. As part of a herd, they can travel up to 40 miles a day following the patterns of the seasons and the availability of grazing, water, and natural shelter. They have all the instincts they need to contend with the elements while keeping the herd healthy and strong. These horses know their terrain and have the wisdom of the ages of wild horses bred in their bones.

Domesticated horses are dependent on humans for their food, water, exercise, shelter, hoof care, and healthcare. By virtue of this dependency, our horses are at our mercy and whim. After years of captivity the horse has lost his capacity to thrive in any other environment than the one we provide. Their ability to adapt to change is markedly diminished yet they are often in a position of having to deal with major changes in their lives.

Change can be very stressful for most horses and can take both time and energy to regain their sense of well-being and comfort. Horses that change ownership must adjust to a completely new environment. Sorting out a position in a new herd can be challenging and even dangerous for them. Horses suffer when they lose a pasture mate. Abused and abandoned horses have a difficult time even after they are lucky enough to be rescued. These are all changes with which the horse would not have to cope if it were not for captivity.

The New Horse Guardian

A lot of us are realizing how important it is to provide as natural an environment for our horses as we can. We are paying attention to offering as much pasture time as possible, feeding low to the ground, offering blends of grass hay, having our horses go barefoot, and many other caring ways of giving our horses' good lives. Though nothing can take the place of a truly natural habitat for our horses there are things we can do to help them adjust to sharing our reality.

Many horse guardians are turning to acupressure and other complementary therapies to provide their horses with a greater sense of well-being and health. Since change is inevitable sometime during a horse's life, it is important to have a resource to help reduce the amount of stress the horse has to experience.

Acupressure for Adjusting to Change

Acupressure, like acupuncture, is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Chinese Medicine, maintaining a harmonious flow of life-promoting energy called Chi, also seen as Qi or Ki, is essential to support the physical and emotional balance of the animal. There are specific pools, or acupressure points, on the equine and human body, that can be stimulated to maintain the harmonious flow of Chi.

When a change occurs, the horse can become stressed and the natural dynamic flow of Chi can become blocked. If this blockage sets up in the body, the horse can manifest an illness. To support the health and emotional well-being during this time, we can offer the horse an acupressure session to help prevent blockages of energy and build his ability to cope with the change.

Acupressure Point Selection

Selecting acupressure points, or "acupoints," for an acupressure session is both an art and a science. Change confronts the horse with the need to deal with a complex host of issues: self-sufficiency, courage, trust, adaptability, grief, and often physical stamina. Though each horse is an individual, there are some traditional acupoints that can be used to address these issues.

The following three acupoints in combination are known to alleviate fear, insecurity and hypersensitivity while building self-confidence and relieving anxiety and muscle tension:

1. Conception Vessel 14, Great Palace (the Chinese name translated into English)
2. Liver 3, Great Pouring, and
3. Kidney 3, Greater Stream.

In response to the emotional stress, Heart 7, Spirit's Gate or Mind Door, is an excellent acupressure point that is know to calm and clear the mind. This point can help the horse handle loss and be open to trusting again.

Change can be very physically demanding for a horse, especially during the initial time of finding his place in the herd. The acupoint Stomach 36, Leg Three Mile, has the attribute of enhancing the flow of Chi which builds strength and endurance.

There are many other traditional acupoints that could be selected to supports the horse's ability to adapt to the changes he must face. Acupoints can be further "fine-tuned" to be selected for each horse's specific requirements. By using the acupoints described above and identified in the chart, "Adjusting to Change," every fourth or fifth day, you will begin the process of helping the horse adapt to his new environment.

Acupressure Session

While looking at the chart and reading the anatomical description of the acupoints, locate an acupoint. Place the soft, fleshy part of the tip of your thumb on the point on one side of the horse. Use about 1-2 pounds of pressure, no more because we do not want to poke or hurt the horse. Your other hand should be resting comfortably on the horse as well. Hold your thumb on the acupoint and count to 30 or watch the horse for evidence of releasing of energy. An energetic release would be licking, yawning, stretching, lowering of the head, or passing air.

After holding your thumb on an acupoint on one side of the horse, move to the opposite side and hold the point on that side. Again watch and feel for any releases the horse may have or count to 30 slowly before moving on to the next acupressure point.