ACUPUNCTURE
by Jeffery F. Van Petten, DVM
Acupuncture is fast becoming an accepted treatment for horses by horse owners and some veterinarians, while others still view it with skepticism. Most skeptics do not have any knowledge about acupuncture or they haven't seen the results that acupuncture can achieve.
Three years ago I was on of the skeptics, but after seeing it take my wife's barrel horse from the bottom half of the barrel race to winning races, I became interested and decided to learn about acupuncture and how to use it in my practice. In the past three years I have been asked two questions more than any other. When could acupuncture help my horse? What can be treated with acupuncture?
Acupuncture exams are warranted anytime you have a noticeable lameness or any other health problem. All types of performance or halter horses can benefit from acupuncture.
Barrel horses that quit turning, running or the barrel horse that doesn't want to go into the arena
can indicate that a horse may be hurting. If you have a pleasure horse that seems stiff on one side, won't pick up a lead as well, or strings out behind at a trot or canter. Problems with a roping horse may be determined if the horse quits stopping or quarters when the horse stops. A heading horse that does not normally duck out may start, a heeling horse may start cutting the corner or go on by the corner and not want to turn. They may also start getting nervous or scared in the box for no apparent reason.
Problems with reining horses may be determined if they quit stopping as hard, come out of a slide early, quit switching leads, and won't spin well.
A young horse that is good when handled on the ground may get scared or act painful when mounted or saddled. Sometimes young horses react this way because they hurt.
These above examples refer mostly to trained horses that start having problems, but also apply to horses you cannot train due to some reason. At some horse facilities, I will check new horses to make sure there is not a problem before they start training them.
Acupuncture cannot train your horse but can sometimes remove the blocks in the road so you CAN train him. I have heard and believe that 80-85% of training and performance problems are pain related and most of the pain is not a noticeable lameness.
What can be treated with acupuncture? Almost any condition can be treated with acupuncture, however, some do not respond as well as other conditions.
Some case examples of horses I have treated: Ada, a 16-year-old mare used for barrels and poles, was treated for navicular in the spring of 1990 and has been running very well since, without the use of Phenylbutazone or Isoxuprine. She was treated for arthritis in her knees and she was fifth in pole bending at the 1992 AJQHA World Show.
Shortie, a 15-year-old paint gelding used for barrels and poles, was treated for heavies with acupuncture. We controlled them for two years before he had to be retired, because of the humid weather we have in Kansas.
Rose, an 8-year-old mare, was refusing to enter the gate to run barrels. We treated her for strained suspensory tendons and she ran well 5 days later.
These are examples of horses treated with acupuncture. We also treat lots of sprains, bruising, muscle pulls and minor lameness. Acupuncture treatments return these horses to competition much faster than conventional medicine.
In addition to painful conditions we use acupuncture to calm some nervous horses down. We are working on a treatment for cribbing that looks promising. We will know more in another month or two about how that treatment is working.
Acupuncture is not a miracle cure for any and all problems we face with our horses. However, in the right hands it is a valuable tool you can use to get your horse to compete at it's best.
