Inkwell Blog: Equine Acupressure: Being a donkey then...and now...

Life for burros has changed! And if you read my last blog, you learned a little about how burros were used in the mining communities of Colorado. While burros were loved as great companions and friends, they also had very hard lives, carrying heavy loads and doing the work of many men.

Daisy meets Jan for the first time.

In comparison, my donkey, Daisy, lives a lackadaisical life. My dad always asks me why in the world do I want with a donkey if I’m not going to ride her. But that’s another subject. On the subject of Daisy, a neighbor of mine recently earned all of her credentials in equine acupressure. She’s building her business and offered to give Daisy a treatment. It was hard to say no. Not only was I interested in finding out more about it, but I was pretty sure Daisy wouldn't mind.

Getting a check-over

I already had Daisy in the corral when Jan arrived and she set to work giving Daisy a thorough once over…checking head, spine, shoulders, legs… Daisy was cooperative and inquisitive and seemed to enjoy the attention. With no specific health problems to focus on, Jan worked with general pressure points that are helpful to all equines—an overall balancing and unblocking—much the way an acupuncturist might work to increase energy flow and promote healing in humans.

The session took about 20 minutes with a walk break in the middle when Daisy got tired of standing in one place. After that, Jan took on the challenge of working with one of our ranch horses with a stifle. The horse, like Daisy, was calm throughout. This time, however, Jan focused her attention on the area of the stifle. As an onlooker, the hand motions and pressure points Jan used were difficult to detect, but could be observed by subtle movements or as Jan pointed out a change in the animal’s breathing. I’ll be anxious to see how this horse improves.

Working with Lucky's stifle

It’s my understanding from Jan, that equine acupressure can accomplish many things such as: improved blood and lymph circulation, pain relief, increase in trust, shortened recovery time from injuries or illness, and it can be emotionally calming and mood elevation. Jan describes herself as someone who facilitates and assists animals in maintaining a naturally healthy state. It was great having an opportunity to learn about this art. And I’m sure Daisy agrees.