As I’m sure you know, horses are prey animals with a very intense, involuntary, and instinctual flight response. Because of their domestic environments oftentimes the proper resolution to this flight response (being able to escape the threat), is restricted by fences, stalls, tack, ropes, and also by well meaning but equally restricting training methods.
Horses also depend on having a herd to regulate their nervous system, but often are kept from physical contact with the other horses around them, spending much of their time alone.
And of course, some horses have been abused and neglected regularly by ignorant or not-so-ignorant owners or trainers. These conditions can create issues within the horse's mind and body and lead to all kinds of unhealthy behaviors and illness (cribbing, pacing, biting, pawing, colic, ulcers, etc.) Even if a horse is lucky enough to live out on a pasture in a herd, traumatic events such as severe storms, prolonged cold or heat exposure, physical harm from fences or other horses, difficult births, illnesses, parasites, or negative interactions with humans can leave them with trapped trauma within their bodies. Horses are incredibly resilient and have evolved over tens of thousands of years to handle their flight response in ways that keep them happy and alive, and most horses can make it through traumatic events with hardly any or no after effects at all. However, if these experiences are consistent and repeated because of their environment or career, it can become nearly impossible for the body, mind, and spirit to heal from each subsequent experience without help.

Simply take an honest look at your horse.

Assuming all of their basic needs are met (good nutrition, clean free-choice water, regular hoof care, and the company of other horses), ask yourself these or similar questions: Are they healthy? Are they happy? Do they seem comfortable in their body? Are they peaceful in their surroundings? Do they enjoy their job, and can they perform without complaint or pain? Do you feel safe riding them, or being on the ground with them? Are they dangerous to other horses? Are they depressed? Have they had a sudden and dramatic change in personality or behavior? Do they get sick often or frequently colic? Do they seem to be an outcast from the herd?

It’s my belief that the best gauge for whether or not your horse needs bodywork is your own gut feeling. Anyone who truly has their horse’s best interest at heart knows when they’re not feeling their best. So if you’re on this website, it’s very likely that your horse is trying to tell you something and bodywork could be a huge benefit to them.

Craniosacral Therapy is a bodywork technique that has been around for thousands of years. It is a modality that works directly with the nervous system, specifically with the brain and spinal cord. Its main purpose is to release tension and trauma that is stored in the body. By interacting with the cerebral spinal fluid and its rhythm, which can be felt all throughout the body, a sensitive practitioner can assist the nervous system in releasing old trauma based patterns and replacing them with healed, relaxed, and supportive ones. I usually describe it as giving the body a software upgrade.

Visionary Craniosacral Therapy utilizes all of the benefits of craniosacral therapy, but pairs them with ancient shamanic technology that goes deeper than just the physical body of the horse. Using these shamanic techniques, the emotional, mental, and/or spiritual causes of illness and discomfort can be reached and released.