Working with horses
This workshop explores applying BCST to our equine friends. Horses have been in partnership with humanity for thousands of years, and this reciprocal relationship continues on strong today. Increasing awareness around the topics of health and well-being has led to a surge in treating horses with a Holistic lens, and equine cranio-sacral therapy is a growing field which carries a profound impact for both horse and human. Horses are herd animals, with a “prey” wired nervous system. Learning to touch into a 4 -legged nervous system that is wired for non-verbal communication and near constant vigilance is a unique experience that can feel deeply sacred. Horses are highly sensitive beings, and concepts such as the relational field, non-verbal communication, felt sense and SOBA will gain even greater depth within the practitioner.
These magnificent creatures of so many shapes and sizes are often athletes who carry around another body on top of them, with metal in their mouths connected to that body. Cranium to tail, there is often much unwinding that can take place for a horse, from all the stressors of their daily life plus any unusual trauma or injuries. Injuries and compensation patterns, athletic endeavours, lifestyle stress, all these things and more can pile up for the horse just as they do with humans. BCST can be a wonderful way to give back to the horse and to increase our own self-awareness.
This workshop explores:
- basic horse anatomy
- horse body language
- practitioner safety
- how herd support works
- skeletal mechanics
- specifics for working with the cranium
- visceral configuration
- specifics on digestive system
- diaphragm
- specifics on Psoas and Ilio-Psoas and the relationship to the ridden horse
The format for the day will be similar to normal classes, lecture, discussion time and table time. There may be a need for slight variations ie. morning classroom lectures and hands on horses all afternoon, depending on the weather and horses schedule. Horses are housed in paddocks so participants must dress appropriately, safe waterproof footwear and clothing. Bring packed lunches and snacks each day, coffee, tea and water provided.