Discover Equine Acupressure

One of the influences that went into the Equine Neurofascial Repatterning was therapeutic acupuncture. Acupressure is a lovely, and easily learned, way to positively affect your horse’s health and mental state. Whilst diving deep into Traditional Chinese Medicine is a lifelong study, it is possible for us to bring just a little bit of this wisdom to our own horses.

Here are 5 of the most useful acupressure points:

Bai Hui: Overall Balance and Connection

Location: On the midline at the top of the hind quarters, in the dip of the sacrum

Use for: General energy balancing, calming, grounding, connecting

Helpful during: Any session to centre your horse, build trust or end on a soothing note

*This is generally my “go to” point when either introducing acupuncture, or simply to ground other Neurofascial work into the horse’s system.

GV-14: Calming Point

Location: On the midline, at the base of the neck where it meets the withers

Use for: Calming before or during stressful situations. Ideally this is used for prevention rather than cure, so apply 10-15 minutes before the known stressful event; farrier visits, transport, competition, vet treatments etc.

ST-36: Digestion and Vitality

Location: On the outside of the hind leg, just below the stifle, in the fleshy groove

Use for: Supporting digestion, boosting energy and strengthening the body’s constitution

Helpful during: Travel, after antibiotics, appetite changes, low energy.
*May ease the signs of colic, but this is not a cure for colic!

LI-4: Immune Support

Location: On front leg, below the knee and along the splint bone on the inside of the leg

Use for: Change of season, minor illnesses, allergy flare ups

*Contraindicated during pregnancy

HT-7: (Spirit’s Gate) Calming the Nervous System

Location: Just above the knee, on the outside of the leg

Use for: Anxiety, tension, overexcitement, emotional regulation

Helpful during: Farrier visits, transport, new environments or nervous behaviours

See below for where to find these points on your horse:

To use these points, apply gentle pressure for 30-60 seconds and look for signs of relaxation or processing from the horse.

If the horse is giving no response, you may try a couple of spots near where you are (in case you are just slightly off) or the horse may simply be one that likes to process more inwardly, and that is totally ok! Less response does not necessarily equate to less effect!

These points can also be activated using a red light torch for a slightly deeper effect.

*I do not recommend using acupuncture needles unless you have been properly trained to do so*

Want to learn more about how to bring acupressure, along with the meridians into the work with your horses? We have a bonus module in the Equine Neurofascial Repatterning Certification that is designed to do exactly that!

If you haven’t already joined the waitlist to hear about new intakes for the certification programme, plus receive more free resources like this one, go to www.synergyandfreedom.com/enfr