Natural Methods for Equine Health and Performance

Mary Bromiley is a Chartered and Veterinary Physiotherapist. In 1984 she founded, with her daughters Penny and Rabbit Slattery, the Downs House Equine Rehabilitation Centre, a world first for the treatment and rehabilitation of both horse and rider. She has written six books, and has been published internationally in six languages. She lectures worldwide and for 18 years travelled as therapist to the medal winning New Zealand 3 day event team.

"This excellent book combines the concepts of natural horsemanship with the author's documented expertise in equine physical therapy." (Doody's, September 2009)"From acupuncture and massage to homeopathy, it's packed with applied alternative medicine that's been tested in the field." (Midwest Book Review, July 2009)"The ideas that Mary provides on these pages are priceless? Her concepts are of a no nonsense nature and are based on the common sense facts of a natural approach." — From the foreword by Monty Roberts, the Man Who Listens to Horses

• Foreword by Monty Roberts vii Preface viiiDedication and Acknowledgements ixPart I The Horse 11 What Is Natural Horsemanship? 22 Understanding The Horse 53 Reading Your Horse 224 Diet 305 Feeding 39Part II Therapies 696 Homoeopathy 707 Bach Flower Remedies 748 Past-Age Remedies 769 Health Maintenance and Healing 8110 Acupuncture and Acupressure 8411 Massage 98Part III Training/Building The Horse 12712 Terminology Associated With Muscle Activity 12913 Anatomical Considerations 13414 Appendicular Skeleton – The Levers 14315 Training 154Part IV Exercise Analysis 16916 The Classical Training Approach 17017 Surface Anatomy 17118 Specific Exercises 173Part V Overview of Training 18719 Training Overview 18820 Faulty Movement 18921 General Considerations For The Rider 192Part VI Progressive Muscle Loading 19522 Gymnastic Apparatus 19623 Artificial Training Aids Explained 21024 The Addition of Skills 213General Summary 21725 The Fundamentals of Natural Training and Husbandry 218Appendix I Programme Design 221Appendix II Athletic Horse Versus Athletic Man 223Appendix III Natural Health Maintenance in The New-Age Horse 224Glossary 227General Bibliography 231Useful Addresses 233Index 235