| Bones of the Head and Face  | What do you notice about Ritchie's head and barrel?  |
Key L = left R = Right D = Diaphragm* Caudal = Towards the Tail Cranial = Towards the head C1 - C7 = Neck Vertebrae T = Thoracic Dorsal = Towards his back
* A diaphragm consists of the connective tissue that passes transversely through all the joints of the body. There are 5 main diaphragms through the horse's body: at the hyoid, poll, chest, barrel and hips.
Highlighted in Blue: These would be having a significant impact on the Ritchie's level of comfort, wellbeing and performance
Ritchie's Craniosacral Sessions
When I first saw Ritchie, he was very nervous. He was standing with his near fore 3-4” caudally, behind his other foreleg. The owner said this is his normal way of standing.
First Session
POST TREATMENT: Standing squarer with his near-fore only about 2 inches caudally.
To start with he was fearful – moved away from the first touch on R shoulder when tuning into CSR. More accepting on L shoulder. Went back to R shoulder and he accepted my touch and throughout the rest of the session. He became calm and trusting.
Craniosacral Rhythm Assessment (CSR)
L shoulder: pulled and twisting cranially, towards his head
R Shoulder: no movement at his wither – stuck fascia
L Hip: being pulled and twisting towards his off side
R Hip: Tuber coxae, point of hip, not moving, sacrum twisting and being pulled cranially, towards his head
Sacrum: more movement caudally, towards his tail
Poll: moving toward his near side
Treatment
Thoracic D: moved laterally, side to side, both ways, unwound and softened – continued down sternum (more movement to the off side)
Respiratory D: from L side felt like the diaphragm was twisting. It released dorsally, towards his back, and then ventrally, towards the ground, and then toward his cranium. I released it from both sides.
Ribs
L Ribs: 4/5 unwound & lengthened. 8-10 raised - lengthened caudally, towards his tail, Ribs 15-17 worse this side released about 60%
R Ribs: 1-8 ok. 12-14 raised - released
Released both shoulders and reconnected them energetically to the attached muscles
Pelvic D: from L side unwound a little. From the R side unwound a lot and his spine suddenly lifted about an inch and dropped.
Psoas: R unwound and lengthened. L no response
ITJ (Intertransverse Joint): L L6/5 unwound, R sore at L6/S1 – unwound quite a lot, R L6/5 unwound a little
Sacrococcygeal Junction: released
Lumbosacral Joint: unwound
Tail dural release: tight at sacrum.
Second Session
POST SESSION OWNER'S FEEDBACK: I rode Richie this morning and I thought he felt better. He seemed to be exploring his body and definitely more inclined to stand more square in front than before. Very light in his mouth.
I felt the inverted rotation in his spine for the first round ( saddle off to the left) and then he was pretty straight once he warmed up. So very pleasing so far.
Treatment/Plan
CSR
L shoulder: all gd
R shoulder: symmetry even but quality slightly low
L Hip: even symmetry but still moving to the off side
R Hip: symmetry even but quality sligtly low
Poll: more movement forward and toward near side
Sacrum: more movement towards tail
TD at C7/T1 (behind shoulder blade) released to near side
Sternum: Released the sternum - TD moved downward along the sternum. I felt more room on the left of the sternum. More movement caudally and greater movement to the off-side
SSL (Sacral Sciatic Ligament)
L and R Apex unwound
R piriformis did a lot of unravelling
Others: soft
Nuchal Ligament
Funicular: L very tight between C3-C5 R very tight between C2/3
Lamella: L tight at C5 R tight at C3
Released both to take pressure off poll before releasing it.
Head
Poll: released
Parietals: lifted
InterP: lifted
Temporals: R ext behind L – released
Sphenoid: unwound and spread out
Ear Pull: good
Finished with releasing the dural tube that surrounds the spinal cord
Response to Treatment: Ritchie had no fear at all this session and started to enjoy it.
Third Session
POST TREATMENT: After this session Ritchie was standing with his forelegs even.
I continued to do treatments with Ritchie releasing where there was still restriction. As well as the above areas, I released the facial bones, hyoid, TMJ, barrel, and legs.
I am waiting for the results of his next dental treatment.
