Integrated Equine Therapies

Advanced Osteopathic Techniques 1

IET OSTEO 1

Vascular & Thoracic Dysfunction

The vascular system holds a profound influence over all other dysfunctions in the horse. Blood dominates every other dysfunction, and through osteopathic methods, students will learn to rebalance this vital system, allowing for deeper healing than ever before. By clearing vascular dysfunctions, we open the door to clearing deeper layers of Equus. In this course, students will learn hands-on (manual) treatments that focus on merging, assessing, and influencing any tissue structure at a deeper level, setting osteopathic techniques apart from other healing disciplines.

This 3-day immersive experience incorporates all three synchronistic flows: CranioSacral (John Upledger), Visceral Manipulation (Jean-Pierre Barral), and Vascular Manipulation (Frank Lowen). A key focus of this course is mastering the rare and essential skill of rebalancing vascular lesions, a gold-standard technique that elevates practitioners to an entirely new level of effectiveness. In the thoracic cavity, the organs—heart, pericardium, and lungs—not only play a critical role in physical lameness in the front end but also carry extremely deep emotional holding patterns. This course teaches students to assess, recognize, and clear these patterns, addressing the emotional and physical roots of dysfunction in a way that truly restores balance. Designed for advanced equine professionals, therapists, veterinarians, trainers, and owners, this course builds essential skills in vascular assessment, spinal adhesion evaluation, and rebalancing methods, providing a deeper understanding of thoracic, metabolic, and emotional patterns in horses.

What You’ll Gain From This Course

  • Assess and identify thoracic organ dysfunction - the organs (heart, pericardium and lung) dominate lameness in the front end.

  • Recognize, assess and clear emotional holding patterns in thoracic organs.

  • Introduce whole horse assessment focusing on advanced merging techniques and the thoracic cavity.

  • Mobilize vascular lesions using the vascular resetting technique

  • Review vascular anatomy and the role of regional neural control centers.

  • Assess spinal adhesions and secondary lameness patterns, including metabolic and emotional influences.

  • Evaluate venous and arterial constrictions, thoracic trauma, and holding patterns related to training and emotional stress.

  • Identify and reset impinged spinal nerves and their pathways.

  • Apply rebalancing techniques for the heart, cervical/thoracic vertebrae, and thoracic vascular lesions.

  • Practice advanced palpation skills, isolating base neural rhythm for effective therapy.

  • Conduct clinical applications such as lung visceral manipulation, thoracic exams, and vascular assessments.

What to Expect

In this course, students will delve into advanced osteopathic techniques, exploring detailed assessments of vascular anatomy, spinal adhesions, and thoracic imbalances, among other methods. With a mix of lecture and hands-on practice with various horses, small class sizes ensure both group and personalized guidance. Key takeaways include assessing and clearing the thoracic organs, advanced palpation skills, and vascular resetting techniques to address dysfunctions in horses. To help you continue practicing after, you'll also receive a Course Handbook to keep as a valuable reference and for following along during the course.

This course is typically paired with IET OSTEO 2 Course, which follows directly afterward. It spans 3 days, with a two-day break before starting the 3-day OSTEO 2 course. Taking both courses together is an intensive journey that requires a deep level of commitment. It’s perfectly fine to approach them one at a time and take your own path to mastering these techniques.

Prerequisites

Attending IET CranioSacral Techniques course is required prior to enrolling in this course.

Want to take your training to the next level?

Become a CERTIFIED Equine Osteopathic Practitioner

Students seeking certification that are on a fast pathway to becoming elite equine practitioners by becoming recipients of Tom Mayes’ decades of training, refined techniques and methodologies.

Certification provides the Equine Practitioner a career path to professionalism. Training students to define and address problematic conditions in horses and providing balance to the overall body.

ADDITIONAL COURSES