When most people hear "equine craniosacral therapy," they picture the horse’s cranium (their head). While the cranium is certainly a cornerstone of craniosacral work, we can’t forget the remainder of the craniosacral system, which includes the spine and central nervous system, the sacrum, pelvis, and tail, and the surrounding tissues and fluids. The “sacral end” of craniosacral therapy tends to be overlooked and underestimated in general by those who aren’t familiar with this type of therapy.
The hind end of the horse is a complex system of support, strength, movement, and kinetic energy. Addressing the sacral end of the craniosacral system creates profound changes not only in the horse’s body and movement, but also in their nervous system and behaviour. Basic knowledge of some of the key areas in the hindquarters that we address in horses as craniosacral therapists can help you to understand why it creates such profound shifts throughout the entire body.
Kaiti Elliott, Certified Equine Craniosacral Therapist, addressing the lumbosacral joint.
The Sacrum
The horse's sacrum is a bone (consisting of several fused vertebrae) located at the base of the spine, between the lumbar vertebrae (lower back) and the tail. It forms the foundation of the pelvis, connecting the spine to the hind limbs.
This structure is crucial for both mobility and stability. The sacrum, along with neighbouring structures, helps to absorb and distribute the forces generated by the horse's movements, allowing for efficient locomotion, and plays a role in the horse's overall posture and balance. Restrictions in the sacrum lead to a ripple effect of compensation patterns, uneven gaits, muscle tension, and even nervous system imbalances.
The Lumbosacral Joint
The lumbosacral joint is where the lumbar spine meets the sacrum, and is a major joint in the horse’s body. This is where energy generated by the hindquarters gets transferred forward through the spine and creates flexion during collection, jumping, and simply stepping under the body with the hind limbs.
The lumbosacral joint in horses is prone to strain or injury, often due to repetitive motion, improper training, or trauma. Restrictions here can affect propulsion, flexibility, overall posture, and can create pain and discomfort throughout the spine and pelvis. In craniosacral work, supporting this junction can restore movement and fluidity through the entire back and hindquarters.
The Sacroiliac Joints
The sacroiliac joints, or SI joints, connect the sacrum to the ilium (the large wing-like bones of the pelvis). These joints are essential for transferring weight between the spine and the hind limbs. While they’re not highly mobile, they are crucial for shock absorption and stability during movement. Tension or asymmetry in the SI joints can lead to compensatory patterns, asymmetrical movement, stiffness and lameness, and chronic discomfort. Addressing the SIJs in craniosacral therapy is important for overall pelvic and spinal health, as well as improving gait and balance.
The Dural Tube
One of the key structures of the craniosacral system is the dural tube, which is a protective membrane that encases the spinal cord and connects the cranium to the sacrum. This tube is filled with cerebrospinal fluid that flows rhythmically throughout the craniosacral system, providing nourishment and signaling the nervous system.
When the sacrum is restricted, it can traction this dural membrane and impact the vitality of the craniosacral system, as well as cause decreased mobility and discomfort in the spine. That’s why a horse with dysfunctions in the cranium or cervical spine might also show dysfunction in the sacrum and pelvis, or vice versa. Working with one end supports the other, as they are intrinsically connected through the dural tube and many other fascial and nervous system connections.
The Pelvic Ligaments
Pelvic ligaments like the sacrosciatic, sacroiliac, and sacrotuberous ligaments create a fascial web that stabilizes the pelvis and connects it to the rest of the body. They also help to create pathways and protection for important peripheral nerves in the hindquarters, such as the sciatic nerve.
These structures can hold onto tension from slips, falls, or repetitive strain, even long after the original incident. Craniosacral work is especially effective at influencing the fascia, which is why it can be so impactful in this region. By encouraging fluid movement and balanced tension in these ligaments, we work to restore integrity to the entire pelvic structure.
The Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor is made up of muscles and connective tissues that support the organs of digestion and reproduction, and contribute to postural stability. It also plays a role in breathing, digestion, and elimination. In stressed, sore, or dysregulated horses, the pelvic floor can become hypertonic (over-contracted), leading to overall stiffness and anxiety, and affecting all of those aforementioned systems (including respiration and digestion). Myofascial and craniosacral work in this area, particularly involving the pelvic and thoracic diaphragms, encourages softness and release not just physically, but emotionally as well.
The Acetabulum
The acetabulum is the concave socket of the pelvis that houses the head of the femur, forming the hip joint. While the acetabulum is deep in the horse’s body under large muscles, it can still be influenced through craniosacral therapy, especially when the therapist has an understanding of the pelvic bones that make up the structure of the acetabulum. Supporting this area creates alignment and freedom in the hip joints, increasing range of motion and decreasing discomfort in movement.
The Tail
The horse's tail is made up primarily of muscles, tendons, and vertebrae (the tailbone). The tail plays an important role in helping the horse to maintain balance. As the horse moves, the tail helps to counterbalance the horse’s body and supports its overall stability. Fascial connections between the tail and the pelvis and spine allows for tail work to influence the rest of the body in profound ways.
The tail is a key tool for non-verbal communication in horses. It is often expressive, but can also convey subtle behavioral cues, and signal tension and anxiety in the rest of the body based on its resting tone and mobility.
Kaiti Elliott, Certified Equine Craniosacral Therapist, assessing the sacrum and lumbar spine.
You may notice that equine craniosacral therapists begin their sessions with gentle listening, often by simply cupping the sacrum. This might look subtle, but it’s incredibly powerful, and takes time and experience to hone the skill. By listening to the amplitude and rhythm of the fluid in the craniosacral system, we can detect areas of greatest restriction and support the horse in releasing tension held deep in the nervous system.
Most horses find craniosacral work to be deeply relaxing, once they have developed trust and a sense of autonomy working with their equine craniosacral therapist. If a horse is particularly reactive to touch on the cranium or at the pelvis, it could be a sign of deeper restrictions or past trauma. In those cases, working gently and with patience is key. Less is more with craniosacral work.
The pelvis is a vital part of the craniosacral system and the overall health of the nervous system; one that deserves as much attention as the poll or jaw. In craniosacral therapy, it serves as both anchor and amplifier, grounding the horse while allowing the rest of the body to realign and release. That being said, the effectiveness of equine craniosacral therapy lies in its holistic nature. We don’t treat the body as a collection of separate parts, but as one interconnected system. It is a foundation that craniosacral therapy shares with osteopathy, from which it was originally developed. This osteopathic approach often leads to more effective and lasting positive change, individually tailored to the needs of each horse.
You can learn more about Equine Craniosacral Therapy by reading my FAQ.
If you’re located on Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland and think that your horse could benefit from this approach, please reach out about appointment availability. I also offer online mentorship to equine therapy professionals and students.
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