How to Use Acupuncture on Horses

Visit the website for the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) to locate a certified equine acupuncturist. It is never a good idea to use acupuncture on a horse without close supervision, especially if you are not a veterinarian.

Determine which areas of the horse seem to be indicating a problem. Even if you don't know what is causing it, you should be able to tell if the back left hock is stiff, or if the spine seems sensitive. This is important information to give the acupuncturist, and will save you money during diagnosis.

Stand with the horse on a flat, solid surface, such as a concrete aisleway. This is the best surface for using acupuncture on a horse, and will help to eliminate problems that might otherwise be caused by uneven ground.

Check the affected areas for obvious signs of illness or injury. Heat, swelling, lacerations, bruises, tenderness and concavities should be identified visually before you use acupuncture. If any of these are present, a veterinarian might need to look at the horse before you pursue acupuncture.

Insert needles into the pressure points surrounding the affected area. These are usually located in muscles that surround bone, so it is important that you do this only with the supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. If you hit a nerve or a bone, you could cause serious injury.

Use acupuncture to drain areas of excess fluid, such as abscesses and boils. This can relieve significant tension and allow the horse to heal naturally, without significant drugs or surgery.

Walk the horse several laps around the barn after administering acupuncture and look for changes in movement and posture. If you don't see any significant improvement, attempt acupuncture again, this time using different pressure points.