Which Element is Your Horse
I wanted to share some of my experience with Chinese Medicine and horses. I’ve learned some interesting things about identifying our horses Element type or types (they can be
combined).
These excerpts are taken from articles in Equine Wellness Magazine by Susan Tenney CMT.
Five people lead their horses out to the pasture in the early morning sun. The first horse to the gate pulls on the line, impatient to have his morning buck after being cooped up in the stall all night. The second pushes her bulky body through the gate and
promptly begins to graze, ignoring the third who nips at her playfully, eager to frolic. The fourth quietly waits his turn as if absorbed in his own thoughts. The last horse moves slowly due to her 25 years but is aware of the herd’s every movement and leads it with quiet authority. Which horse sounds like yours?
Each horse embodies common physical and
behavioral characteristics of the Five Elements of Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM). By understanding how Five Element patterns relate to your horse, you can learn how to keep your horse healthy and happy on a deep, lasting level.
Ancient elements, modern horses
Thousands of years ago, CCM practitioners recognized that the body’s energy regularly cycles through five distinct natural phases, often called the Five Elements. They saw how each influenced the body’s organ functions, emotional stability and core body health. When a patient’s Five Elements were healthy and balanced, he glowed with vitality; when they were weak or unbalanced, he developed behavioral issues and physical ailments. These early practitioners
developed an entire system of assessment and treatment based on the Five Elements.
This model has been practiced and refined over centuries and is highly effective for today’s animals, including horses. By applying the basics of Five Element theory, you can ease common acute health conditions like lameness or colic. You can also improve long standing issues,
from chronic coughing and skin problems to dangerous aggression and debilitating fearfulness. The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
The Wood horse is dominant and a herd leader. He is confident, dynamic, and athletic. He needs clear boundaries as he will constantly test who is the boss. He is a fast learner, and needs to keep stimulated.
He benefits from lots of turn out. He can be easily offended and may turn grumpy or impatient. The Wood horse works best for a strong and fair trainer.
Read the entire blog here
