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necological cases. From my perspective, I would rather describe acupuncture as complementary medicine than alternative, because I use it alongside my veterinary diagnoses in many cases. It’ s a form of Chinese medicine that can only be practiced by veterinarians. For example, I use acupuncture on mares who are blocked during their heat cycles or who reject their foals, and I get very good results. I also trained in hirudotherapy, which involves applying leeches. This method is widely used in Germany and has long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects due to the leech’ s saliva.
G. How do you explain the growing use of these practices for equine athletes?
A. N. We’ re increasingly confronted with animal welfare concerns, as shown by the # Raceandcare movement, and these techniques are entirely in line with that trend. I also feel that professionals in the industry are seeking more natural and less invasive treatments where possible. Also, when the response to a veterinary treatment falls short of expectations, using an alternative therapeutic method can be beneficial. The demand for performance is greater than ever and, just like human athletes who are supported by a doctor, a physiotherapist, a masseur, etc., horses need to be monitored and supported by an entire team in order to perform the required physical effort. It’ s both a matter of well-being and performance, where every detail matters.
G. What are the benefits of these various practices?
A. N. The benefits are numerous and highly dependent on the therapist. Everyone should build a team of therapists they trust, in agreement with their veterinarian, to address each aspect of the horse’ s condition in a comprehensive way. From my point of view, and with the practices I use, they allow me to complement my treatments, sometimes reduce the use of medications, and are fully integrated into my daily practice. Depending on the conditions being treated, I recommend certain practices to my clients.
G. How do you intervene with different profiles of horses?
A. N. I conduct a full assessment of the horse, including imagery or prior veterinary diagnoses, and depending on the issues, I focus more on one system or another. I also include, in consultation with the treating veterinarian, other types of treatments such as hirudotherapy, certain types of mesotherapy, phytotherapy, etc., which can offer a greater benefit compared to conventional veterinary treatments that may already have been tried with unsatisfactory results. Each horse is treated according to its condition— in a very targeted way for a gy- necological consultation, for example, or more generally in the case of a yearling or a horse in training.
G. What are your recommendations for best practices between veterinary and alternative medicine?
A. N. In my opinion, every professional should surround themselves with a care team they trust and, in agreement with the treating veterinarian, make thoughtful use of these alternative medicines. Each therapy has a targeted action, and it’ s important to coordinate them wisely to meet both performance and animal welfare goals.
G. Do you have a“ grandmother’ s remedy” to share with us?
A. N. For both humans and horses: detox your liver! It’ s a vital organ for the body’ s balance, with over 300 essential functions, acting as a cornerstone of the organism.
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