Equi-Bow Canada™

PROVIDING, PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING EXCELLENCE IN EQUINE CARE

Home | About Equi-Bow Canada | Equi-Bow Practitioners Program | Certification Requirements | Class Schedule
Horse Owners Program | Other Courses of Interest | Contact Us

What are people saying about Equi-Bow and human bowen?

(January 2009)

I first contacted Lorna Butler on the advice of a good friend. I had a fall on my left side in May 2008 but did not feel any pain until 5 days later. My right side became very sore, including my ankle, calf muscle, hip and lower back. I went to two different doctors for some relief but afer eight visits I was not getting better. I contacted Lorna and she agreed to see me. In no time I was able to move around without too much difficulty and with each session I inproved a little more. Today I am pain free. I am 84 years old but can get around quite well. I would recommend Lorna's treatment to any one in pain.

Lila , markham, ON

It is marvelous to see Shekinah transform before our very eyes!

Deb Swain, Oakville, ON

A number of years ago I survived a life threatening truck accident that caused severe head and jaw trauma. Working over time with Cheryl doing CranioSacral and bowen therapies, I am now free from neck and shoulder pain, debilitating tennis elbow pain, numb hands and severe acid reflux problems. My job is very physically demanding and at times I get hurt by horses but I find Bowen and CranioSacral therapies keep me functioning well.

James Simpson, Farrier Guelph, Ontario  

"Bowen therapy appears to be a positive complimentary therapy for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions (ie: osteoarthritis/hip dysplasia) in dogs and horses under both acute and chronic circumstances." 

K. H. Bentley DVM. R.Hom Guelph, Ontario  

"Russell, my 16 yr old Lakeland terrier, was stiff and very rigid in his legs. Most passersby wondered why he had such a funny walk. The bowen treatments have helped him to walk more ‘squarely’; his legs no longer cross over one another in the front and stand apart in the rear. Russell responded well to the treatments and to Cheryl, and seemed to know that she was helping him.

While he is still an ‘old dog walking’, he is more sure on his feet and generally walks with his legs in the their correct position. I hope he can keep this flexibility and more relaxed way of walking since it must be so much more enjoyable for him."

Janet T, Guelph (after two bowen treatments)

"I do not normally give out endorsements but have made an exception in this case as Lorna has worked wonders in helping Coco overcome his back problem through numerous bowen treatments.

Coco is a 6 year old Borzoi, who has had a chronic ear problem for most of his life. The problem is such that the vets do not know how to rid him of it. We think that Coco's ear infection affected his balance, causing him to fall down the stairs in the spring of 2006. Coco developed a back problem, which was so severe that he could not walk straight and would list from side to side so badly that he would easily fall over.

A spinal x-ray did not reveal any dislocated disks, but the vets who were consulted noted that he was not able to determine where his hind legs were in proportion to the rest of his body, as shown by his listing motion. Furthermore, he was so weak on his hind legs that he had to be helped up and down stairs, to the point where it was safer for me to carry him - 70 pounds and all - up and down the stairs.

Lorna was recommended to me by an old time friend who had Lorna treat her squirrels with good results. We noted that after just the first treatment, Coco was walking noticably better - still weak on his hind legs, but not listing as much. By the third treatment, Coco was 80% better. Also, during the third sesssion, Lorna treated Coco in a manner which drained the ear canal in his bad ear. Coco has not had an ear infection since! I periodically clean the ear as a preventive measure.

Lorna has treated Coco six times in total, and while his hind legs are not as strong as they use to be, he does not list when walking and he confidently goes up and down stairs by himself. He also rarely drags his hind paws, which was a noticeable problem right before Lorna started her treatments.

The treatments did not cause Coco any pain. In fact, he often sleeps during and after treatments.

I cannot emphasize too much the miracle that Lorna has performed. Before the treaments started I was preparing myself for the day when I would have to have Coco euthanized as I did not want him to undergo surgery, as the vets were recommending in lieu of not being able to recommend any other type of therapy. Now Coco is perfectly fine, has good balance, and no ear infection.

I recommend Lorna and her bowen treatments to anyone who has an animal in need and an open mind to try such a treatment."

Tim Del Grande, Newmarket. ON

"This little wallaby was hopping crooked. After one bowen treatment, which he seemed to enjoy, he was hopping along very straight.

He also had severe digestive problems and was being fostered with an experienced zoologist in order to keep him alive if possible. We don't know for sure if the bowen treatments helped with this problem but he did recover against heavy odds and went on to a new zoo home."

Cheryl Gibson, Puslinch, ON

"Our large pony mare came down with acute laminitis and after intensive nursing care, in conjunction with our Veterinarian who I can't say enough good things about, basically needed to grow two new feet. I attended a bowen clinic and decided that she could benefit from it. She went from standing like a classic laminitis case to scratching her ear with her back foot the next day and devouring her feed. It was truly remarkable. I also know of five people who have have bowen treatments, one of them being my husband, with very positive results."

Shelley James, A.H.T. , Guelph, ON

"Quinto and I went out yesterday - what a difference!!!!! He was almost sound!!! We had a great time - even trotting - he let me know when he had enough - I was MOST impressed!!!!"

Cindy Hunt , Grimsby, ON

"I don't believe I can see changes this soon! My horse's hair is shinier and her muscles are softer and plumper looking already!"

(comment made 10 minutes into a first bowen session)

"It is incredible how good my horse looks! Her conformation has totally changed and she is doing work at 18 that she couldn't do at 10! The lymphangitis in my horse's leg is down by half since your last visit!"

A. Dean, Mississauga, ON

"A serious accident in mid winter 2005 resulted in my Palomino Quarter Horse Sonny having a broken pelvis in two places and a torn cruciate ligament. This horse should not have lived through his injury and euthanasia had been recommended.

After nearly 5 months of stall rest, Sonny's progress had leveled off. He presented with severe pelvis asymmetry and was non weight bearing lame on his left hind; he could barely hobble from one side of his stall to another. He was being regularly medicated for pain (banamine, bute, and anafin).

A friend, who was having her cows treated, highly recommended bowen therapy so I decided to give it a try. Although somewhat skeptical at first, there is now little doubt in my mind that bowen therapy has given Sonny a quality of life that nothing else could have done.

Between his own determination and the benefits of the bowen, his quality of life is now very good. He rarely requires pain medication and is ready for the next level in his recovery. He will finally be turned out once again with his herd after nearly two and a half years of separation. He continues to show incredible improvement in his conformation, mobility and gait."

Maureen McHarg, Jerseyville, ON

"Comanche is a 6 year old Appaloosa with chronic colic/loose stools. After trying many things with veterinary guidance and advice, Comanche's painful episodes of colic were still happening once a month or more during the summer. This was reduced to almost nil after starting bowen therapy on a regular basis."

Maureen McHarg, Jerseyville, ON

"I would highly recommend bowen therapy for any horse involved in harness racing. I have two standardbreds that were either aggressive or very agitated while having the girth tightened. I found this improved after two bowen therapy treatments. I also noticed an improvement in gait with my pacer. She became more fluid and relaxed after a bowen treatment."

Maureen McHarg, Jerseyville, ON

"My 18 year old Clydesdale mare Lucky was in foal and in Feb we noticed her becoming very lame in the back. She was checked by a chiropractor, 2 vets, 2 farriers and it was suggested age was a factor and that after she foaled she probably would be fine. In fact 2 weeks after the foal was born she started getting worse. She walked "hot footed" lifting her back feet quickly with no extension. When she moved she looked like she was propelled herself from the front. Her hocks were spread wide and most of her weight was being carried on the front end; she stood completely tucked up and her rib cage was very visible. Her head and neck were dropped to the ground and her breathing was affected. She was unable to neigh and could only give soft whinnies.

Finally our regular farrier confirmed laminitis in both back feet. We had x rays done and the vets suggested euthanasia. The horse and I weren't ready for that.

Simone Usselman-Tod approached me after hearing of the diagnosis and suggested we try a new technique. The results were amazing. Within an hour the mare had relaxed her belly, her ribs were no longer visible and she no longer looked malnourished. Her whole stance changed - her head and neck were held high and proud, her hocks returned to a normal distance apart and she appeared to be standing squarely on all four feet. Her movement no longer looked hindered; there was more extension in her movement, especially in the back - free and deliberate instead of her previous shuffling type propulsion.

Most dramatic was the change in her demeanor. She appeared to be in total relief of pain and discomfort. I called to her out in the paddock "Lucky, how you are doing now?" She lifted her head, stood strong and proud as Clyde's do and answered me with a resounding, loud neigh which told me things were again alright with her world."

Lori Haines, Troy, ON

"Bowen would be my choice of therapy for asthmatic and respiratory problems. My condition began four years ago. My last two asthmatic attacks were treated with Bowen, rather than steroid therapy and I had great results."

M. Heald, Newmarket, ON

"I had a detached retina and was left with limited vision in one eye. Bowen was used and I have regained almost 100% of vision in that eye. This past spring I had a heel spur and again was treated with Bowen. I had wonderful results."

E. Heald, Newmarket, ON

"My horse is 25 years old and his body is showing the wear and tear of the years. An earlier problem with the trimming of his hooves had caused uneven stress on one side of his body. This was exacerbated by my one-sidedness when I ride. Corective shoeing and cranio sacral treatments improved this dramatically but over time he wasn't moving as easily as before. After several Bowen treatments I noticed that he had more energy and it was hard to keep him at a walk when I went out for a hack. In the paddock he capers about with his tail in the air. I'd rather have a 25 year old horse that has the energy of a youngster than the other way around!

Deborah Pal, Toronto, ON

"My name is Valerie Schoenrock and I am an assistant manager at Tim Horton's. After several years in the business, I developed a repetitive work injury in my wrist. I started wearing a wrist support that was noticed by many of our regular customers, and two ladies in particular. Through numerous conversations with these ladies, I learned about a therapy called "Bowen" and after some discussion, I agreed to visit Lorna to try a treatment. Much to my surprise and pleasure, the severe pain I had been experiencing for months decreased considerably! But there is more! On one of my visits, Lorna happened to notice that I had a "crooked" smile (not in a nasty way, but more lopsided). With one treatment my smile straightened out. AMAZING, and pictures as proof!

I shared this experience with my family doctor and she encouraged me to continue going for treatment as she also believes in natural ways of healing!"

Valerie Schoenrock, ON

What is the Equi-Bow technique? | A word from our students | Find a Practitioner