The word osteopathy is derived from the Greek – “os” stands for “bones”, “pathos” for ailment. The basics of osteopathy were understood in antiquity. In the 19th century the American doctor Dr. Andrew Taylor Still developed it as an independent therapy (see principles). Today osteopathy is recognized world wide as a form of manual medicine.

Osteopathy understands the body as a unit with all the structures and functions inter-linked. Osteopaths therefore compare the body to a clock mechanism, in which one small wheel interacts with another. If one place is disturbed, the entire organism can be affected. In the horse, for example, an obstruction of the first cervical vertebra can lead to problems in the front tarsal.

Osteopathy is a manual treatment technique. The therapist only uses her/his hands and thus feels movement restrictions. These can have been created through accidents, falls, joint obstructions, but also as a consequence of scars from muscle reduction, muscle tension, scars, ties or joint adhesion. With the help of her/his hands the therapist tries to solve these obstructions.

The postural and movement system is closely interconnected with all the important function systems of the body. Therefore osteopathic treatment can also effect the respiration, heart function, metabolism and psyche.

Originally osteopathy was developed on humans for humans. From the 1970s horses were also treated by this method; the anatomy of the human being, the interaction of the musculature, the joints, connections and sinews is similar to that of the horse. In Germany, Beatrix Schulte Wien introduced and institutionalized horse osteopathy for the first time by the establishment of the DIPO. Horse osteotherapists have been trained here since 1997. The following link explains why we use the term “horse osteopath” instead of “horse osteotherapist”.