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The
5 elements
The
5 elements is a tool use by the shiatsu practitioner which
helps them to understand a little about your horse's personality,
physical characteristics and is used to help establish what
type of shiatsu could benefit your horse by looking at the
horse as a 'whole' and addressing energy imbalances in order
to maintain balances in body, spirit and mind.
The
Chinese believe that the entire universe is composed by these
five elements. Everything is built out of a combination of
the five elements, but there is always one element that dominates.The
theory of the 5 elements looks at all 'symptoms' in nature
and divides them into 5 tendencies. i.e.
5 kinds of energy. The meridians mentioned before
all have energy with associations to one of the 5 elements.
T
These
elements are: earth, metal, water, wood and fire.
Typically
horses will be dominant in one of the elements. Think of this
being your horse's personality make-up if you like. Symptoms
of weakness/tendencies or bahaviorial characteristics may
relate to imbalances in the other elements. Shiatsu aims to
address this and restore balance
METAL
Metal
horses are best described as self-contained. They do their
assigned job with skill and efficiency. Typically things like
grooming is just a necessary activity to them.They tolerate
the fuss but they don’t really enjoy it. Metal horses
can be be inflexible, territorial, need their own space, require
boundaries but love new challenges and are quick learners.
They are happy to do their job and go back to the pasture.
These horse hold onto grief, sadness, can be impulsive or
stubborn, like and orderly life and need to be fairly treated
When
stressed or unhappy they tend to become sullen and withdrawn.
They require respect but not adulation.
Their
weak spot is the lung and large intestine. COPD and other
allergic problems are common with these horse. Because of
the connection to the large intestine constipation and impaction
colics are common also.
WOOD
These
horses typically free moving, energetic, muscular with no
fat and sinewy. Often they tend to have runny eyes. Wood horses
have a strong sense of purpose, are happy, brave and trustworthy
and mentally flexible. They can can be over-trusting and competitive.
When in balance these horses are extremely strong and athletic.
They absolutely love to work and they want
to win! Patience is not this horse’s talent. They easily
become bored and must be challenged with new activity. Training
routines that involve trotting around the arena in circles
for prolonged periods just will not do. Routines need to be
challenging and varied. This horse hates stall confinement
will get bored, tense and angry. You will often notice these
horses kicking the stall walls in frustration. When challenged
they may kick or bite. They are frequently seen “bossing”
the other horses in the field. Their liver is their weak spot.
They tend to have problems with detoxification and can benefit
from a routine detox program. In Chinese theory the liver
feeds the nails, tendons and eyes .When these horses are stressed
or overworked, the tendons are often the first thing to go.
These
horses generally don’t make good children or beginner’s
horses as they are intolerant of heavy hands and improperly
given aids. They can be volatile and require a firm hand .Suitable
careers might include racing and eventing
WATER
Typically
these horse are strong, big boned and and have beautiful coats,
manes & tails, fluid movement and long spines. These horse
are spontaneous, conservative, primitive emotion (fright,
fight or flight), willpower, good stamina, learns easily but
needs reassurance. They can be anxious, observant, solitary
and curious. Often these horses are ruled by fear. You will
often notice these horses staying to the back of their stable
away from noise and activity in the yard. Although physically
quite beautiful, their fear can make them dangerous. An experienced,
confident rider is a must. They need to draw confidence from
the rider because they lack confidence. These horses often
suffer from lower back, stifle and hock pain and have problems
with infertility. One of the main emotions to manifest in
water energy is fear (fight/flight response - horses who are
"spooky").
FIRE
These
horses are often chunky with a small head and quick steps.
They are sociable, easy to train, intelligent, extreme energies
(does really well or very badly), charismatic, can be hyperactive,
sweating, mentally restless, life and the soul of the party.
They live for adulation and attention. They are very sociable
and love to interact with people and other horses. They adore
the ritual of grooming and being fawned over. These horses
can been seen in the yard constantly hanging their heads over
the door, checking out the action to be sure they haven’t
missed anything. They can be excitable and spooky. They are
fast but burn out quickly. Their heart and circulatory system
is their weak spot and tend to suffer from anhydrosis, and
heat exhaustion. They tend to become emotionally grounded
by interaction with people and without that can become very
anxious and violently spooky.
EARTH
These
horse are typically riding schools types. They are chunky,
have big legs, muscular, low foot fall and strong bodies.
They are easy going and generally just happy to alive. These
horses are stable and loyal, grounded, friendly, not particularly
quick movers, have good endurance, need routine, dependent,
worriers, craves food to point of aggression and are good
doers . Earth
horses typical suffer from digestive problems; Colic, ulcers
and diarrhea
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