Welcome to your clinical training in equine osteopathy.

To begin, go through the clinical guidelines PDF below to ensure you get the most out of your clinical experience. We recommend you stay in contact with your course instructor and ask any outstanding questions you might have before moving on to the next unit.



Unit 1 outline:

  • Lesson 1: introduction to visual assessment
  • Lesson 2: Assessment of the walk
  • Lesson 3: Assessment of the walk continued
  • Lesson 4: Assessment of the trot
  • Lesson 5: Concluding remarks
  • Lesson 6: A real time visual assessment demonstration.

After reviewing Professor McGregor's tutorial videos and making thorough notes, begin practicing your assessment skills. It will be helpful to assess a number of horses and then return to the tutorial videos to pick up any final tips you may have missed the first time around. 

Unit Assessment: Once you are confident in your skills, assess 10 horses and record your observations. You will find further instructions in the Assessment Upload tab.








Unit 2 outline:

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to palpation
  • Lesson 2: Palpation of the forelimb
  • Lesson 3: Palpation of the hindlimb
  • Lesson 4: Palpation of the neck
  • Lesson 5: Palpation of the back and ribs

After reviewing Professor McGregor's tutorial videos and making thorough notes, begin practicing your palpation skills using the self assessment form provided. It will be helpful to palpate a number of horses. You will quickly be able to tell what is normal and what is not for different structures and tissues.

Unit Assessment: Once you are confident in your skills, palpate 10 horses and record your observations. You will find further instructions in the Assessment Upload tab.



You will now begin learning assessment and treatment of joints and their associated musculature using OAB technique. You are currently in unit 3: OAB treatment of the forelimb.  Before you begin, watch the introduction to articulation video in the intro tab.






Unit 3

  • Handling: How to approach and pick up the forelimb safely
  • Lesson 1: OAB of the pastern
  • Lesson 2: OAB of the fetlock
  • Lesson 3: OAB of the knee
  • Lesson 4: OAB of the elbow
  • Lesson 5: OAB of the shoulder joint and treatment of the thoracic sling
  • Lesson 6: Full OAB of the forelimb

Unit Assessment: You are required to complete a written examination and produce a single treatment video applying OAB to each joint of the forelimb. You will find further instruction in the Assessment Upload tab.








Unit 4

  • Handling: How to approach and pick up the hindlimb safely
  • Lesson 1: More on general anatomy and handling of the hindlimb
  • Lesson 2: OAB of the pastern
  • Lesson 3: OAB of the plantar structures of the pastern and the fetlock
  • Lesson 4: OAB of the hock
  • Lesson 5: OAB of the stifle
  • Lesson 6: OAB of the hip
  • Lesson 7: Full OAB of the hindlimb

Unit Assessment: You are required to complete a written examination and produce a single treatment video applying OAB to each joint of the hindlimb. You will find further instruction in the Assessment Upload tab.








Unit 5

  • Lesson 1: Spinal biomechanics, overview of structures in the neck effected by OAB treatment, and proper positioning.
  • Lesson 2: OAB of the neck (AO joint, C1-C2 joint, lower cervical joints)
  • Lesson 3: OAB of the neck done on a large horse
  • Lesson 4: Pain through the poll and the difference between passive and active stretching.

Unit Assessment: You are required to complete a written examination and produce a single treatment video applying OAB to each joint of the neck. You will find further instruction in the Assessment Upload tab.








Unit 6

  • Lesson 1: Spinal biomechanics
  • Lesson 2: palpation and OAB assessment of the back
  • Lesson 3: palpation, OAB treatment of the thoracic region and ribs. Rib rocking and tail hold techniques.
  • Lesson 4: OAB of the back - hind leg lifting technique
  • Lesson 5: OAB of the back for a large horse
  • Lesson 6: Discussion on treatment of the pelvis

Unit Assessment: You are required to complete a written examination and produce a single treatment video applying OAB to each joint of the back. You will find further instruction in the Assessment Upload tab.








Unit 7 - Lesion Patterns

Lesson 1: Lesion Pattern #1 explained
Lesson 2: Acquired scoliosis - the one sided horse
Lesson 3: Lesion Pattern #1 diagnosis and treatment
Lesson 4: Lesion Pattern #2 explained
Lesson 5: Lesion Pattern #2 diagnosis
Lesson 6: Lesion Pattern #2 treatment
Lesson 7: Diagnosis of both patterns on one horse

Assessment: video upload


This final unit is meant to prepare you for your final assessment. This unit is viewing only, meaning there are no related assessments. Here you will find live video footage of clinical practice produced by Professor McGregor that demonstrate the flow of a normal treatment. You are encouraged to make notes, take from them what comes naturally to you, and apply what you see in your own clinical practice.

Congratulations! You have made it to your final assessment for your diploma program. Well done!

Click on the link above to proceed to the Assessment Guidelines.