Legalities of being an Equine Osteopath

Osteopath is a legally protected title in the UK, and as I am not qualified as a human Osteo, I am not permitted to use the word. In Europe the law is different and my 3.5year studies at The Vluggen permit me to call myself an Equine Osteopath. My inclusion on the International Register of Equine Osteopaths entitles me to the letters EDO after my name. IREO register page.

In the UK it is required to take a human osteopathy course, register with the General Osteopathy Council and then do a top up course to be able to treat horses. I chose to study at the Vluggen because there they teach all three pillars of Osteopathy - the Craniosacral, the Visceral and the better known skeletal work. This appealed to my whole horse thinking brain and fitted well with my previous training in craniosacral therapy.

The physiotherapy protected title has been through a similar issue and they opted to allow the use of "Veterinary" or "Equine" in front of Physiotherapist and that be ok for people like me who are animal trained but making no claims to work on people.

Maybe the rules will change one day, but for now I am a graduate of one of the best Equine Osteopathy schools in the world, and fully insured for all the therapies I offer including Cranio Sacral, Lazaris Nerve Release and Equine Touch.

Just call me Suz!