This document discusses understanding horse behavior using traditional Chinese veterinary medicine and the five elements theory. It provides an overview of the five modalities in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine - acupuncture, herbal therapy, tui na (massage), food therapy, and qi gong. It then describes the five elements - fire, earth, metal, water, and wood - and how they relate to horse personalities, organs, and imbalances. Charts are included showing how the different elements support and control each other to help develop training plans tailored to the horse and rider's dominant elements.

1. Understanding Horse Behavior with
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Wendy Ying, DVM, MS, TCVMP

2. Wendy Ying, DVM, MS, TCVMP
5 Elements for Animals
Holistic Veterinary House Calls
Serving the Suncoast of Florida
The Driving Radio Show Podcast on
The Horse Radio Network
Rider, Driver & Breeder of horses and
ponies

3. Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
5 Modalities to a Balanced Life
Herbal, Acupuncture, Tui Na, Food Therapy, Qi Gong

4. Acupuncture
Stimulate the body’s energy to
release chemical messengers
to bring about a change at the
cellular level.
Histamine release - Dei Qi
Response
Redness - Wheal

5. Herbal
Therapy
Plants
minerals
animal products
processed and packaged
for topical, oral or injectable
application

6. Tui Na
Similar to myofascial release
with gentle chiropractic moves
Massage follows meridians
joint range of motion
Stretching Relaxation
Body Symmetry

7. Food
Therapy
Energy of Foods
Hot Cold Neutral
Yin and Yang
Blood and Qi
Anhidrosis-summer heat
Sweet itch-Blood deficiency

8. Qi Gong
Similar to Tai chi
Meditation and body
movements for self healing
For animals :
“ Don’t Ride/Drive Angry ”
Centered Riding/Driving
“..day in nature” Emil Jung

9. Holistic Treatment
of
Body & Mind
Constitution
History
Discipline
Housing
Relationships
Season

10. 5 Element Theory
Master Blueprint
of interactions of our
bodies with the
environment
& other individuals

11. Elements
Constitution = Personality
Meridians and Organs
Balance between Elements
Support or Control
5 Element theory organizes
complex dynamics into
patterns to give guidelines
for treatment

12. Fire The Diva
Energetic, Shines, Intelligent
Loving, 1st to gate
Organ : Heart & Vessels
Mind(Shen)
An Unbalanced Fire :
Anxious, Spooky, Irrational
Shen Disturbance
Anhidrosis
“Bleeders”

13. Earth The Rock
Patient, thoughtful, nurturing
Can turn out with any horse
Organ : Spleen,Stomach Mouth, GI,
Muscles
Unbalanced Earth
Stubborn, Lazy
Qi Deficiency
Metabolic Disease
Ulcers

14. Metal the School Master
Rigid, Organized, Aloof
Dislikes Change
Organ : Lungs, Large Intestine
Nose and Skin
Unbalanced Metal
Grief, Unwilling to Work
Allergies
Hind Gut Ulcers

15. Water The Organizer
Intelligent Determined
Strong Willpower and Endurance
Lowest ranking in herd
Organ : Kidney, Bladder
Bones, Nerves, Repro Organs
Unbalanced Water
Fearful, Indecisive, Long Memory of
Negative Episodes
Arthritis, Jing Deficiency

16. Wood The General
Strong, Athletic, Competitive
Dominant Herd leader
Organs ; Liver, Gallbladder
Tendon, eyes, hoof
Unbalanced Wood
Angry, Irritable, Dominant
Tendon Weakness
Cracked Hooves
Eye Problems

17. Interactions
Mom Supports the
Child
Grandparent
Controls
the Grandchild

18. Fire The Diva
Supported by Wood (General)
Dominant Leader
Direct the Energy of the Fire
Help the Fire Shine Bright
Controlled by the Water (Organizer)
Plan ahead to avoid fueling the Fire
Small Positive Steps to Goal
Set Fire up for success
Positive reinforcement
Ignore vs Punishment
High Energy
Loves to be loved
Axious
Spooky
Irrational

19. Earth The Rock
Supported by Fire (Diva)
Energetic, Fun Loving
Inspire the Earth
Makes Work Feel like Play
Controlled by the Wood (General)
Strength to Get Earth Moving
Can overcontrol
Food Motivated
If Earth feels training is unfair, they
will shut down
Nurturing
Patient
Internal Worry
Lacks Energy
Stubborn

20. Metal the School Master
Supported by Earth (Rock)
Nurturing, Peacemaker
Will go along with Metal’s rules
Controlled by the Fire (Diva)
Energy & Enthusiasm of Fire brings
out the Brilliance of Metal
Stick to a Routine Training,
Grooming and in the Stable
Enthusiastic Praise
Organized
Follows Rules
Sadness
Lacks Brilliance
Doesn’t like Change

21. Water the Organizer
Supported by Metal (School Master)
Loves Rules
Routine = No Surprises
Solid Partner in Pair
Controlled by the Earth (Rock)
Nurturing, Calming
“ Millenial Training “
Train with a Metal or Earth Horse
Be Patient if you are a Wood or Fire
working with a Water
Intelligent
Determined
Indecisive
Fearful
Long Memory

22. Wood the General
Supported by Water (Organizer)
Intelligent and Determined
Outsmarts Wood without Force
Does not engage in arguments
Controlled by the Metal (School
Master)
Forces Wood to stick to Routine
Ignore vs Punishment
Trainer needs to be Alpha
Woods like to Work
Athletic
Competitive
Irritable
Angry
Dominant

23. Living in Harmony
5 Elements make up the Whole
One Element is Dominant = Constitution
External Factors can Influence but not Change our Constitution
External Factors
Environment
Relationships
Life Stage
Jing
Over Control by Grandparent
Lack of Support by Parent

24. Holistic Training
Determine Your Dominant Element
Determine Your Horse’s Element
Use the 5 Elements Chart to Develop a Training Plan that
Best Suits your Relationship
Other Horses with a Supporting or Controlling Influence Can
Assist your Training
Be Flexible and Enjoy the Journey

25. Questions ?