Alvaro Back Vet Ltd

31/08/2026

Craniosacral Technique – restoring facial balance 🐴

One of the techniques I regularly incorporate into my daily work is Craniosacral Therapy.

In this Welsh pony, there was a very noticeable asymmetry of the muzzle, particularly at the level of the nostrils, which were clearly uneven before treatment.

Using gentle craniosacral techniques, I worked through the structures of the head and cranial system with the aim of releasing restrictions and restoring a more balanced alignment.

The difference immediately after treatment was quite striking — the nostrils became much more symmetrical and the whole muzzle appeared noticeably more balanced.

Sometimes very subtle techniques can produce very visible changes.

Photos: before and immediately after treatment.

25/08/2026

🇬🇧 ENGLISH

48 hours of evolution.

These photographs were taken two days apart in a horse presenting with anterior uveitis and secondary corneal oedema.

The first two images were taken during my initial visit. The horse had already been receiving conventional veterinary treatment for some time, and this treatment was continued throughout.

During that visit, I added acupuncture and aqua-hemoacupuncture as complementary therapies.

The following two photographs were taken just 48 hours later.

Although the lighting and angle are not exactly the same, there appears to be a noticeable reduction in corneal oedema and opacity, with improved transparency of the cornea.

Of course, photographs alone cannot establish a causal relationship or attribute the improvement exclusively to acupuncture, particularly as the conventional treatment was continued throughout.

Nevertheless, I found the evolution over such a short period very interesting and worth sharing as an example of how acupuncture may be incorporated as a complementary therapy within an integrative veterinary approach.

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🇪🇸 ESPAÑOL

48 horas de evolución.

Estas fotografías fueron tomadas con dos días de diferencia en un caballo que presentaba uveítis anterior con edema corneal secundario.

Las dos primeras imágenes corresponden al momento de mi primera visita. El caballo llevaba ya algún tiempo recibiendo tratamiento veterinario convencional, que se mantuvo durante todo el proceso.

Durante esa visita añadí acupuntura y aqua-hemoacupuntura como terapias complementarias.

Las dos fotografías siguientes fueron tomadas solamente 48 horas después.

Aunque las condiciones de luz y el ángulo no son exactamente iguales, parece apreciarse una reducción del edema y de la opacidad corneal, con una mayor transparencia de la córnea.

Evidentemente, las fotografías por sí solas no permiten establecer una relación causal ni atribuir la mejoría exclusivamente a la acupuntura, especialmente porque el tratamiento convencional se mantuvo en todo momento.

Sin embargo, me pareció una evolución muy interesante en un periodo de tiempo tan corto y digna de compartir como ejemplo de cómo la acupuntura puede incorporarse como terapia complementaria dentro de un enfoque veterinario integrativo.

16/08/2026

ENGLISH 🇬🇧

Last week, in the middle of the heatwave on the Costa del Sol, I had the pleasure of visiting the exclusive Equestrian Club at La Zagaleta, near Marbella.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to treat five horses, and one thing particularly caught my attention: the design of the stables.

The barns have high, sloping roofs with large openings at the top that provide excellent natural ventilation. While outdoor temperatures were reaching 36–38°C, inside the stables the temperature remained around 27-28°C. A remarkable difference and a great example of how good stable design can contribute to equine comfort and welfare.

The Equestrian Club is not exclusively for residents of La Zagaleta. Horse owners from outside the estate can also keep their horses there, with José Antonio Trigo providing dressage training and coaching.

José Antonio is an excellent rider with great experience, sensitivity and understanding of horses, something that is clearly reflected both in his training and in the way the horses are cared for.

It was a very enjoyable visit, with some lovely horses and outstanding facilities — particularly impressive during such exceptionally hot weather.

🐴 For anyone interested in keeping or training their horse at the Equestrian Club, further information is available through La Zagaleta: 00 34 607 142 290

🐴☀️🌿

ESPAÑOL 🇪🇸

La semana pasada, en plena ola de calor en la Costa del Sol, tuve el placer de visitar el exclusivo Club Hípico de La Zagaleta, cerca de Marbella.

Durante mi visita tuve la oportunidad de tratar a cinco caballos, y hubo algo que me llamó especialmente la atención: el diseño de las cuadras.

Los establos cuentan con techos altos e inclinados y grandes aberturas en la parte superior que permiten una excelente ventilación natural. Mientras en el exterior alcanzábamos temperaturas de 36–38 ºC, dentro de las cuadras la temperatura se mantenía alrededor de 27–28ºC. Una diferencia realmente notable y un magnífico ejemplo de cómo un buen diseño puede contribuir al confort y bienestar de los caballos.

El Club Hípico no está destinado exclusivamente a los residentes de La Zagaleta. Propietarios de fuera de la urbanización también pueden alojar allí sus caballos, contando además con José Antonio Trigo como entrenador de doma clásica.

José Antonio es un excelente jinete, con una gran experiencia, sensibilidad y conocimiento del caballo, algo que se aprecia claramente tanto en su forma de entrenarlos como en el cuidado que reciben.

Fue una visita muy agradable, con unos caballos estupendos y unas instalaciones magníficas, especialmente impresionantes en unos días de temperaturas tan elevadas.

🐴 Para quienes estén interesados en alojar o entrenar sus caballos en el Club Hípico, pueden solicitar más información a través de La Zagaleta: 00 34 607 142 290

🐴☀️🌿

Álvaro Vela Fernández
Veterinary Surgeon | Animal Chiropractor | Equine Acupuncturist
Álvaro Back Vet Ltd

06/07/2026

Morning shower 🚿

06/07/2026

30/06/2026

BUSY JUNE !
What a record-breaking day! 390 miles, 8.5 hours of driving; 6 horses treated with chiropractic care—3 of which were diagnosed via reflex points with sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain and treated with acupuncture.
Back at home now, tomorrow more

25/03/2026

25/03/2026

Hind SL branch pain diagnosed and treated with acupuncture

25/01/2026

WINTER SUNDAYS THOUGHTS.

In my daily practice, I see many horses that are routinely medicated in various joints. Many of these horses exhibit pain or discomfort in these joints, but they become completely pain-free after adjustment, and in many of these cases, they don't need further injections as the cause of the pain was simply the joint misalignment. I'm a veterinarian and I'm supportive of cortisone and other medications, but I believe some things can be improved. The obsession with images and the excessive emphasis placed on them sometimes hinders the horse's healing. -As diagnostic methods for these local problems, I primarily combine observation, palpation, scanning acupuncture reflex points, temporary hoof pads, and acupuncture (needles or laser). To delve deeper and understand why that imbalance occurred, things get more complex and involve evaluating the spine, hooves, teeth, digestive system, saddle fit, time of year, diet, handling, discipline, rider, dominant neurological pattern, and many other considerations—what we call a holistic approach to the problem.
-As treatment methods, I use chiropractic adjustments as my primary tool; tensegrity balance therapy (this one is so extensive and includes all fascial techniques and many others); acupuncture (wow!); cranial sacral therapy (so good!); therapeutic shoeing, taking into account the opinions of the farriers and, finally, many conversations with the owners to help them to do the “home work“ properly.
I help hundreds of horses every year by using these techniques.