Japanese Hari

[shark]

Can someone please explain why in Japan they use a type of "therapy" called a hari. It involves bleeding a horse by stabbing it with a needle usually over its pectorals and hindquarters up to 100 times, so you end up with a very bloodied horse. Then they rub salt over it, probably to stop infection, then just to top it off lock em away in a box for 5 days. I have asked and all I get is they have bad blood, but this hasn't satisfied my curiosity. It apparently comes from China. I know in Australia that they bleed horses by poring their blood into a bucket, but this hari treatment seems a bit extreme. Cheers in advance.

[SlimChance]

thats what i do to my roast beef before i wack it in the oven!

[breezin']

Shark,
Your question has awakened my curiousity as this practice (it's called "sasabari." when Japanese refer just to hari it's acupuncture, although the instrument is the same I think) is horrible. I don't care if it is effective physically. The damage done mentally to a horse is horrific. It is traumatic. I have seen it done on racehorses and I have even seen it done on a Belgian showjumper. I left that riding club in tears. I will try to look into the medical explanation of why this is done but I really am reluctant to believe there is any necessity for it.
[ May 08, 2002: Message edited by: breezin' ]