Equine Chiropractic

As a fully qualified McTimoney Chiropractor, eighty per cent of Gill Maybury's animal patients are horses.

Chiropractors must first qualify to treat humans before they can train and qualify to practice this specialist branch of chiropractic therapy.

Equine chiropractic therapy helps to restore and maintain health and performance, working holistically to eliminate the cause and not just the symptoms of a problem.

Problems

Spinal misalignment in horses can result in abnormal nerve function, which can manifest itself via poor or decreased athletic performance, behavioural problems, gait problems or lameness.

Such problems may go undiagnosed or not be corrected by more traditional treatments but may respond to chiropractic care. Symptoms of possible problems that may require chiropractic therapy include:

•	Uneasy/abnormal posture while standing		•	Unlevelness or unevenness of steps
•	Uneven muscle tone		•	Tail carried to one side
•	Discomfort when grooming the back		•	Stiffness on one rein or a disunited canter
•	Sore areas along the back and spine, being cold backed		•	Reluctance to jump or other unexplained deterioration in performance
•	Unusual sensitivity to touch, hollowing the back and evading contact		•	Uncharacteristic behaviour patterns or changes of temperament
•	Reluctance or discomfort while being saddled or mounted		•	Lameness after a fall when alternative causes have been ruled out by a vet

Causes

Spinal misalignment in horses may occur as a result of a wide variety of reasons, such as:

•	Traumas such as falls, stumbles, slips or getting cast
•	Repetitive strain caused by badly fitting tack, poor foot balance/shoeing etc.

Treatments

A prerequisite to any chiropractic treatment being given to an animal is the provision of veterinary approval. As a McTimoney Chiropractor, Gill will insist that such approval is sought and given prior to commencing treatment of the horse. Gill regrets that treatment cannot be provided if such approval is not forthcoming.

Chiropractic treatment is concerned with the musculo-skeletal system and in particular the spine and its relationship with the nervous system. A McTimoney Chiropractor's expertise lies in first evaluating the health and biomechanical function of the horse's spine, then in manipulating the spine and joints of the body to realign the skeletal frame and relieve any associated muscle spasm.

The assessment stage of the treatment begins with a discussion of the horse's health history and current symptoms. This is followed by palpation to discover any muscle spasm or soreness of joints in the spine or pelvis. Passive range of movement is also assessed. The horse's movement is then assessed, including straight line at walk and trot, turning and backing up. Additionally Gill may wish to see the horse being lunged or ridden under saddle. Finally, the horse is further assessed whilst standing square on even ground, allowing Gill to ascertain the muscular balance of the horse. ›››more

Treatments - continued

A horse's spine is a fairly rigid structure and the majority of movement is in the neck and in the lumbar area. The spine is itself a collection of irregular bones known as vertebrae that fit together and work with one another to facilitate movement. The point at which bones meet is called a joint. When joints are taken to the extreme ranges of their movement, the muscles around the joint tighten to prevent further movement, thus providing protection from further injury. Such tightening is often resolved through normal movement but sometimes the muscles can go into spasm and restrict the normal range of movement.

If such misalignments are detected, Gill may determine that chiropractic treatment is appropriate. The treatment usually involves the use of hands to provide rapid and precise manipulations of the problem areas to correct any misalignments and reduce muscle spasm. Gill also may use HWave and laser therapy to enhance and facilitate the manipulation. Such treatment is usually performed in the horse's stable where the animal feels secure and calm.

After treatment, and dependant upon the severity of the injury, horses should be allowed to rest for at least a day or two and/or perhaps have only limited exercise. Gill often recommends exerices to help maintain the improvement and she will happy to advise on a future training plan for your horse. Additional treatments may be required and Gill recommends annual or bi-annual check ups to help maintain optimum health.

Benefits

Many of us will seek chiropractic therapy for our horse once symptoms first appear. However, regular chiropractic care before problems develop is equally important.

As an analogy just think how the tyres on your car wear improperly if the wheels are misaligned - the same problems apply to your horse's spine. Such wear and tear of the spine is called osteoarthritis. Research shows that spinal manipulation may slow progressive degenerative changes that occur as the horse ages. So in addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, chiropractic therapy can reduce the advancement of osteoarthritic disorders.

Chiropractic therapy performed on a regular basis can also help to maintain the health of the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to a well-adjusted spine, which is important for the prevention of lameness.

Equine chiropractic makes great sense, as treatments help to thwart impending musculo-skeletal ailments, slow the degenerative processes and improve health and well-being. Studies and clinical trials by mainstream medical researchers support the health benefits of spinal manipulation and equine chiropractic care is becoming increasingly popular.