Have you ever wondered why horses are adjusted by Chiropractors? Or better yet…should mine be?

This question comes up often! One of the biggest issues is Chiropractic Care has been seen as something for pain for decades. Clearly our PR firm was awful, because Chiropractic care is about so much more than pain.

So then, how do you know if your horse needs an adjustment?!?!

This question can make horse owners/trainers/riders pull their hair out. So here is a simple guide to help you through that question.

1. My Horse Just Feels “off”

I love that wild eye….except when I am riding.

This doesn’t mean your horse is lame (although they probably also need an adjustment then too, but lets just start with off). You know this because you are watching them walk, or on them, and something just doesn’t feel right. No one else seems to see it. And you may even start to think you are crazy, but this is a tell tale sign of a horse needing an adjustment.

The next question I always get is “ok, but why?” And here is the secret for you that our PR firm completely forgot to share with the world. Chiropractic care is about balance, the nervous system firing when it should, and a smoothness to bio-mechanics. And all three of the are often part of the “my horse feels off” scenario. Often when a horse has a chiropractic subluxation the firing of the nervous system isn’t in-sync on both sides of your horse or from the front to the back. So one side may be reacting as it should, and the other lags…just a bit. This gives you that “off” feeling. The imbalance feeling. And a lack of smooth bio-mechanics.

2. One lead is easier than the other.

First off, if your trainer says it is you…believe them. But you may also want to look into getting both of you adjusted and here is why. Your horse is stuck, and needs help getting back to balance from one direction to another. A couple examples would be one lead is easy to sit and the other feels like washing machine, or you ask for one lead and your horse leaps off in the wrong lead over…and over…and over again (that one may also mean you need an adjustment, but if it is repetitive…your horse may need an adjustment to refined his balance as well)

This one is a bit of a tricky one, because it can be multiple things, but one of the most often accounts I get from owners is that it resolves after the horse (and or human) was adjusted. And I want you to think of it a bit different. Imagine you sat down with your legs crossed. Now switch. Is one knee up higher than the other? Is it awkward and painful? This is partially due to tight muscles and ligaments, partially due to training, and partially due to the fact that you probably need an adjustment. Horses can take out the training portion as they are trained for both where as many humans automatically sit cross legged in one direction for years. But if one is easier for them, and the other becomes so difficult due to either pain or bio-mechanic insufficiency they are simply wanting the easy way out.

3. Your horse is throwing it’s head

Now this can be a tricky one, because sometimes it is just a habit, but if out of no where they begin throwing their head first have their teeth checked by your Vet, then call your equine chiropractor. If your horse has a subluxation in their pole or some where close by, you asking them to frame up may be incredibly uncomfortable. The only way to get any relief from the pressure is to toss their head about or take a sigh of relief when you dismount.

Imagine you had a neck ache, and someone kept telling you to turn your head in that direction. It would not be pleasant. But if it is just a subluxation, then the head tossing should decrease significantly or even better stop all together.

4. Your horses bum is not pretty

Ok, I am not talking pretty as in that freshly clipped glistening in the sun from show sheen pretty, but rather their butt should look beautiful as it moves. Stand behind your horse and watch it move. It should almost be mesmerizing with a beautiful flow to it. The side to side and rotational movement that mimics an infinity sign, that draws you in and you can’t stop looking at it…BUTTS SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH.

If your horses isn’t, call your Animal Chiropractor! This can truly be so many things, but it is amazing how even just one adjustment can take a questionable moving rear end and make it something to stare at in awe.

5. Your horse is forgetting that they have four legs.

Does your horse miss a step? Often? Or you are feeling it more and more? No one likes having their horse disappear from underneath them. This may be a nervous system firing issue along with a bio-mechanic issue that can be cleared up with an adjustment. Now this one can be many things, so if your horse is tripping more often than normal, please make sure they are checked by your Veterinarian first to rule out anything more serious, but also have your Animal Chiropractor take a look and see if an adjustment will help.

6. The controversial one - your horse is injured

In this case the Chiropractor is not there to “heal” the injury, but rather offer support for them to heal properly. Have you ever injured your leg and had to walk on crutches? How did you back feel? Your shoulders? By having an adjustment during this time (not at the sight of injury, but by checking the rest of the body) your horse may be in less pain through the healing process and decrease the chance of compensation injuries during that time frame.

What I hope you take away from this….

Dr Falvey Adjusting a horse at HITS Thermal

Equine Chiropractic care is about much more than pain. There are subtle signs to look for to see if your horse needs an adjustment. By paying attention to them, and having your Equine Chiropractor our to examine and adjust your horse where needed you can get ahead of any future problems that may arise down the road in the form of pain.

Also as in life there are other issues any of the above may be as well, but your Chiropractor can point you in the right direction once they examine your horse.

I hope this helps you ride balanced……until next time.

Dr Michelle Falvey is a board certified Chiropractor in the State of California. In 2013 she graduated from Southern California University of Health Sciences in Whittier California with her Doctor of Chiropractic degree. She always knew she wanted to work with horses and was encouraged by her mentors to further her education into the animal realm.

In August of 2013 she attended Options for Animals, a school for Veterinarians and Chiropractors to come together and learn the art of Animal Adjusting. She loved taking care of animals, and while the Animal Certificate was not required in the state of California, she wanted to let her patients know her skill level, so she became certified by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association and when she graduated with her human degree she was already covered with her Animal Certificate.

Dr Falvey has been working for EquestrFit on the Southern California Horse Show Circuit since February of 2014. Her traveling practice has several looks from a tent at some shows to her trailer with a private office at others. She also travels all over Southern California to help her patients at their own barns between shows.

Living in San Diego, Ca with her family, so loves attending shows and seeing her patients ride balanced. For more information about Dr Falvey or how to schedule an appointment at a show or at your barn, please visit EquestriFit.com.