Meddleton Equine Hospital

Is your horse difficult to catch when you want to ride? Does your horse sink in his back when brushing, or cringe when you approach with the saddle, fidget when trying to tighten the girth, or worse, try to bite or kick? Does he (or she) lift or throw his head away from you when you try to bridle him? Has he started to refuse jumps or started bucking after a landing? Many behavioral problems in horses occur out of some degree of discomfort or pain. Undesirable behavioral patterns often prompt an assumption of training problems, previous abuse, or "sourness" when they may be due to ongoing, and possibly correctable, pain and discomfort.

There are many ways in which horses may express their discomfort. They may hold their head high, be tight at the poll, hollow their backs, have poor flexibility, have difficulty picking up a lead, fail to collect or engage the hind end, drag their toes, or resist a deep seat. They may buck or kick in response to your leg, resist your aids, or even run away with you. Horses in discomfort may show aggression to other horses or to people, or become more fearful, shying more easily than usual, always looking for a distraction. They may be depressed, less active, or performing below their ability.

Behavioral changes are the only way a horse has to communicate its displeasure or discomfort. Early signs of a problem can be as subtle as the wringing of a tail or pinning of ears. Pain can initiate a sudden behavioral change, or it can cause a chronic, slowly progressive alteration in a horse’s willingness or performance. In the absence of an obvious lameness or health problem, we are often left shrugging our shoulders in frustration.

As the owner, trainer, or rider, nobody knows your horse as well as you do. You will often be able to detect subtle changes in your horse before anyone else, and before major problems develop. Horses respond well to the human touch. If you get to know the normal texture and consistency of the skin and muscles, especially at the poll, along the withers, back, and croup, you will be prepared to detect pain, heat, or tight muscles that are the first sign of a problem. Most of these muscles should normally be soft and pliable. Learn to trust yourself and what you are feeling. A poorly fitting saddle can leave rubs and white hairs eventually, but long before that it will cause the muscles on either side of the withers to feel tight and stringy and sore to the touch.

Watch your horse’s attitude when working, or have someone else watch while you work; does he or she appear comfortable and happy with his job, or is he irritable and cranky? Is his facial expression relaxed and interested, or anxious? Is he round and moving well, or does he extend his head and neck and hollow his back? Is his stride as long as it used to be? Does your horse flex equally well to both sides traveling in both directions? Is he willing to do what you ask, or do you have to exhaust yourself to achieve a certain movement? Do you have difficulty staying centered in the saddle? These are all questions you can ask yourself when evaluating whether a horse is in some discomfort, or at least not up to its full performance potential.

Many of these problems can be caused by chiropractic subluxations (vertebral misalignments). The nerves that supply every organ in the body, every muscle, and every tissue, originate from the spinal cord and must pass between vertebrae. A misalignment between two vertebrae can cause irritation to the surrounding tissues. Nerves then must pass through these inflamed tissues which can disrupt their signals frequently causing muscle spasm and pain.

A chiropractic examination identifies misalignments. Chiropractic adjustments work to realign vertebrae, thus eliminating the underlying cause of a problem. Restoring normal vertebral alignment and mobility allows the body’s inherent recuperative powers to heal itself. Even with chronic or severe problems which may not be correctable, by unlocking the compensating areas of the body, chiropractic care may ease the pain and reduce the need for maintenance anti-inflammatory drugs. Chiropractic adjustments can help a horse perform at an optimal biomechanical advantage, and in comfort.

In addition to monitoring behavioral changes, here are some methods you can use to evaluate your horse for the presence of possible misalignments.

1. Use a carrot to ask your horse to bend his head and neck around to touch his nose to his elbow. He should be able to reach this area easily in both directions without hesitation or resistance. If your horse is uncomfortable doing this, he will try to step back or to the side to avoid bending his neck, or will hesitate half way, and then lunge to get the carrot.
2. Lunge your horse in both directions. Note his flexibility in both directions, and whether he maintains the correct bend. If your horse has subluxations causing him to be uncomfortable when trying to bend his spinal column in one direction, he will move more easily in the other direction. You may have difficulty keeping him out on the circle in one direction, or he may not maintain the circle consistently. He may tend to trip in one direction, or his rear legs may slip out from under him.
3. If you are jumping your horse, ask someone to watch you jump. Watching from behind, a horse should clear the jump without having to torque his hind end to one side or the other, and should be able to maintain his line without landing diagonally from the point of takeoff. He should be able to lift both front feet cleanly and evenly, and round nicely over the jump.
4. Have someone walk your horse on a lead and watch the hip bones and top of the croup. These areas should move fluidly and symmetrically, and should rise equally on both sides as weight is placed on the corresponding rear leg. When standing squarely the hip bones and croup should be level, and the muscles should have equal mass and tone on both sides.

If you see any of the problems described above, your horse may benefit from a chiropractic examination. Chiropractic care can help keep you and your horse happily performing together better and longer.