> Speaking of alternative therapies, I'd be interested in comments on
> using equine chiropractors. Does anyone use them on a regular basis?
> Would you use one? Under what circumstances, ie maintenance/injury
> only/last ditch effort? I had a friend that wanted to take her horse (with a stifle muscle
problem) to an equine chiropractor/accupuncture veterinarian. I was
skeptical, but agreed to trailer the horse there for her. I held the
horse while the vet worked on her. He first checked out body alignment
from head to toe, did a few chiropractic adjustments on the spine, then
proceeded to do the accupuncture, sticking needles in the stiff area of
the mare's hindquarters. When he first began working on this horse, she
was tense and nervous, and had a very worried, anxious look. I thought
she'd jump out of her skin when he started sticking those big needles
in, but I was amazed to see her start to visibly relax, her eye
softened, and she started breathing deeply and soon was almost dozing.
She appeared much more comfortable following the treatment, and
continued to improve at home following the treatment. Now my friend
takes her horses to this vet every spring, just for a check-up.
I have a young horse that I couldn't keep shoes on the first year he was
shod, he kept over-reaching and cross-firing and other interesting ways
of removing the front shoes from his feet. I had expert farriers work on
him, and no one could keep shoes on (did all the usual corrective
things). I finally gave up and let him go barefoot towards the end of
the ride season. Then he also was wearing the outside toe of one front
hoof off in an unusual way. I took him to the same vet, who checked him
from head to toe, did a few minor alignments, and then pointed out to me
that this horse was a bit higher in one hip than the other. He
recommended the rolled toes in front, squared off hinds, with a rim pad
on the hoof that the hip was lower on. He also did some chiropractic
adjustments to the hips. My farrier followed his instructions exactly,
and this past summer we didn't lose a single shoe. I was very pleased
that we found such a simple, painless solution to a frustrating problem.
Now I, too, am planning to take my two horses back to this vet every
spring before ride season, just for a check-up and adjustments if
necessary.
I think horses are like people, in that they work best when they feel
best, and I am in favor of anything that will help, the more natural,
the better. As a long-time fan of TTEAM touch and natural training and
riding methods, I'm a firm believer in the need for horses to be as
comfortable as possible, and when there's a behavioral problem look for
a physical reason in addition to trying to figure out a training
solution.
Also, I am into Nikken magnetic products and am totally sold on the
benefits they provide. I plan to use magnetics with back massage on my
horses after long rides. The healing and comfort that can be possible
with magnetics is amazing. The best part is that these things are
drug-free, non-invasive. I have muscle problems, so can really
sympathize with horses that develop muscle strains and related injuries.
Along these lines, the laser treatments available for horses are also
remarkable.
Ruth Bourgeois