Chiropractic adjustment is an alternative method of care that has been shown to alleviate pain in the back and neck of the horse, offering a holistic approach in the detection and treatment of gait abnormalities, pressure related nerve injuries and other problems in horses caused by conformation, injury, equipment used on the horse, shoeing, etc. as well as tension related strains due to stress. It is not a substitution for traditional veterinary care or surgery, but has been proven to increase performance and aid in the recovery of injuries.

 

  Anything that causes abnormal or restricted movement (called subluxation) in the horse’s spine can result in the spine losing it’s normal flexibility.  Subluxation causes pain which usually presents as stiffness, lameness, gait abnormalities, being sensitive to touch (such as grooming or petting), stubbornness, and decreased performance.  When a horse is in pain they compensate  by changing their posture and gait further stressing joints and muscles.

 

  When subluxations occur the owner may start to notice the horse  seems less coordinated or unwilling. They notice resistance in a normally willing horse and/or difficulty flexing at the poll or bending the back or neck into the turns. The horse may not enjoy being groomed or petted along the back. It may cringe when saddled or just seem “off” when moving in a certain directions or at certain gaits.

 

  Back injuries are often mistaken for lameness in the horse’s legs or feet and is often related to such injuries. When a horse injures his leg the altered gait he uses to compensate causes stress in the back. Even after the leg has healed the back, which has been overworked and possibly injured can still cause pain, causing the owner to believe the leg has not healed.  It is important to find the source of the back pain to assure complete relief and recovery. Unless this is accomplished the horse will have recurring back pain, even after periods of rest and medication.  A chiropractic evaluation can provide the veterinarian additional means of diagnosis and early treatment options for such injuries.