Ever notice that your horse exhibits behaviors that were unusual (or maybe you didn't think they were unusual) that made him look like he was either in pain somewhere, or maybe he looks just plain grumpy.
Does your horse resist being saddled, does he pin his ears when you rub your hands along his back or try to step away? Does he carry his head crooked? Maybe he doesn't want to bring his hind end under himself when he works any more.
Horses, just like humans, have a spinal column that makes them flexible the way we are. Just in the way our spinal columns can be out of alignment, so can theirs. There are a lot of good equine chiropractors that can put your horse's spine back in place. When it is out of place they term in subluxation.
Most good equine chiropractors (EC for the purpose of this post) will generate the kind of movement needed for the correction to happen in the horse instead of forcing the alignment.
If your horse has been injured in an accident, a fall, or maybe he got cast in a stall, he may have an alignment problem. Don't write off his behavior as just plain bad manners.
Make sure you check the credentials of any EC that you are considering. The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association offers a training course for vets who want to expand their knowledge into the chiropractic area for horses.
Remember that if your horse has been injured and this has been a problem for him for a while, the treatment probably will have to be repeated. Just like when we get a chiropractic treatment, the muscles holding the spine in alignment may need to be relaxed enough to allow the spine to stay in place.
If you are considering this option for your horse...do your homework on the individual. if they are poorly trained or don't have the skill to do it properly, they can and probably will cause more harm than good.
