Do you have your horse's back done or not?

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Pidge

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Ok just wondering what people's views were on having their horses back done?
Had Pidge and Sunny done yesterday and so lightly hacked this morning as per instructions (no schooling or jumping till thursday
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though Sunny didn't have as much out so sis can school on monday) and so rode on a very long rein for all the hack and did do some trotting as well. Pidge seemed so much freer in his back end, swinging more, and the trot was a lot better too.
 
I have mine checked annually or more if I think there may be a problem. Well worth checking they are in good shape before finding discomfort causes other problems.
 
I dont, unless there is a problem. I think you have a fair idea if something is wrong and your horse has changed.

I say this because, I am slightly spectial of badck people. In my mind their should be firstly medically qualified with humans and horses. I use a chiropractor who in the week works on people and in his spare time does horses (no charge either).
 
No, but I would consider it if I knew someone who knew what they were doing.

I don't really understand how it works TBH. if a person had a bad back someone coming and prodding and poking them for half an hour wouldn't fix them so I don't see why it's different with horses.

Like i say though I don't really know much about the subject so will be interested to read other peoples views.
 
No. I would only have a "back" person in if I felt something amiss; however my vet would always be first call on the list.
 
Yes, regularly. I used to have horses done every 6 months, but current horse does get occassional soreness so have her done every 3 months, just to be sure.

By the way, to be qualified for horses, you DO have to be first qualified on humans!
 
Never had a back person come out, never had a saddler come out and never had a horse with a sore back..............
 
I am not a believer in it for horses as the muscle structure is very different to that of humans. I believe a lot of back problems come down to feet, saddles and teeth. I have only ever used 1 physio as my horse was suddenly really stiff on the left rein - physio said he had a tight muscle in his neck caused by his teeth being bad. Released the muscle and told me my horse will never really have any problems and that he will tell me if he does.
 
I must get P checked over as the marks on her back prove how absolutely dreadful the saddle was that she used to be ridden in
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As a rule of thumb I will have new horses looked at by vet/back/teeth/farrier and then I am happy that nothing I am asking is being resisted because of pain.
 
I do tend to get mine checked every 6 to 12 months depending on what they are doing but the two people I use are well qualified IMO.
One is a proper physio and as such qualified as a human one before going on to become an animal one. He also does my back if ever I have a problem.
The other is a Vet who got fed up with many 'mickey mouse' back specialists and went on to specialise in it himself.
I would not entertain any other 'back specialists' who do a 6 week course for example or a few weekends here and there.
 
See my best friends dad does horses backs he is fully trained on humans as a chiropractor first before training on in animals and I would not him near 1m of my horse. Siennamum knows who I am talking about. I guess this is why I am so suspicious about it all and believe it all comes down to teeth, feet and saddle. I have yet to see any evidence that they have made a difference in a horse.
 
I'm quite lucky as the Mctimmoney students practice at our yard so they look at ours for free. Otherwise I would have it done yearly or if I thought there was a problem.
 
Had equine touch more as a treat than to resolve a particular problem (i love a massage myself & as he was being brought into work properly for the first time one side was quite sore from using muscles differently...well actually having to bend for example!)

He is short coupled so I like to get him looked at every 6 months or so especially if he's doing a lot of jumping but to be honest it's more reassurance for myself than that I think there's anything wrong...
 
I didnt, but last year i knew my saddle wasnt right as depsite it being flocked very high and it being a narrow fit it still kept sinking esp jumping. Saddler just kept flocking it up untill i got another saddler out who discoverd the tree was broken ( its was a wintec so he could peel the stuff back and saw a big fracture acorss the pommell ).

She proptly had that saddle chuck and he fitted her other dressage saddle and i had a saddle made for her which is fab.

Gill maybury saw her as he said she will need looking at and she was in quite bad shape!. She has never shown signs of it never bucked or anythning but was stiff and sore from poll to tail.

Gill is a former event rider she has ridden at badminton and is an AI to and highly quaillfied.

Well i can honestly say my horse moves better than ever is much better now, she is checked every 6 months after her course of 3 last year.

Just goes to show how well they hide it even a sensitive tb like mine.
 
i was told by previous YO, who uses Jill Maybury, that I should treat my horse as an athlete!If athletes get physio, chiro, osteo etc then i should treat horse the same. Beasty had a session this week, first one ever and he has has a day off, and two days excercised with the low setting on the pessoa. Tomo I can ride him.
She is coming back in two weeks.
 
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I don't really understand how it works TBH. if a person had a bad back someone coming and prodding and poking them for half an hour wouldn't fix them so I don't see why it's different with horses

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You need to meet my chiro I have back problems and 30mins of treatment makes a LOT of difference to me
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As for horses I do use a physio/chiro who I tend only to call if i feel there is an issue with horse's back. Definetly makes a difference in my opinion getting them treated although as with me it will normally take 2 or more sessions plus a period of rest from strenuous exercise and then correct muscle building exercises to prevent future relaspes
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I am a vet and I know sod all about backs.... I get a chiro to look at mine once every three months and she hasn't ever failed to be better afterwards.

I also get the best saddler(s) I can find to fit a saddle. If you can fit saddles and have no problems truly, then you're a far, far better person than any client I've ever seen.

Most people don't recognise the physical issues their horses (or dogs, or cats) are living with.

E
 
interesting mix of responses thanks everyone. I knew Pidge was out slightly as a couple of times in canter on the left recently he has been a bit off, hard to describe but just not right. So will see how he is in canter at the end of the week, but his back is definately moving freer today so she must have done something right.
 
I took my mare to a chiropracter when she started going badly- throwing her head (teeth checked as well!), refusing jumps and really stiff on one rein. Anyway the chiropracter looked at me leading her around and said we both needed our backs done, so he did mine and apparently I was quite crooked and I walked and rode much straighter and freeier after he pulled me back into place! It wasn't painful when he was doing it but there was a lot of clicking and I was so stiff and sore the next day!! Then he worked on the mare who was also quite bad and had put her pelvis out and couldn't be jumped for 8 weeks after to allow it to settle back. When she came back she was a different animal, her whole way of jumping and way of going had improved and she was so much happier in herself. All my horses get checked out every 12-18 months unless theres an obvious problem and so do I!! I think a good chiropracter can make a huge difference esp if the horse is expected to perform well at a high standard.
 
mne all get checked every 3-6mths, teeth 6-12 mths. i do not wait till there is a problem, prevention better than cure
 
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