Unlevelness and which way to turn - Richard Maxwell?

[showqa]

Hi there

I have problems with my horse who is showing to be unlevel.

I have a conflict of opinions going on around me - all from seemingly qualified horse people. There are those who are saying to avoid the vet at this stage as they'll throw every test at him purely from a money making point of view, and so to stay with the McTimoney trained chiro (she has seen him once before). Another "expert" (as in BD judge, stable full of horses, BHS II) has said to get an appointment with Richard Maxwell who is in my area at the end of June. A third expert has said to avoid him, and to get my saddle changed (how do I get saddle properly fitted to an unlevel horse?)

I am very upset with all this, very confused and of course really worried. My horse is only rising 6.

 

[BBH]

I would get a vet tbh as an unlevelness issue is lameness.
Having sent a horse to Richard Maxwell I know he won't begin working on it until it has been checked for good health and any sources of pain discovered and treated. Its too early for him imo and I would go to your vet as a first point of call who can tell the site of pain. If its the back then a saddler should be called as part of the treatment.

 

[martlin]

I would get a vet - if the horse is unlevel, that to me means lame, and if a horse is lame, I call a vet.

 

[silvershadow81]

another way to turn... the farrier!?

They usually have some good ideas on lameness / uneaven strides (well mine does!

) Just to confuse things more! Good luck! x

 

[Flame_]

^^^^^^ What she said (again LOL)

If you spend money on loads of alternatives you're still going to end up needing a vet. Chiros, behaviorists etc CANNOT fix lameness (sadly!) so you'll just be more out of pocket.

 

[spaniel]

Given that the vet is the only person legaly allowed to diagnose the problem I would go there first. The horse is lame.

Quite how someone like RM is supposed to help is quite beyond me.

 

[martlin]

[ QUOTE ]

Quite how someone like RM is supposed to help is quite beyond me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, he could call his vet perhaps?

 

[scotsmare]

You need a vet as a starting point - presumably horse is insured? If it's a foot balance issue, vet will do xrays for farrier to work from.

Chiro's / Rm

/ saddlers are all secondary until you have a diagnosis.

Quicker you get the vet, quicker you'll be on the way to solving the problem.

 

[Booboos]

Start with the vet so you can get a diagnosis and he will let you know if he thinks its a back/saddle problem that needs a physio and saddle fitter, or a foot problem that might be corrected by a farrier, etc. To be honest the behaviourist isn't really relevant until you have exhausted all other physical options and with a lame horse I would expect the problem to be physical not behavioural.

 

[Hippona]

Well, yes, your vet MAY throw every form of test at him....but ultimately that will result in a diagnosis (hopefully

) and then you can move on from there......

 

[showqa]

Thanks everyone. I've just made an appointment for Wednesday morning. I'm very depressed about this - yes I know it happens to a million horses and many of them come ok after appropriate treatment - but I've had such a bad year so far that I just feel it's going to be very long and complicated and upsettiing. Anyway, again, thanks.

 

[BFG]

I wouldn’t get upset just yet it could be anything. It could be something really simple. Don’t worry until you know what you are worrying about.

Keep positive, he is young and health.

 

[ester]

just re the richard maxwell comment I have seen him manipulate in the past, bout 5 years ago so perhaps this is what they were getting at.

see what vet says.

 

[Ezme]

Richard maxwell does do a bit of sports massage type stuff but I think he's be the first to say Vet first!

 

[ester]

Ezme, it wasn't massage as I would see it, was pretty much as much as my qual chiro would do (she does me too!) Having had several years experience of chiro manipulation if someone had done that to me I would have said manipulation. He might not do it anymore, was surprised actually but I probably knew less about it then too.

 

[showqa]

Oh yeah I know that apparently he manipulates - so I know that's what the RI meant. Anyway, I'll see what the vet has to say.

 

[Donkeymad]

Absolutely agree with vet first, glad you have now arranged it. Wishing you all the best for a quick diagnosis.