What should my chiropractor be doing?

A

ace87

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 January 2008
Messages
355
Location
bedfordshire
Visit site
Hi all

Quick question - I have used the same chiropractor for the last few years and am just not 100% sure of what she does to my horses...

She generally turns up at yard, looks at horse stood on the flat in its stable then does manipulation to atlas, pelvis and under saddle then leaves. The whole process takes about 5-10mins max.

It's only now that I've seen a number of liveries have to have her in successive weeks and have heard friends talk of how their chiropractor had the horse trotted up, trotted on a circle etc and then spent over 30mins manipulating the horse, and when they left you could visibly see the difference in how the horse moved or stood.

I have noticed she only ever treats the same areas on every horse - despite differing conditions affecting different horses and am wondering am I being ever so slightly ripped off? I know she is very well respected but I'm just a little concerned and wondering should i be using someone else in the future??

Thanks
 
I have a chiropractor and a sports massage/physio for the horses. They watch the horse walk and trot on straight line, then trot on cirlce. And will ask how they have been going etc. They run hands over everywhere and then treat where required- if required

The physio lady is amazing, the first time she came out she treated a 4yr old for jus- no major issue, and said light work for couple days. But we had dressage champs that arvo. So took him and he was a different horse- he cleaned up and was amazing to ride!!

Why not arrange to be present when a differrrent chiropractor visits a friends horse so you can see that "procedure"?
 
Does the name start with a m?? If so I've had her in the pastd and he had the same problem every time didnt see him move etc. I did change years ago and now about to change again after the last treatment I wasnt happy as the person didnt want to see him trot up etc dispite he only come sound a couple of days before. I did explain what's happern and I askd re walk up the comment was theres no need!! So now Ive been recomnd someone who my massage person knows.
 
Yes Bojangles the name does begin with an 'm'..

Unfortunately I cannot arrange to be present when anyone else at the yard has another chiro, as yard rules mean we are only allowed to use the chiropractor in question. Due to work it's very difficult to arrange to go to another yard to watch the proceedures.

My previous chiro, this is going back at least 8yrs now! Used to spend 45 mins with my chap, working on him, watching him move etc - i only used him once and never needed to again as i booked him for yearly consultations and once he'd fixed my lad once he stayed fixed :)
 
How come the yard got that rule??? Stange if you not happy but then you can't use another one you a bit stuck really. Sorry not much help. What about having a chat ask what's she doing and why is it the same place's?? Good luck!!
 
The first time I see a horse / pony I will take an extensive history which includes feed, shoeing, saddle, teeth any vet treatment present and past. I also take several pictures at different angles.

I then see the horse walk and trot, plus I like to see them turn in a tight circle to see how the cross their back legs.

I will then run my hands over them to see if I can feel any change in temperature and sensation. Once I have done that I will start at the head and work my way down the body feeling for any irregularity tension. Once I have done that I will start to work on any parts that I have found wrong.

If it is a repeat treatment i will quickly go through any changes in the above history. Again seeing the horse move then treat.

The first time I see the horse it can take me about an hour and a half or more. Further visits are normally about an hour.

It is important to know how the horse has been going and if there has been any issues since I last saw the horse.

I will also give the owner exercises to do or show the some massage movements that will help.
 
Paulineh thats what I would expect - and you sound very thorough :)

Bojangles, my yard has rules about EVERYTHING.. we can only use their vet, farrier, dentist, chiro, etc. NO outside instructors just the woman who runs the yard (who would be fine were i novice learning to ride but i'm currently trying to pursuede my previously hunted only connemara that dressage is fun!!) It's a bit of a nightmare and we lose a lot of customers through it!
 
paulineh said:
The first time I see a horse / pony I will take an extensive history which includes feed, shoeing, saddle, teeth any vet treatment present and past. I also take several pictures at different angles.

I then see the horse walk and trot, plus I like to see them turn in a tight circle to see how the cross their back legs.

I will then run my hands over them to see if I can feel any change in temperature and sensation. Once I have done that I will start at the head and work my way down the body feeling for any irregularity tension. Once I have done that I will start to work on any parts that I have found wrong.

If it is a repeat treatment i will quickly go through any changes in the above history. Again seeing the horse move then treat.

The first time I see the horse it can take me about an hour and a half or more. Further visits are normally about an hour.

It is important to know how the horse has been going and if there has been any issues since I last saw the horse.

I will also give the owner exercises to do or show the some massage movements that will help.
Click to expand...

This is what my chap does and also likes to see them walking backwards a few strides too. He however hasn't shown me anything to do myself at the moment as he is coming back in a week for a follow up. My horse had surgery in july so we were limited to what we could do with him.

My advise would be to stop using the person you are using and tell the YO that you are not happy and want a second opinion, if this doesn't work I would move. How on earth can she tell if the horse is sound or not if she doesn't see it move???
 
ace87 said:
Paulineh thats what I would expect - and you sound very thorough :)

Bojangles, my yard has rules about EVERYTHING.. we can only use their vet, farrier, dentist, chiro, etc. NO outside instructors just the woman who runs the yard (who would be fine were i novice learning to ride but i'm currently trying to pursuede my previously hunted only connemara that dressage is fun!!) It's a bit of a nightmare and we lose a lot of customers through it!
Click to expand...

I wouldnt be able to stay there as I have different people to thoso's on my yard to treat Beau. Hum a bit hard then. Hope you get it all sortd out soon.
 
To be honest, if my work situation changes like I hope it will I will be looking to relocate one if not both of my chaps. I don't mind the 2yo being there turned out for winter, but I'd rather not keep the lad I have in work there incase i need to have chiro out. Have already been told I'm not allowed a physio as if I have her chiro I don't need a physio?! Bit downhearted about it all at the minute!
 
My physio wanted to know all the horses history any injury and such, watched him walk and trot on straight and circles, she watched him on the lunge over poles, her first few visits were longer but now he is much more comfortable the visits are shorter as he is not as sore, I think she has done wonders with him and gave me stretches to work on.
Unbelievable that you cant use your own farrier, vet and instructor I wouldnt have that I would leave, they may be getting a commision payment for making all the liveries use their people which is really unfair no wonder people leave.
Also my physio will only see your horse with a vet referral, although the chiropractor will see your horse without a referral, if it appears unsound she will not treat it and suggest a vet sees the horse before she will treat, which I think is common practice they shouldnt treat a lame horse if not seen by a vet.
 
Got to agree 100% with what Paulineh says. Any equine bodyworker ought to be looking at how the horse moves etc., and reacquainting him/herself with the horse's physiology at every visit. I would be most concerned if any bodyworker (in whatever discipline) went straight in and worked on the horse without doing all the prelims first of all.

Having said that, it is extremely difficult to put a time limit on the length of the actual physical treatment. Depending on the situation/complaint, the horse may not need a full-on 1 hour treatment. In some forms of bodywork, let's use Chiro as an example, the variations in the "manipulations" needed in for any particular case are many. Some presenting horses may not actually benefit from a full hour (or whatever the length of time in question) of manipulation, whilst others will need every minute of that time (plus the assessment/trot up time as well). Any good bodyworker should know - and have the confidence, to stop when enough's enough. It IS actually possible to "overcook" a treatment as well.

Re. only allowing this particular physio/farrier/instructor etc. on a yard. Okay, so I've never been in that kind of situation where a certain professional was forced upon me. But I feel very, very strongly about it - and if I was in that situation I can say without hesitation that I would vote with my feet and leave the yard (but then again, assuming that I knew this information up front, I wouldn't consider taking my horses to a yard like that anyway). Nobody dictates to me who I can/can't use to medicate or shoe my horses, or who teaches me to ride. What would happen at this kind of yard if you do have cause for complaint? Say for example you were unhappy with the farrier's work. Would you really continue using that farrier simply because the YO says you must? Sorry, but as far as I'm concerned that is not in the horse's best interests. And it is the horse who should come first.
 
paulineh said:
The first time I see a horse / pony I will take an extensive history which includes feed, shoeing, saddle, teeth any vet treatment present and past. I also take several pictures at different angles.

I then see the horse walk and trot, plus I like to see them turn in a tight circle to see how the cross their back legs.

I will then run my hands over them to see if I can feel any change in temperature and sensation. Once I have done that I will start at the head and work my way down the body feeling for any irregularity tension. Once I have done that I will start to work on any parts that I have found wrong.

If it is a repeat treatment i will quickly go through any changes in the above history. Again seeing the horse move then treat.

The first time I see the horse it can take me about an hour and a half or more. Further visits are normally about an hour.

It is important to know how the horse has been going and if there has been any issues since I last saw the horse.

I will also give the owner exercises to do or show the some massage movements that will help.
Click to expand...

i do the above, plus take a wither template and photos on the first, second and third visits/treatments.

saying that, i do tend to treat the same areas each time, as the therapy i practise is 'holistic' so it's for the whole body... so the whole body is treated. if that makes sense?

10-15 mins doesn't sound long... can you try talking to your YO about it? what if you didn't want a chiropractor, but instead wanted a different 'therapy' (chiros aren't good for everything...)

:o
 
Pinkvboots said:
Also my physio will only see your horse with a vet referral, although the chiropractor will see your horse without a referral, if it appears unsound she will not treat it and suggest a vet sees the horse before she will treat, which I think is common practice they shouldnt treat a lame horse if not seen by a vet.
Click to expand...

your chiropractor still needs vet's permission to treat the horse, unsound or not... :eek:
 
ace87 said:
To be honest, if my work situation changes like I hope it will I will be looking to relocate one if not both of my chaps. I don't mind the 2yo being there turned out for winter, but I'd rather not keep the lad I have in work there incase i need to have chiro out. Have already been told I'm not allowed a physio as if I have her chiro I don't need a physio?! Bit downhearted about it all at the minute!
Click to expand...

Fingers crossd that your work situation change soon for both of yours sake's!! I only tend to get a back craker out if he had a fall or some other signs show up. Otherwise he just have a sports masssage treatment which benfit him more. As it relax the muscles so they dont pull things back out whist right. If thats makes sense??Will be having another one soon just to make sure all is well after him having a treatment with someone who didnt see him walk,trot,circle etc

Why does the yard have them rules???
 
I don't know why we have those rules, its difficult as I work there too :( I'd really like to get an equine physiology to my chappy as he strikes me as being tight under saddle but just had it checked and saddler says its just him having to use different muscle groups. but sadly I asked YO and she said no physio :( I'd also really like my old dressage instructor for a few lessons in loosening my chap up! But hey need a new job to fund a much needed move! ThAnks for all the advice its brilliant to have support :D

Ally and Bally x
 
Guess they all work differently.
Mine wanted full history, and saw him ridden before and after.... :)
Yup should have vets consent prior to any treatment!
 
Hi

Are you sure your 'chiropractor' is properly qualified?

Sadly any lay person can call themselves a chiropractor as animal chiropractic is not regulated. A fully qualified chiropractor MUST a degree in human chiropractic and have either completed the McTimoney chiropractic course or the International Academy of Veterinary Chiropractic course (others in study in the States, 'Options for Animals'). Graduates from theses schools are the ONLY people allowed to call themselves chiropractors...please check to make sure you're getting the real deal!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top