What type of back person for my horse?? osteo, chiro, physio???

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Sandylou

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I need to get my horses back checked out. He has trouble with left rein canter which I put down to his youngness at first, then he started to shoot forwards occassionally and more recently he's started to be reluctant to stand at the mouting block for me to get on. My instructor said that he may be slightly unlevel through his hips but not majorly.
I've already had the vet out but he found nothing obvious and said that it was down to schooling issues?:mad:
So what type of practitioner do we need?..... a chiropractor, physio, osteopath, mctimoney, equine vet, etc, etc?
 
It's confusing isn't it...

If to do with bone - osteo/chiro I think as that is what they do.

If muscle - physio as they do soft tissue mainly

If you think both then call both or mctimoney - they're more into energy flow and blockages and alignment of body. I use mctimoney and can't complain. Have used chiro & physio before and I can't tell the difference,

It also depends in the practitioner...

It's not an exact science (except for possibly physio and I trained to be one nearly 10 years ago and gave up - HARD work!! Got the degree still but wouldn't ever do it)
 
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I was told by my vet that a Physio was better as they manipulate muscles. Whereas Chiro's attempted to manipulate bone, and he couldn't see how a human could alter the skelital structure of a horse when they have so much fat and muscle surrounding it all.
Light touch techniques (no offence intended to anyone who uses it) but to be its a pile of b*llucks! One girl I knew claimed to be able to do "pelvic reallignment" via light touch techniques? Erm... talking out of your bum methinks :rolleyes:
How can they possibly manipulate anything when they barely touch the horse.. Just alot of money for someone to poke your horse gently :rolleyes:
Perhaps I have never seen a decent "light tough" practicioner, but both a human chiropractor and a vet agreed with me.
Izzi :D
 
I would suggest you get a well recommended physiotherapist. In desperation I had a McTimoney lady out, she was very nice, but I am afraid I cannot see how anyone can make any difference to a horse, but placing two fingers on their arse with a light touch. It was a waste of £40. Human physios can make a huge difference so I have confidence they can make a difference to a horse.
 
Oh I'm so confused. I tend to go to a physio when I have problems and that makes me sway towards a physio for the boy BUT if his hips are uneven is a chiropractor better? Is there no-one out there that is a physio AND a chiropractor?? Maybe there's a niche in the market and I should make a career change:)
 
That is not mctimoney!!! Not proper anyway. If you paid a mctimoney person to do that... you've been had. My mctimoney man is VERY physical! When I was doing my training we had a mctimoney trainer and it was very hands on and you need a lot of strength even for a human.
 
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Sandylou said:
Oh I'm so confused. I tend to go to a physio when I have problems and that makes me sway towards a physio for the boy BUT if his hips are uneven is a chiropractor better? Is there no-one out there that is a physio AND a chiropractor?? Maybe there's a niche in the market and I should make a career change:)
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If the pelvis is unlevel then its very likely a muscular/soft tissue problem. If it was bone then your horse would be in agony unable to walk and your vet would probably have reached for the humane killer!

A good physio will sort this easily and will not require a huge amount of thumping, grunting, groaning or tugging to do it. Most therapists are skilled enough to use reasonably gentle moves and I would be very wary of anyone who had to use hammers, ropes or a run up on a horse!
 
Physio every time, and a ACPAT registered one at that, they do a long period of intensive training. IMO far to many people can set themselves up as a 'back' person with very little training.
 
A chiro does not put bone back in place, how can they, but try to restore normal range of motion to each joint within the spine. The hip will not be out of place, but you can find that all of the joints that make up the hip are not moving as well as they should on one side. This can lead to a shortened stride and create tight and asymmetrical muscles.

OP in your case I would recommend a chiropractor (IVCA qualified), to get the joints moving normally again and then a physio afterwards to try to release the muscles.
 
Personally if your vet says there is nothing wrong I would believe him and not waste your money, would take the advice of my vet over that of an instructor anyday.

Every horse pretty much has a better side- all riders are not totally symmetrical, hence a horse can look a bit unlevel through the hips on one rein
 
I would def recommend a Bowen therapist - my horse had awful rpoblems getting right canter strike off but a couple of treatments (£40 a pop) has already seen improvements - she was v tight through her back, shoulders and quarters. Money well spent :) Just need to sort her crazy head out now!!
 
I got an osteopath out for my lad and she was amazing. I prefer the osteo apprach and it works with muscles and joints together and lets things gradually correct themselves. after two sessions my horse was like a new man
 
I have a very good chiro out to my horse every 6 months, he loves his 'massages'. Although I didn't have any specific problems before I started using her, we have gone from strength to strength since his first session a few years ago.

Also agree the 'light touch' back therapies that I've seen used are useless.
 
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