Yesterday evening I spent at the track, holding racehorses for our chiropractor, Dr. Troy Stevens. Whoever mentioned that tapping on the forehead is a good distraction for farrier work – you were right. Although the horses like our chiropractor, we wouldn’t be calling him if they weren’t in pain, so they are generally a little restless when someone moves in to the spot that’s bothering them. With the steady, soft tapping, both mares lowered their heads until they were practically resting them on my chest, and let Dr. Stevens go to work.
We’ve been very fortunate to have a really excellent chiropractor in our area who is very experienced working with horses. (Dr. Stevens is also my personal chiropractor, and in the last two weeks he has treated my knee so that I am no longer using crutches to walk.) While I have seen the benefits of chiropractic care on pleasure horses, with the racehorses it’s much more obvious, because their performance is measurable. With a combination of massage, photonic laser stimulation of acupuncture points, and chiropractic, we’ve seen horses go from finishing dead last to being in the money week after week. It’s pretty simple, really – if something, such as a rotated pelvis, out-of-adjustment pastern, or compressed vertebrae is causing them pain and/or the inability to stride correctly, they are unable to perform at their innate capability.
One thing’s for certain – the trainers at the track almost without exception fall into an old-school attitude about anything new – training methods, feed, health care, whatever it is, if it’s new, it’s automatically suspect. Prove it, is the general response. I think it says a lot about chiropractic care in general and Dr. Stevens in particular that we have been able to develop a steady clientele for him at the track.
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as seeing a horse perform excellently, and knowing you had a hand in it. Being open-minded is a good place to start.
The first time my horse ever went straight when I had him was the day after his first accupuncture and chiropractic visit. It was amazing! I love it now…Genny (my horse) not so much. I also get equine massage for him around the same time. It is amazing the difference! Mind you and I myself get nothing, but he is worth it. Even being retired he still gets adjustments, just not as often. I don’t blame people that think it is crazy, I thought it was myself. After trying it on my horse I now am a big fan and recomend it to others.
Our horses love the chiropractic adjustments they get which also include acupuncture, they seem so happy and relaxed after our doctor is finished working on them. We have also done some laser therapy which I can say works very well. I have been laughed at for getting my horses chiropractic work and called crazy, been told I’m naive and it’s a scam, but I don’t care I know it works because I can see the difference in how they go.
I like that natural techniques are being used on horses now. Ihave used a lot of ewquine massage and some craniosaccral. Completely done with craniosaccral after the third session I had a 3 month regression in my horses ability to collect. Have yet to rind a chiropracter in my region that I trus. I need to though as I suspect that will help with Freds girthiness.
We have an excellent equine chiro in our area too. She is an amazing woman, and what an incredible difference in the horses after treatment! Bonus– the horses LOVE her.
Isnt it fantastic to see the end results? I am happy that you can work wiht a progressive minded barn. I love going to watch works, but watching sore and downright lame horses try and gallop just makes my heart turn over…. hearing that your barn is working hard at creating sound and strong athletes is a ray of sunshine!
Working with TB’s is an amazing educational opportunity, and I envy you! Way back when, I worked with flat horses, and was too young to take advantage of all the knowledge the trainer I worked for had to offer. In trying to recall the little details now, as I work with lame and sore horses, I could kick myself for not paying as close attention as I should have….
As always, great post JDP! I am looking forward to more!
onthebit, I’m like you – I haven’t had a massage myself for a year and no chiropractic with the exception of having my knee worked on so I can walk. And I’m an equine sports massage therapist! It’s like the mechanic’s car, I guess….
GHM, I’m glad to hear that you have tried the laser therapy as well. I am a total sceptic about things and when my mom forst showed me I was thinking – huh, we’ll see. But I’ve used it on myself and seen the results, so I think it’s one more great tool to have.
Beckz, I don’t know a thing about cranosacral – I tend to have that same sort of ‘prove it’ attitude – but I am curious about it. I am really particular about chiropractors because I go to them myself and it hasn’t always been a lovely experience. Ours is certified through the American Veterinarian Chiropractic Association – he’s one of only 49 in the state who are, so I think that’s a big factor.
Mrs. Mom, I totally agree with you. The track is a beautiful and disturbing place. I work with Standardbreds, but the attitudes and treatment are no different. I am planning on writing more about it one of these days. I wrote a little bit about in my former blog, but I was so naive then! Gah!
By the way, did you get your feed reader set up? I will help you if you like!