Horses often have problems with their spines, mainly due to the fact that they did not evolve to carry weights on their back. Modern competition causes further problems as it can place great strain on the musculoskeletal system. Your horse will usually let you know when it is feeling discomfort as a result of a misalignment. Signs of pain caused by a misalignment include:
- unlevelness, especially behind
- uneven wear of shoes
- sore or ‘cold’ back
- dipping, flinching, violent tail swishing when grooming the back
- unexplained deterioration in its usual performance
- stiffness on one rein and reluctance to bend
- hollowing of the back
- inability or refusal to work on the bit
- tail carried to one side
- reluctance to jump
- disunited canter
- unexplained resistance, e.g. napping, rearing, bucking
- uneven muscle development
- reduced quality of paces, inability to extend/collect the stride
- unexplained behavioural changes
- inability to stand square
- lameness after a fall or accident, where alternative causes have been eliminated
There can be several reasons why a problem has occurred, including:
- trips or falls (especially on slippery surfaces)
- accidents
- getting cast in the stable
- wearing ill-fitting tack
- conformational faults
- dental problems
- poor shoeing, or problems with the feet
- excess weight, or an unbalanced rider
- repetitive work
Many owners choose to use a McTimoney Practitioner regularly every 6 months as a preventative measure, for instance at the beginning and end of a competition season. It is also a good idea for an animal to have treatment after injury, pregnancy or a period of lameness as these factors can all cause misalignments.
