Gait problems and lameness that may have been previously untreatable or undiagnosed can respond well to chiropractic adjustments. These wonderful large animals may seem at first to be exceptionally solid, however, traumatic and stressful situations present themselves to horses every day. The very nature of competitive activities, such as racing, polo and dressage, requires the horse to become an athlete and push his abilities and body to the limit and beyond.

 

• Horse owners may notice that their horse has suffered a decline in performance

• Your horse may be 'cold-backed', stiff or evade certain movements.

• They may carry their tail to one side or swing a hind leg more prominently.

• Your horse may find certain transitions more difficult or generally a change in behaviour and/or have become more irritable. 

 

 

Other areas that chiropractic may also help with:

 

• Reluctance to jump

• Snapping and pinning back the ears

• Difficulty flexing at the poll

• Easier to go on one lead compared to the other​

 

 

A whole horse approach to health and equine soundness. 

 

At Connected Naturally we look to the life of the wild horse as the model for equine health and soundness issues as we believe that horses or any animals that are kept in a way that is closer in harmony with their nature will do far better in a domestic environment than those that are kept in ways alien to their physiology. The closer the horse can live to a more natural environment and lifestyle, the healthier they will be in mind, body and spirit. More and more people are turning to more natural horse keeping practices and a whole horse approach to health.

 

 Horses are by nature wanderers and grazers. Grazing strengthens the back by the constant up and down movement of the head. This has the important benefit of TMJ stability and promoting good body alignment by encouraging the teeth to wear down more evenly by the forward and backward slide of the mandible as the horse moves its head up and down. Different surfaces and a variety of inclines encountered in grazing help the horse to learn balance and muscle coordination. Rolling and bucking are natural behaviours to release the musculoskeletal system. Horses are social or herd animals and enjoy the companionship of other horses.

 

Confinement

 

Most performance horses are confined to stalls for a good majority of the time. Confinement creates stresses when mobility is restricted. There may be little opportunity for the horse to roll without becoming caste or stuck in the stall. 

Feeding in elevated containers and lack of grazing time limits the use of neck and back muscles and can lead to dental problems affecting the TMJ (Tempormandibular Joint). Read More

 

 

Transportation

 

Moving horses to shows and between tracks can be stressful. Trailers with poor suspension systems require the horse to balance through unexpected and poorly moderated bumps, turns and stops. Loading and unloading can be traumatic for the horse.

 

 

Trauma/Accidents

 

Horses slip and fall in a wide variety of accidents. They caste themselves in stalls, and as they struggle cause spinal and extremity stress and strain.