Horse Chiropractor

Dr. Heidi Bockhold, of Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic, performs a chiropractic adjustment on a horse.

A horse chiropractor is a veterinarian who specializes in treating a horse's musculoskeletal, neurological, joint, and skeletal disorders. They use controlled force to improve a horse's movement and function, and to reduce pain.

Some signs that a horse may need chiropractic care include:

Poor performance
Stiffness or lameness
Pain in the neck, back, or tail
Abnormal posture
Discomfort when saddled
Difficulty bending to one side

Equine chiropractors use a type of manual therapy called equine chiropractic. This involves applying short, high velocity, low amplitude thrusts to specific regions of the horse's body. The goal is to change the horse's joint structures, muscle function, and neurological reflexes.

To become an equine chiropractor, you must first earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) or a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. After that, you can attend an advanced education program to become an animal chiropractor.

Horses with heavy workloads or those being shown may need to see an equine chiropractor every three weeks. Horses that are used for pleasure riding or are in less intense training may only need to see a chiropractor every three months.

How do I know if my horse would benefit from chiropractic care?

Horses that may benefit from chiropractic care may present with many signs, the most common of which is pain. Horses with back pain often express this in their posture or in their refusal to work. A horse’s attempts to compensate for the pain by changing its posture and way of going can result in other problems such as joint problems.

The following symptoms in a horse may indicate pain:

Reduced performance
Abnormal posture
Snapping and pinning back its ears when being saddled
Insubordination when being ridden
Attempting to free itself by throwing its head back or up or by hollowing the back
Swishing its tail and pinning back its ears
Disobedience when jumping
Difficulties with collected or lateral gaits
Changes in behavior
Frightened or painful facial expression
Sensitivity to touch

Alterations of the spine can affect muscle coordination and mobility of the horse, thereby causing decreased performance. The following signs may occur: