In recent years, veterinary chiropractic has grown exponentially. Some think that it is just a “fad” that will move on with the times, but in reality most are discovering an adjustment to be extremely beneficial for their horse’s performance and overall well-being.

Regardless of the horse’s chosen discipline or workload, it is fair to say that most animals can benefit from a chiropractic adjustment performed by a licensed and board-certified individual. Of course there are some conditions that limit the scope of the adjustment. However, a well-trained individual will recognize these “red flags” and work closely with your primary veterinarian to determine the safety and necessity of chiropractic treatment.

Whether you notice that your older retiree is struggling to get up and down or your young jumper is late behind on his change, both can get great results from an adjustment. Chiropractic is built upon the biomechanical function of joints throughout the entire body. I often describe it to clients as a domino effect- what is restricted in the horse’s pelvis, inevitably will also affect the neck’s ability to flex, extend, turn left, and turn right. Every joint within the body affects every movement the body makes. When a joint is not moving properly, soft tissue is at risk because their function is compromised. When an adjustment is performed the “motion restriction” is released, thus allowing muscles, ligaments, and tendons to perform efficiently.

A properly performed chiropractic adjustment does not involve a big show with lots of popping and cracking, as most people think. The animal should be fairly relaxed and enjoy the session. Most of the time the precision of the adjustment cannot be seen by the untrained eye and a typical session is completed in 15 to 20 minutes.