​Equine Chiropractic & Holistic Bodywork

What is Veterinary  Chiropractic?

Veterinary chiropractic is a manual therapy focused on supporting proper neuromusculoskeletal function. This approach addresses biomechanical function of the spine and its potential impact on the nervous system, internal organ function, hormone balancing, emotional regulation and overall body movement. Veterinary chiropractic is intended to be part of a comprehensive care plan and is a complementary therapy to standard veterinary care — it does not replace traditional veterinary medicine or diagnostics.

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Maximizing Chiropractic Effectiveness Through The Vital Equine Chiropractic Body Work Package

The Chiropractic Body Work Package at Vital Equine uses Muscle Testing to guide Applied Kinesiology, Laser Therapy, Chiropractic/Body Work, and Acupuncture — four modalities that work together to help identify imbalance, support the release of tension, and encourage proper neuromusculoskeletal function in a single session. Muscle testing serves as the map — revealing what the body needs, in what order, and to what degree — so that every modality applied is purposeful, precise, and appropriate for your horse in that moment. Not all four therapies are applied in any single session if the body is unable to receive their cumulative input — work is done in phases, allowing the body to release only what it is ready for. With each session building on the last, the layers begin to unravel and the body grows clearer, stronger, and more capable of holding its adjustments for longer.

Hoof and dental balance are the most critical pillars for proper posture, alignment, soundness, performance, vitality, and longevity. No chiropractic work can reach its full potential without proper hoof and dental balance. While the teeth and hooves are briefly assessed as part of this session and findings are discussed as needed, formal dental or farrier services are not included in the package fee. Please visit our Natural Balance Dentistry page to learn how proper balance in the mouth supports improved whole body balance.

Nutritional support is also not included in the package fee. Recommendations will be made where indicated — because the body may not hold an adjustment without the raw, nutritional materials needed at the cellular level to do so. Targeted nutritional support helps provide the lasting foundation needed for the bodywork to respond effectively, settle into place, and maintain itself as best as possible thereafter.


What can veterinary chiropractic be used for?

  • Acute problems such as tension or stiffness

  • Chronic musculoskeletal issues

  • Prophylactic support to maintain fitness

  • Help maintain soundness in older animals

  • Enhance performance ability of sport animals

  • As a complementary treatment for chronic lameness after traditional veterinary care.


What Are the Symptoms of an Animal Needing Chiropractic Care?*

The most common indicator is pain. Animals with back pain often express this in their posture or in their refusal to work. The animals attempts to compensate for the pain by changing its posture and way of going which can result in other problems such as joint damage. Impairment or distrubance to the flow of information in the nerves can lead to the following symptoms....

Indicator of pain in horses: 

  • Reduced performance
  • Abnormal posture
  • Snapping and pinning back its ears when being saddled
  • Insubordination when being ridden
  • The attempt 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
  • Unleveled gait rhythm
  • Irregularity of gait which cannot be assigned to a particular leg or gait
  • Stiffness when the horse leaves the stable
  • Stiffness when bending and in its general posture
  • Muscular atrophy
  • Brushing or interfering
  • Difficulty engaging the hindquarters
  • Difficulty working “long and low”
  • Shortened stride in one or more legs
  • Overall decreased range of motion in gait
  • Difficulty flexing the poll
  • Lameness
  • Horse pulls against one rein
  • Rider is seated off center due to the horse
  • The back does not swing ​​

Common Causes of Chiropractic Ailments:

Every day, most animals are exposed to  situations which may lead to harm of their spine. The following examples could  cause improper alignment of the spine: 

Trauma:
Caused by falls, trips, slips or being cast in the stable.
 
Composition:
Horses with long backs are inclined to have an increase in problems.
 
Transportation:
Long transportation times, accidents, poor shock absorption in the trailer and unsympathetic driving may cause damage. 
 
Birthing difficulties:
Difficult births where the foal is forcibly extracted may cause problems in both the mare and the foal.
 
Lack of movement:
Lack of space in which to move does not give the horse enough opportunity to ease tension by bucking or rolling.
 
Performance:
Every event strains the spine in a different, specific way.
 
Rider:
Problems with the rider’s seat (e.g. a crooked  seat)  can lead to back problems in the horse. 
 
Saddle:
Poorly fitting saddles are one of the most frequent causes of back problems.
 
Age:
As age increases, the effects of previous small and/or large traumas to the spine become more apparent. 
 
Shoes:
Poor hoof care and incorrect shoeing interfere with the horse’s movement  and may result in subluxations of the spine.


How Are Spinal Problems Prevented? 
 
Confirmation And Build
When selecting your animal for a particular discipline, you should always pay attention to the animal's build. Many breeds have been selectively bred for years to achieve certain goals and are therefore suitable for particular disciplines such as dressage, jumping or western riding.

Massage
Massage encourages circulation and metabolism within the muscles, promoting the supply of nutrients and removal of toxins. Massage relaxes tense muscles enabling them to function better. It can also promote healing in muscular injuries by loosening muscle fiber adhesions and increasing the flow of fluid and toxins from the tissue.
 
Training
Animals have an increasing tendency to subluxate and damage the spine if ligaments, tendons and muscles have not been developed to cope with the demands they are placed under. Interval training, suitable warm-up procedures and variety in training can help optimally condition sport animals.
 
Equipment/Saddle and Leashes
Ensure that your saddle fits your horse. If a saddle fits correctly, no thick padded saddle cloth/numnah or additional pads are necessary. Check your  saddle regularly to see whether the flocking is evenly worn, there is asymmetry of the panels or tree and that the saddle tree is intact. Any dampness under the saddle area after riding should be even in distribution. 
 
Shoes and Nails
It is practically impossible for a poorly shod horse or a horse with badly fitting shoes to have or maintain a spine that functions properly. Heels that are too high or underrun or uneven hoof wall length can negatively affect the mobility and posture of the animal. For the limb and spinal joints to function properly, it is necessary for the animal to be correctly trimmed or shod.
 
Training Aids
Many horses are forced into a desired frame with side-reins, martingales, draw-reins and other auxiliary reins. Used correctly, some of these aids can help in training; however, in the wrong hands they do the opposite. If a restriction in the spine already exists, these aids can make the problem even worse. Continual jerking and pulling on the lead rope or chain, especially with young horses, can lead to tension in the poll and neck area. 
 
Environment
Most sport horses are still kept in stables with limited space in which to move about and turnout is often restricted. The more time an animal spends in the stable without freedom of movement, the worse its coordination becomes. Its natural balance suffers, leading to an increased danger of injury. Bucking and rolling and moving freely are the animal’s natural means of mobilizing its spine. Make sure your animal gets enough exercise.
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Who Can Perform Chiropractic on Animals?*

In the state of California, it is only legal for a Veterinarian (DVM) or Human Chiropractor (DC) with a California State Veterinary or Chiropractic License to practice Animal Chiropractic. In the state of California, it is required that any Human Chiropractor with proper training in Veterinary Chiropractic only be allowed to perform on animals under the supervision of a California Licensed Veterinarian. It is required that these professionals complete a Veterinary Chiropractic school accredited by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) or the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) on top of earning their Doctorate Degree in Veterinary Medicine or Human Chiropractic first. The Veterinary Chiropractic program demands more than 210 hours of lecture, hands-on lab activity,  completion of case reports/studies on dogs and horses as well as passing a final exam prior to graduation from the Veterinary Chiropractic school.   

A weekend seminar or course in veterinary chiropractic does not certify a professional as an animal chiropractor nor does it provide enough time and education needed to understand the technicalities and precise application in the art and science of animal chiropractic. In the hands of the wrong people, your animal can be subject to further harm and damage. Do your research before hiring someone who claims to be a certified animal chiropractor.  Farriers are NOT qualified to perform any type of "manipulation" or "chiropractic adjustment" on horses in the state of California. It is illegal.

In addition, properly performed Animal Chiropractic does not use any tools, equipment, chisels, hammers, or the like in order to adjust an animal. Occassionally, an activator is used but should only be used by those educated in its use, skillfull enough to use it and must be certified to practice veterinary chiropractic medicine by either the AVCA or the IVCA. Chiropractic bales are a commonplace in veterinary chiropractic. These enable the chiropractor to stand on something stable and provide the height needed in order to achieve the proper angle and line of correction for certain segments over the horse's back.

Do not hire anyone who uses any inappropriate devices to adjust your horse or says that force is the only way to achieve an adjustment. If you hire someone, please watch them perform chiropractic and if it doesn't feel right in your gut or you have to look away because what they are doing looks unbearable, then you need to remove your horse from the situation immediately. Force and harm should never occur. This is not what true chiropractic is about.  Chiropractic is a safe, gentle and highly effective way of healing the body.

*Information courtesy of the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association.