Horse Chiropractor and Massage

McTimoney Chiropractic and Equine Massage to provide pain relief and optimise performance…

Back problems in horses can stem from a large number of causes and the McTimoney chiropractic technique is a highly effective treatment to relieve pain and improve movement.

I offer a specialised treatment that combines both McTimoney Chiropractic and Equine Sports Massage to give your horse the optimum benefit from their session. A regular chiropractic session for a horse includes:

An initial consultation and assessment
Approximately 30 minutes of McTimoney Chiropractic
Approximately 30 minutes of equine massage and stretches
Aftercare advice and followup recommendations

I also offer a 90 minute full body sports massage that can be booked separately or as part of the chiropractic session.

Areas covered in UK: Worcestershire and surrounding counties.

Signs Your Horse May Need an Equine McTimoney and Massage Treatment

Behavioural changes, such as napping, bucking and rearing in horses
History of poorly fitting tack
Less than ideal conformation such as a long back
Has suffered from an accident, injury or fall
Poor performance
Increased heart or respiration rate
Unusual sweating
Loss of condition
Loss of appetite
Lameness

Choosing a McTimoney Equine Practitioner

I am fully qualified with a BSc (Hons) Equine Science, a PGDip Animal Manipulation and an Equine Body Worker.

I am also a member of the McTimoney Animal Association and am fully insured to treat your horse. As a secondary carer I will need a Veterinary Consent Form to be completed before any treatment can be carried out on your horse.

All Equine Chiropractic Appointments Start with an Evaluation

Review of Your Horse’s Health History

As a fully insured and qualified McTimoney practitioner I always work with veterinary permission. Either you as the owner or your vet will have filled out my Veterinary Permission Form. This includes any relevant medical history for your horse.

You can also explain to me the problems your horse has been having, their symptoms, and any other relevant information.

Professional Evaluation Including Gait Analysis

I will assess your horse visually looking at their conformation, physical condition and how they move. I will ask you to walk and trot your horse on a level surface so I can observe their gait.I may also ask you to turn your horse in some tight circles on both reins. I’m also happy for you to ride or lunge your horse if this is where they are exhibiting abnormal behaviour or gait.

Thorough Physical Examination

After the gait analysis I will feel along their spine, pelvis, joints, and musculoskeletal structure. I am looking for any abnormalities such as stiffness, spasms or misalignments in the spine and pelvis, muscle pain or tension, and any asymmetries.

Included in the Equine Chiropractic and Massage Treatment

30 Minute Chiropractic Treatment

I will feel down your horse’s spine and pelvis looking for joint fixations. These asymmetries can be subtle or obvious with signs of inflammation, tension, heat and tenderness along the spinal column.

When a fixation occurs within a joint, the joint becomes locked at some point within its range of movement placing pressure on the spinal cord. This leads to dysfunction in the part of the body that the nerve affects. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to free the joint by releasing the muscle tension locking it in place. When the pressure is released from the spinal cord the body’s normal nerve function can be restored.

The whole of your horse’s body will be treated. I use short-lever, high-velocity, low-amplitude controlled thrusts to very specific anatomical points and articulations to create a therapeutic response in the horse and improve function of the joint, nerves and surrounding musculature.

30 Minute Massage Session

A regular session with me includes approximately 30 minutes of massage and stretching. I will check each muscle group and work on any areas of tension found. If you or I feel your horse would benefit from a 1.5 hour full body sports massage, this can also be booked.

Follow-Up Recommendations and Aftercare

Each case is unique, so I develop individualised programs of treatments that are most beneficial for your horse. Typically, there is a series of treatments until your horse has fully recovered and then a maintenance program will be devised and your horse should receive a treatment every 3 to 6 months.

I will give you some aftercare to do with your horse. This may include management advice, exercises, specific massage and stretches. Please try your best to follow the aftercare I give you as it will ensure your horse gets the most out of their session and that they will improve more quickly.

What to Expect After the Chiropractic Treatment

If a horse needs exercising it can be done on that day, before the treatment has been carried out as your horse will need to rest for a few days afterwards to let their body adjust.

You should notice an improvement in your horse, but occasionally this can take a few treatments to achieve.

After treatment your horse may feel sore and stiff but this is normal and it is their body adjusting to its new position. This shouldn’t last more than 24 hours.

Tiredness may also be observed and your animal may sleep more than normal for the next day or two.

Your horse may drink more than normal over the next few days.

It can also be an emotional event for the animal so it may not ‘be itself’ for a couple of days.

Any aftercare should be carried out as per instructions.

It is important to remember that healing takes time and is a process. Miraculous results won’t be achieved immediately as the body must then have time to heal itself after an adjustment. Various numbers of treatment may be required according to the age of the animal, the nature of the back problem, and how long the animal has had the back problem. Prevention is better than a cure and animals should continue to have treatments even if there are no outward signs of discomfort.

Book a McTimoney Equine Chiropractic Treatment