FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What can I expect during the treatment?
A: I will go over the horse, exploring the areas which may be in pain, or imbalanced, and then I will treat those areas specifically. Since I am not as strong as a horse, I cannot simply force the spine back into alignment, and I instead rely on either very quick, sharp movements or in most cases I manipulate the surrounding tissue and muscle in order that the bones can adjust slightly back into their intended position. Sometimes I ask that the horse is lunged before and after the treatment, or walked/trotted in a straight line before and afterwards. This is to assess where the imbalances are and where the lameness or unevenness is originating from.
Q: What will the follow-up care be?
A: The follow-up care will vary according to what we found during the treatment. In the worst cases the horse should not be turned out and only have light work for about a week. This is because the muscles and ligaments need some time to adjust to the new alignment of the joints and bones, and any unnecessary or unnatural movement will disrupt this process. However, this is only in extreme cases and in the broad majority of what I see, it is possible to go back to work with your horse after a couple of days.
Your horse may need only one treatment, or he may need a follow-up. In some cases the horse may need a course of treatments to correct a deep-rooted problem.
A: The follow-up care will vary according to what we found during the treatment. In the worst cases the horse should not be turned out and only have light work for about a week. This is because the muscles and ligaments need some time to adjust to the new alignment of the joints and bones, and any unnecessary or unnatural movement will disrupt this process. However, this is only in extreme cases and in the broad majority of what I see, it is possible to go back to work with your horse after a couple of days.
Your horse may need only one treatment, or he may need a follow-up. In some cases the horse may need a course of treatments to correct a deep-rooted problem.
Q: My horse is very stiff after the treatment - is this normal?
A: Yes, and it is not a bad sign! Sometimes the chemical process in the body is changed by the treatment, and therefore the content of the muscles changes, causing extreme stiffness. It is similar to a person getting a bad headache after a sports massage - a lot of toxins are released from the damaged muscles, and they need time to disperse and build up again anew. During this period which only lasts a few days, you can give the horse some massages or pain management if you need to. However mostly the horses recover fast and are back to normal fairly quickly.
Q: Can I ride/work my horse after he has been treated?
A: It depends on what the problem was. Sometimes the horses are able to be worked, but with caveats, such as no cantering for a few days. The reason for this is to ensure that the new position in the skeleton stays and doesnt get put out of alignment again. The repetition of the same movements over and over is likely to create the problem all over again, and the muscles surrounding the bones need time to adjust.
A: It depends on what the problem was. Sometimes the horses are able to be worked, but with caveats, such as no cantering for a few days. The reason for this is to ensure that the new position in the skeleton stays and doesnt get put out of alignment again. The repetition of the same movements over and over is likely to create the problem all over again, and the muscles surrounding the bones need time to adjust.