June 11 - Equine Chiropractor

I had one over today to work on Angel and Dolly.

Angel has been sore in her withers since I brought her home from that breeding lease over a year ago. She sure needed it. She was out in her two first vertebrae (behind her ears), two in her neck, 4 in her withers, 2 in her mid back, two just as the back goes over the hips and her pelvis was tipped. Her shoulder was also out a bit and her tmj joint.

Poor girl, no wonder she didn't want to do anything - especially under saddle.

Melissa (yes another one) was very good...very patient with a horse that has no idea how to stand square. LOL Angel stood really good for the exam part...but HATED the adjustment. Every pop of the hand on the mallet caused a big jump sideways and a long look. The massage and accupressure after all was done she loved - dropped her head, closed her eyes, took really deep breathes, sighed lots. And you could see an immediate difference in her strides...Melissa said she saw it...I HEARD it as she was trotting behind me. Much more even and fluid.

Dolly was next. As you all know, Dolly has trust issues...and it is getting worse as she seems to be losing sight in the eye that was hurt two years ago at the breeders. Anyway...she did not like the exam at all. Went everywhere to get away from this strange lady...pulled us all over the place. I finally left to go and get doyle's help and when I came back, she was standing nice and calm for Melissa. She was out in 2 places in her neck, her pelvis was tilted and was especially bad in her lumbar area - probably due to the problems with her hocks. We decided to do a minimal adjustment...just trying to do the lumbar as that is where she was really bad. And amazingly enough, she stood there like a perfect lady while she got adjusted with the mallet...so everything got done.

Then the massage started - with LOTION (you know that scary liquid gel stuff that will eat you when it touches you). Well we were off to the races again trying to get that done. AFter the lotion was all applied she then stood again for a bit of an accupressure treatment in the really tight spots. When we turned her loose, she trotted away and YIPPEE...her back feet were going in stride with the front instead of a sort of bunny hop.

Melissa will be back on the 23rd to do a follow-up with the two girls. I may get her to look at Gunner due to the rigors of the training and now breeding season when she is back.

I was very happy.