McTimoney treatment for horses

What may cause a misalignment in my horse's spine or pelvis?

The causes of misalignments can be acute or chronic; misalignments may have resulted from a traumatic incident or they may have occured over time, often due to compensation. Some common examples are listed below;

Acute causes

Slipping/falling when being ridden or in the field

Becoming cast in the stable

Slipping/falling during travelling

Landing awkwardly when jumping

Chronic causes

Ill-fitting tack

Poor foot balance

Conformational faults

Dental problems

An unbalanced rider

Repetitive work/ strenuous

Compensation from an injury/lameness

How can I recognise signs of back pain?

Uncharacteristic bucking, rearing, napping

Reluctance to work in an outline/hollowing the back

Reduced ability to extend/collect

Stiffness on one rein/reluctance to bend

Head shaking/tilting the head

Inability/reluctance to strike off or maintain a particular canter lead

Reduced ability to carry out lateral work

Beginning to refuse jumps, rushing jumps, knocking down poles, running out.

Loss of ability to bascule over a fence, or drifting to one side

Unlevelness/stiffness, particularly behind

Behavioural changes, lethargy, or grumpiness

Reluctance to stand square

Moving off when mounting

Cold backed

Lameness, where alternative causes have been eliminated by a vet