Is your horse lame or painful after chiro adjustment?

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

I have a friend who's horse is off about a week after an adjustment? I wouldn't think this is normal. I'd expect the horse to actually feel better.
What's been your experiences?

[Renn/aissance]

I have never had that experience with a horse. However, often, after I've had a major back adjustment, I'll be sore--because my back is aligned in a way that my muscles aren't used to.

[JB]

If that's a regular occurrence, then I'd really start questioning what the chiro is doing, why, and how.

If it's because the horse was really out, then yes, he could be sore. But if he's seeing the chiro regularly (which sounds like the case, is that correct?) then there shouldn't be anything out enough to cause this.

[JackSprats Mom]

I agree with JB and use my chiro regularly. If something was seriously out of whack then maybe (but I mean seriously!).

If my guy is out he often has that day off and maybe the next for good luck but thats it.

Normally, as I use him on a regular basis, the adjustments are tiny and he can be ridden the same day.

[CJ82Sky]

I've used multiple chiros before finding the one I use now, and have to say that a horse that is lame/off after an adjustment is a HUGE red flag to me. My current chiro that I swear by (and formed equi-eval.com around) suggests 24h off to let the horse relax, then encourages work, especially trot work (as do i from a training perspective) to help the muslces support the adjustment. He's also a fan of massage in conjunction with the adjustment to again help the muslces relax.

The one chiro I used was $$$ and came highly recommended and was used for many top name race horses (Derby winners!) and he was awful. Did too much in one session, and caused my horse with back issues to be off/sore for days, and long term actually made him worse. Finding the right chiro is absolutely key in my opinion.

[dwblover]

I'd also agree that it's not normal. I could see after the first one, maybe two sessions for the horse to be a LITTLE bit sore. But for the horse to still be sore for a week after an adjustment, that sounds a little scary. How many sessions has the horse had? My horse always appeared very relaxed and comfy after his sessions.

[dalpal]

I had a horse who was always sore after chiropractic work. And this is a reputable chiro that many people in the area use.

Current chiro has worked on him twice and he has never been sore.

I will say that if your horse gets tense, it will possibly make things worse instead of better. I think my horse was suspicous of Chiro A for some reason, thus leaving him sore. Chiro B is an actual veterinarian who also does massage and accupunture...I think she just happens to have the magic touch with him. She spends alot more time with him than anyone else...usually 45 mintues to an hour.

[Seven-up]

Speaking from a human chiro perspective, the only time I'm lame after an adjustment is directly related to muscle soreness from being out of whack. That goes away after a day or 2. I almost always walk out of the office feeling better than when I walked in. (Not to mention walking straighter and taller.)


So I'm gonna vote not normal.

[evans36]

My guy was out of work for about 9 months because of injury (mine, not his) and then when we came back to work I had the chiro out. Not one I had used before, but was v. impressed with this one. She said he was the worst case she had seen in a really long time. "Crippled" was the word she used. She worked on him for 45 minutes, said it was like pounding on a picnic table, and then scheduled a followup in 3 weeks because there was only so much she could do in one session.

My horse was tender the next 2 days, but certainly not lame. After that, he was much more free and balanced. After the follow-up session, he was hardly tender at all. I would be red flagged if this chiro isn't spending 45 min to 1 hour on the horse. And I also think the lameness is not usual. Soreness through the muscles, sure for a few days even if it's a major adjustment. But not lame.

If it's a possibility, try another chiro who is also a vet. This new one has made a world of difference for my guy - the last one was not a vet. And try another chiro! Also try massage after the session (wait a little bit though) or the next day, that might help the soreness issues some.

[092556]

Did the horse have a problem in the first place? Why was the chiro called out?

[BornToRide]

If that's a regular occurrence, then I'd really start questioning what the chiro is doing, why, and how.

If it's because the horse was really out, then yes, he could be sore. But if he's seeing the chiro regularly (which sounds like the case, is that correct?) then there shouldn't be anything out enough to cause this.I agree - if it happens this frequently and severely I would suspect the Chiro is going in too fast and too much.

Many issues can simply be resolved with massage therapy, because it is generally tight muscles that cause the subluxations to begin with. Ideally a horse should be massaged first and then adjusted. It will make the adjustmenst easier on both sides and will last longer.

If this isn't possible, as least warm the horse up a bit prior to the adjustment, so the muscles are warm and will more easily release. This advise should be given by any chiro prior to treatment. I do not understand why they usually do not mention this. In massage, the manipulation of the muscles warms them up, which does not happen the same way in chiropractic work.

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

Horse is a little short on the right hind. I think he's only had a couple of adjustments.

[Guilherme]

I'm not much of a "believer" in chiro but did find a lady who's "admustments" have produced clear, positive effects. She says give them a one day rest, then back to work. Did that; no problems.

I'd say if there's soreness after a week then there's a problem. Whether or not the chiro caused it would the question.

G.

[May the FORCE bwu]

After an adjustment - my horse feels so good - my chiro has me give him a day off and as much tunrout as possible following appointment. He prances and throws his head the whole way out to the pasture and then once there, he bucks and rolls and you can just see that he is so thankful......

[Mav226]

The first 3 times I got adjusted I was seriously lame. Lame might be an understatement. I was leg-dragging crippled. I was quite messed up to begin with though. After that, each time felt better. Now, I can skip out of the office feeling 100%.

If the horse is lame EVERY time, that might be a problem. If it's only after the first few adjustments, maybe he's just getting used to the correct position of his spine/muscles.

I've heard that people who get their horses done too infrequently experience this problem on occasion. It's like every time is the first time because the appointments are so spread apart. Sometimes, they need to come out more than once a week and do minor adjustments rather than the whole she-bang at once. I know a trainer who had a pony who had to get done 3x per week for the first month of treatment. The pony is now down to once every 6 weeks, if I recall correctly.

[pines4equines]

We have two local chiros, one that really cracks and crinks and one that is softer. My horse really responded better to the softer chiro. I too used to go to a chiro that cracked and crinked my back. I'd go out feeling worse than when I went in. I switched chiros to a softer chiro and it's night and day. Is your chiro cracking the back too sharply?

[WB Mom]

My chiro always recommends 24 hours off, then exercise, but not heavy for a couple of days.
He has never been lame after an adjustment, even the first one he had ever had in his life. Some horses respond better to a gentler touch, some to more firm. I would try and get a recommendation for another chiro and discuss this with them prior to coming out. Not every equine practitioner will work with every type of horse.

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

Thanks everybody for all the information. I've never seen the chiro work with my friend's horse. Don't know if it's severe or not. I'll get her to read all the posts about this & make up her own mind.
Thanks again for the posts.