Horse chiropractic

Don’t mark me down as a believer. I just can’t imagine how a gentle tap here and there from a spring-loaded “activator” can readjust muscles and bones. They are, after all, fairly substantial (especially in horses) and I should think that it would take some pretty hefty forces to get them into alignment, assuming they are not aligned properly to begin with.

Well, Champagne has a crookedness issue that seems to be getting worse. He’ll canter left (he did it for me Tuesday!) but not right, and even when walking straight he curves to the left. Cath, my instructor, rode him on trails the week we were gone and said she heard his back clicking. She heard it again during the lesson last night (although I didn’t, but then I’m a little deaf).

So I have agreed to have him have a series of treatments to see if he can be straightened out at all. I am very skeptical, but on the other hand if there is a chance he can be prevented from becoming lame and need stall rest for weeks it seems worth a try.

But on the other hand (?three hands?) if he only wants to canter left, is that an issue? In Wyoming I asked which lead to ask for on loping and the wrangler said the horses pretty much pick their own, whatever they prefer, and most of them do have a preference. Those hard-working ponies get the job done without a fuss and lead options don’t seem to be a consideration.

I am so getting Champagne a western saddle for the trails, and if the chiropractic doesn’t work, he’ll get to not canter right, I guess.