I am going to start really riding and training my ottb, he came off the track in December 2016 and has been sitting around in the pasture since then. Im thinking about having a equine chiropractor come and look at his back just to make sure his back isnt hurting anywhere before i start working him. People at the barn are telling me that it’s a waste money to do that since hes not acting like he’s hurting or anything right now. Do you think chiropractic work would help him
I’ve had a chiropractor out for my OTTB and he enjoyed it and seemed much more free in his movement after. She massaged and did laser therapy as well which he enjoyed. Unfortunately, I could not keep up with it at the time and I think that is a major factor in how it affects your horse.
I’ve personally received chiropractic care that really improved my quality of life! It’s expensive but if you can do it for yourself and your horse, I think it is well worth it!
No way to know. Is he showing any signs of discomfort or other symptoms of anything as you work him? If not then why spend the money?
A better, and likely less expensive choice, might be to let an equine massage therapist give him a good session either before, or shortly after, you put him under saddle.
I’m not a fan of chiropractic as I’ve had less than a 50% positive experience with it with multiple horses. It has it’s place when correctly done, but much of what the chiropractor does can be done by a good massage therapist. I’ve had a much better experience with them.
Give the horse what it needs, when it needs it, and in appropriate quantity and quality. But if it doesn’t need something then don’t waste resources on it. The day will come when it DOES need something and having the resources to do it will make you both feel better!!! 
G.
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I have a complementary medicine vet (specialist who uses both eastern and western medicine to treat lameness/chronic issues - she does chiropractic, acupuncture, e-stim, etc) who I have always had out before I begin work with a new horse. But I don’t just have her out just to write a check - she’s invaluable when it comes to confirming my own suspicions, helping identify potential problems in conditioning before they become worse, evaluating imbalances so I can address them in training, etc.
We know nothing about your horse, so no one can say if a chiropractor will help them. If you want an evaluation done on him prior to beginning work (which is entirely reasonable, IMO) have a really good lameness/sport medicine vet out to do a cursory physical exam and maybe draw some blood to test for basics like Vit. E, selenium, etc. That should give you a better idea of what may or may not be going on so you can address imbalances from the start. I don’t know that I’d jump right to a chiropractor if there isn’t a complaint yet.
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Any horse we buy now, goes to our Chiropractor on our way home or as soon as possible.
I am for an evaluation by a quality chiropractor, they aren’t all created equal:)
A horse doesn’t have to look sore to be sore — they are stoic and they are prey animals – they do everything possible to hide a defect.
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I had a Chiropractor come out for my boy and he has never been better !!! The difference is absolutely remarkable, especially with regular appointments. I definitely recommend it.
I would use whatever I could find a better recommendation for, massage or chiro. Most horses can benefit from both/either, just like people. But the really good ones will be able to give you invaluable insight into his body, like areas of tension or weakness you should work on or watch going forward.
I don’t think it is a waste of money at all. A really good equine chiro was going to be at my old barn for another horse, so I booked her for mine too. I am so glad I did! She identified so many little things with Bella and provided useful stretches or exercises for us to do together. Sometimes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
