Long-time readers may remember that I used to have a chiropractor come out for the Archer. She came out about monthly for several months and then we graduated into the "wellness program" and I was told that I could use her as I needed her.
I've kept up with the things she recommended: alternating the side I mount and dismount from, carrot stretches and "sit-ups". But after moving barns, I just wasn't as interested in having him adjusted. He was great until he wasn't.
My BM mentioned to me some issues she was seeing in a sales horse and I asked if she considered having him adjusted, since the vet found nothing wrong. And I recommended the chiro I'd used, but with heavy warnings that she wasn't my favorite person, but that all horse people are crazy to an extent.
Last week, the chiro came out and adjusted four horses. She immediately remembered me, remembered Archie, started asking questions about my life since last she saw me, and was 800% more personable than I had led everyone to believe. Hrm. She was pleased that I had kept up with so much, but still had the same personality problem that I didn't like about her last time. For example:
Me: ...X, Y, & Z problems, recently retired from jumping...Or...
Her: Oh, well at 19, he prob-
Me: 18.
Her: Oh, well at that age, he probably doesn't need to be jumping anyways. You could still do some crossrails.
Me: ..but the crossrails are what we're retired from. :|
Her: His topline doesn't look that bad, he's not sway-backed, but I would like it built up better. But, you know, at his age...
She found a few things out in his front legs/shoulders, a small spot where the saddle goes (she said every riding horse is out here), but not as much along the spine (testament to the alternate-mounting thing), and in his sacroiliac, which will plague the long-backed horse for the rest of his life. I think. She said we could recheck in 4-6 weeks, but since he isn't having any major problems, he didn't really need it. A couple of the other horses seen have already scheduled for the end of February, but I'm holding off. I'm sorta thinking that pastern already wants more juice.
When you look comparatively at his first visit:
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12 comments
Yeah...18 is not ancient! I dislike when people consider 10 or 11 older too! Good care keeps them going and makes such a difference. Loro Piana Vivaldi won Hickstead in 1996 at 19. So...yeah. age is a number, care is important, and you got it! Go Beka! Go Archie!
ReplyDeleteDemocrat went to the Olympics at 19 and placed. :)
Delete18 really isn't ancient at all. I *feel* like it is, but it isn't. My first horse is 34 and continued to be ridden until 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteSuzie is 22 - she is still full of piss and vinegar. I hate the word "senior citizen" for horses who are only 18 or 19!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain injections are expensive!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain injections are expensive!
ReplyDeleteEh, don't worry about what she says. You obviously know your horse better than anyone else. I love chiro visits for my guys, but I agree that it's important to find the right one...
ReplyDeleteOpposition Buzz continued competing at top tier events and actually cane out of retirement because he didn't take to it...or I think it was him, although I've a chestnut horse in mind and OB was black/brown *sigh* memory failure
ReplyDeleteAnyways there are multiple examples of horses competing at the top levels into their late teens.
Archie isn't old, you take absolutely amazing care of him! I hope I can be as good to my monsters in a few years
One of the school horses I leased for a while before I bought Violet was 32 when he quit being ridden. He made it known that year that he was ready to be done. And another one is currently 34 and was ridden well into his 30's. 18 is not old for most horses. Of course, I have also known some that had to be retired at 15...
ReplyDeleteI like to have the chiro out once a year, but it really depends on the horse and how well it works for them.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteit's always heartening to see some improvement from one adjustment to the next - but i tend to agree with you about prioritizing the funds for things like injections..
ReplyDeleteThanks!