Common Issues & Complaints: The smallest restrictions cause the biggest problems.

As an Equine Osteopath, I get a variety of complaints. It can range from general lameness in a horse, to specifics like lead trouble, head sensitivity, ear sensitivity, or hind limb swelling (“stocking up”) in the horse. These issues can be caused by multiple, overlapping reasons, or sometimes it's simple, and requires an easy fix. Check out some common equine issues and complaints below! 

Some of the most common complaints include: 

• General Lameness

• Lead trouble

• Head sensitivity

• Poll Sensitivity

• Head flipping or shaking

• Ear Sensitivity

• Crossfiring (lead swapping)

• Not picking up leads

• Weak hind end

• Weak hind end

• Trouble collecting

• Trouble crossing over

• Box issues 

• Gate issues

• Bucking

• Being “off” 

• Tripping

• “Stocking up” (hind limb swelling)

• Shoulder stiffness

• Tying up often

• “Dropping out” in the hind end

• Anxious and/or nervous 

• Cinchyness 

These are all things that I am able to help with as an Equine Osteopath, or at least help find the root cause to reach the conclusion of “why.” Sometimes I find it’s stemming from an internal or structural issue that I am able to address. Other times it’s external to Osteopathy, such as a joint, pathology, or underlying disease that needs to be addressed by a Vet. Quite often I find dental or farrier related imbalances that need to be addressed to re-establish biomechanical harmony and balance in the body!  Stay tuned… I’ll be diving into these common issues more in depth in a later post.