jobialkowska
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The importance of physical asessmentsWell I a blinding flash of the obvious this week! I took my horse on a week course where in the morning I observed colt starts and in the afternoon I had a lesson. Since the week I came happened to be the first week of the colt start, I got to see everything from scratch, including a local guy who came to do a physical check of the horses. The importance of these physical check were strongly stressed - often horses buck because of back problem (and don't we all know that?!).
A short back story of Olivia: I've noticed a long time ago that her hind end was unlevel, with the right side being significantly lower. I've asked numerous vets about this and after a brief check they all came to the same conclusion - she'd been over worked on the left rein and I needed to do more work on the right rein. That was all very well when I wasn't asking her to use her body properly, but as soon as I began to look for more tracking up and engaging of the hindquaters she really struggled. I assumed it was just a learning curve and would come with time. She has always stepped out slightly with her right hind rather than placing it under her centre of gravity. This occasionally became more pronounced so it appeared she was lame.
Anyway, back to the chiropractor. I asked if he minded having a quick look at my horse. He touched two points on her withers and asked if she was harder on the right rein and if she often cantered disunited. He was right...and it turned out she had a displaced joint in her hip which had been like that for a long time. He did some very interesting looking things to her and put it back in place and already I can see a difference in how she's much more happy to pick up the right lead in the canter. I'm looking forward also to seeing how her flying lead changes change.
The point of this post is just to remind anyone who is in similar positions to me that many problems are more deep rooted than just mental. I'm so glad this problem has been sorted out - my horse is more comfortable and now I can begin to ask more of her.
Has anyone had any similar experiences?
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Niek
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to many to count.. 
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Mandy'sMarty
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Welcome to my world. I see horses with physical issues like yours all the time. I suspect most behavioral issues are based on physical discomfort and pain. It's unfair to expect to have an emotionally balanced horse that is physically unbalanced.
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Chablis
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Same here - my mare's pelvis is unlevel (thanks to her racing days) and it has taken some time to build her up so that the muscle tone is close to level now.
She finds it harder picking up a right lead so I've been advised to give her a little more time when I ask. Also to do hill/pole work & carrot stretches with her to get her using her HQ's & back correctly and to help her become more even/flexible. 
Here is an old photo showing her unlevel pelvis (it looks much better now):
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cokey
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Look at Marijke de Jong's straightness training course. Perfect for you and your horse!!
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jobialkowska
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Why haven't I heard of Marijke de Jong before? Seems like it was made for me and my horse. It just sucks that now I'm a student I can't afford the straightness training :'( Do you know where I can find a schedule of her visits to the UK? It would be cool if I could see her at some point in the future, for now I'll use the free e-book. Thanks so much cokey!
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PasoBaby_CarolU
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The Chiro made a world of difference for Rosie. It is how I found out her neck had been injured and why she throws her head to self-adjust it all the time. I see the same issue with a lot of horses now that I'm looking at it and seeing it.
Glad she is doing better.
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cokey
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I don't know if she does visit the UK. If she does, I'm first in the queue to see her!!
The straightness training course isn't that much (less than £90). I know that it's tough for a student to afford, but it's probably less than a couple of chiropractor visits  Do you have any birthdays coming up ? 
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jobialkowska
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Too true, birthday in August but I'm sure I can convince my parents to gift it to me if I promise not to starve myself instead 
I guess this is why I ought to get a job... But thanks for linking me to her, the info I have found from her looks really interesting and seems like a good find
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