Horses are susceptible to musculoskeletal problems due to the demands placed on their
bodies. Many horses, whether an elite athlete or a happy hacker, may suffer from neck, back or pelvic pain at some point in their life. This may have been as a result of a fall or injury, poorly fitted tack, an asymmetric rider, conformational faults or a number of other reasons. Either immediately or over time these misalignments can cause discomfort and may result in secondary issues. Some symptoms that horses may show include:

• Back pain
• Bucking
• Rearing
• Napping
• Jump refusal
• Incorrect canter lead
• Saddle fitting issues.
• Resistance to the contact
• Difficulty in lateral flexion

Left: A horse showing imbalances through the neck and thoracic spine caused by misaligned vertebrae.

Right: The horse immediately after receiving a McTimoney treatment.