Which therapist for the best?

[endurancenutter]

Now, I have a 7 yr old TB who is ex track, and Im just going to start bringing him back into work from illness (haemoperitonium (10litres of blood in the belly) and atrial fibrillation). Hes now had about 9 weeks off work.

Now, Ed is a weaver, not badly, just mildly, but the yard make me put a weave grill up. so instead of weaving he throws his head up and down. When I got him 2 years ago, his saddle was too tight and he not only had severe atrophy of the withers, he had a good deal of pain there and tenderness around the poll.

Ive had McTim and Osteo out to him, which have been ok, but currently, he has a VERY tight Nuchal lig, and more tension under the right wing of the atlas (1st vertebrae). He has started to get very grumpy having any poll pressure put on the area, and on the lunge will resist, turn his head away from the circle, pin his inside ear back and shake his head, often sideways. This is most obvious now he has had 9 weeks off. And I find it as distressing as he does!!

I lunged today, for the first time, just in walk and trot, and in the end I took the degouge off after only 3 mins! He was happier without, but still resistant.

Obviously, I want to get this sorted before I put him back into serious work. I will get his teeth checked (last done about 5 months ago), but I dont know who to get to see him for the best.

My Osteo tells me I should be doing it myself as I am training to be an osteo. The McTim I use Im not convinced about, didnt see much difference after using them last, and the McTim I used before them was useless IMO.

So, does anyone have any suggestions? He needs a good global check, but needs this sorting and I dont know who to use for the best.

(I will be doing some soft tissue work on him myself)

[annahindley]

You must know an osteopath!?! Why don't you want to treat yourself? Have you trained in horses or are you doing people? I don't think I would be that confident without specialist training, but I must admit i did treat my own horse before training in animals - but she didn't have any major issues.
McTimmoney is made up of spinal therapist and chiropractors, and only one chiropractic technique anyway- perhaps you could try a "mainstream" chiropractor? The spinal therapists have much shorter training too and are different again from the McTim chiros. Can you do some trigger point therapy or strain-counter-strain on him, if you are not happy thrusting? Where abouts are you?

[carrie not logged]

Perhaps manipulation alone is not enough to help his many problems? I would try some form of muscle release as well, perhaps Equine Touch for example, which works well with spinal therapy/chiropractic etc. I treated my horse whilst training but he didn't really have a lot of problems anyway!!