What’s getting in the way of your work outs? Pain? Fear you’re doing more harm than good? Unsure what exercises you should be doing?
We’re here to help you navigate. (Though we may not be able to train your cats to stay out of the way)
It doesn’t get better than helping our best friends feel better 🖤🐾
It’s easy to skip out on stretching or cooling down after your work out, or say you’ll do it later, or when you get home…. Get some of those stretches in before heading home from your ride or hike.
Chiropractic isn’t only for the horse’s spine! Joints in the horses’s legs can also be adjusted. A horse that can stand calmly with one leg picked up is able to be more thoroughly assessed. That being said, a horse not wanting to pick up a certain leg can be a sign of pain, especially when combined with other signs like tail swishing or ear pinning. If you’ve really been working to improve how your horse picks up its legs and not making progress, chiropractic care may help!
Going hand in hand with yesterday’s post about teaching your horse to put their head down is getting them comfortable being touched all around their ears, jaw, and mouth. A lot of horses deal with pain in their poll and are sensitive when people are touching around their ears or have had previous bad experiences with twitching or being wormed. Getting them comfortable with putting their head down and having someone feeling around their ears and jaw helps them to relax and not worry so much when the chiropractor comes around. Plus, they might even start to enjoy getting some scritches there.
A horse that is nervous tends to hold its head high in the air to look around or avoid being touched. Teaching them to put their heads down with gentle pressure before their chiropractic visit can help them to feel more confident and relaxed when asked by a new person. A horse that knows how to put it’s head down helps Dr. Callie to analyze and adjust it’s poll more easily and helps adjustments go more smoothly and effectively.
Dr. Callie utilizes an adjusting “bale” to get up above a horse an work on their spine. To help your horse feel more calm and comfortable during their appointment, work on moving around above them and putting your hands all over their body from both sides. Use a mounting block or a bale of hay to practice (though they may try to sneak a snack).
Seeing the chiropractor is a new experience for a lot of horses! They meet a new person that is touching them all over (sometime where things hurt). Exposing them to a few things before their visit helps them to feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible so that they can get the most out of their visit. Follow along the next few days as we go over 4 things that you can work on with your horse to set them up for success!
Movement is medicine! Stretching is sometimes easy to set aside to do another day… and then another day… and another. Stretching helps to improve our flexibility and increase the range of motion of our joints. Pairing stretching with some slow, deep belly breaths is great for our bodies and our minds. How are you going to add more stretching into your routine?
Dr. Callie travels from Buena Vista to Villa Grove, Fairplay, Leadville, and the surrounding areas so that as many animals as possible can have access to chiropractic care. Spending time in the car means that small travel fees need to be added to the appointment cost, but the fee can be split by everyone along the way! The best way to find out when Dr. Callie is coming to your area is to follow along on our social media accounts. If you don’t see a day set up soon in your area, reach out to set something up for your animal. Ask your friends and neighbors if they would be interested in chiropractic care as well! Dr. Callie always does her best to fill her schedule along the way so that the travel fee is minimal for everyone.
Not feeling ready for all your summer adventures? We’re here to help no matter where you are in your journey! Contact us to learn more about how chiropractic care can help!
If you're reading this, go do your exercises and stretches. If you haven't been in for an appointment, and you're wondering what movements would be best to add into your day, we're here to help!
Chiropractic care can benefit all of us—humans, horses, dogs... really anything with a spine! Chiropractic care helps increase our well-being and decrease discomfort. It’s a win-win for all that allows EVERYONE to go on another adventure TOGETHER.
"Dr. Callie had an excellent repoire with my senior gelding who suffers from some diagnosed arthritis after many years of work. She provided him with quick relief. A great asset to our equine community here in CO." -Sneeze's Owner
Do you have an older horse that is starting to have some mobility challenges? Chiropractic care is a great addition to keep them feeling their best!
A few days ago we worked on spinal mobility through flexion and extension (forward fold and backwards bend). Today we'll work more on rotation through the spine! You'll also probably feel this stretch between your shoulder blades. While on all 4 limbs, take your right arm and "thread" it through the left arm and thigh until you feel a stretch or are resting on your right shoulder and cheek. Pause here for 5 breaths and repeat on the other side. Alternatively, if you have a foam roller, place it on the outside of your left arm and leg and use it under your right arm to slowly come in and out of the stretch. As always, repeat on the other side
Noticing any aches or pains that aren't getting better with stretches? We'd love to help! Reach out to schedule an appointment and learn more about how to ease your discomfort
The stretches provided here are general recommendations for promoting flexibility and muscle relief and are to be used at your own risk. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you experience any discomfort or pain during these stretches, discontinue the activity and seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Individual needs vary, so it's essential to tailor any stretching routine to your specific health requirements.
Yesterday we worked on our first stretch in a quadruped (on all fours) position and today we’ll build off of it! Keep the hands placed on the floor with the wrists under the shoulders, then take one leg straight out to the side. Keeping that leg straight, slowly rock back and send the hips towards the heel. Rock forward and back at least 5 times on either side to stretch out the inner thigh.
Noticing any aches or pains that aren’t getting better with stretches? We’d love to help! Reach out to schedule an appointment and learn more about how to ease your discomfort
The stretches provided here are general recommendations for promoting flexibility and muscle relief and are to be used at your own risk. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you experience any discomfort or pain during these stretches, discontinue the activity and seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Individual needs vary, so it’s essential to tailor any stretching routine to your specific health requirements.
Neck pain is something many of us deal with and can be caused and aggravated by many different things. Here's two quick stretches to try the next time you feel some of that tension coming on. Begin by sitting on your right hand. Lean your left ear towards your left shoulder and take 5 breaths. Next, roll your chin down towards your left collarbone (kind of like you're trying to sniff your own armpit) and take 5 breaths again. Repeat with the right ear going towards the right side.
Noticing any aches or pains that aren't getting better with stretches? We'd love to help! Reach out to schedule an appointment and learn more about how to ease your discomfort
The stretches provided here are general recommendations for promoting flexibility and muscle relief and are to be used at your own risk. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you experience any discomfort or pain during these stretches, discontinue the activity and seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Individual needs vary, so it's essential to tailor any stretching routine to your specific health requirements.
We all go about a ton of our days with our arms out in front us whether we're sitting at a desk, holding a baby, or riding a bike, but how often do we do the opposite? To do so, get a foam roller or roll up a towel and put it long ways underneath your upper spine - starting at about the base of the neck. Use another towel or pillow to support the neck if needed. Knees can be bent or straight depending on how you are comfortable and balanced. Start with your arms straight down by your sides on the ground. Slowly slide your hands up, along the floor (almost like you're making a snow angel). If you reach a spot that is particularly tight, pause there for a few breaths before you keep going. Once your arms arm by your ears, repeat the process to bring them back down to your sides
Noticing any aches or pains that aren’t getting better with stretches? We’d love to help! Reach out to schedule an appointment and learn more about how to ease your discomfort
The stretches provided here are general recommendations for promoting flexibility and muscle relief and are to be used at your own risk. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you experience any discomfort or pain during these stretches, discontinue the activity and seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Individual needs vary, so it’s essential to tailor any stretching routine to your specific health requirements.
Have you ever had pain around your gluts that may have even sent pain down the back of your leg? This could be a good stretch for you! The figure 4 stretch works on our piriformis muscle. Sometimes when the piriformis muscle is tight, it can put pressure on our sciatic nerves, causing pain and radiation into the back of the leg. While piriformis syndrome or sciatic are multifactorial, this stretch can be a good place to start. (Book an appointment if these symptoms are resonating with you and you’d like to get on top of them!). While laying on your back, put the right ankle over the opposite knee. Work on pressing the right knee away from your chest. Either pause here and take 5 deep breaths, or start bringing the left knee towards your chest if you’d like to feel a little more stretch. Repeat on the other side.
Noticing any aches or pains that aren’t getting better with stretches? We’d love to help! Reach out to schedule an appointment and learn more about how to ease your discomfort
The stretches provided here are general recommendations for promoting flexibility and muscle relief and are to be used at your own risk. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you experience any discomfort or pain during these stretches, discontinue the activity and seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Individual needs vary, so it’s essential to tailor any stretching routine to your specific health requirements.
