Seven Acre Chiropractic

Seven Acre Chiropractic Dr. Taylor Rieck is here to deliver fantastic chiropractic care to your equine athlete or pasture pu
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A nice FYI post! ๐Ÿฆด โค๏ธ
07/23/2025

A nice FYI post! ๐Ÿฆด โค๏ธ

Sharing as I have many clients that are sensitive to this. โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿฉน
06/03/2025

Sharing as I have many clients that are sensitive to this. โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿฉน

๐ŸŒฌ๏ธ ๐€๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐š๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ˆ๐ง๐๐ž๐ฑ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ: ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐‡๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐žโ€™๐ฌ ๐‹๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐Ÿด

With wildfires already impacting air quality across parts of the U.S., now is not the time to assume the air is safeโ€”especially for our horses. Smoke particles, also called PM2.5 (tiny particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller), can slip deep into equine lungs, causing irritation and inflammation. This makes it harder for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream. Over time, repeated exposure can lead to chronic respiratory problems, decreased performance, and lasting lung damage.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) links daily pollution levels with health risks. It measures pollution from human sources (like vehicle emissions and industry) and natural events (like wildfires). The AQI converts six pollutant measurements into a single number from 0 to 500 to reflect potential health impacts. While originally designed for humans, itโ€™s a valuable tool for horse owners, tooโ€”because the same particles that harm us also pose serious risks to equine lungs.

๐€๐๐ˆ ๐‹๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฌ & ๐‘๐ž๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ž๐ง๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐‡๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฌ๐ŸŽ

๐ŸŸข ๐ŸŽโ€“๐Ÿ“๐ŸŽ (๐†๐จ๐จ๐): Air quality is safe. All activities are fine for healthy horses.

๐ŸŸก ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿโ€“๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ (๐Œ๐จ๐๐ž๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ž): Limit activity for horses with respiratory issues.

๐ŸŸ  ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿโ€“๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“๐ŸŽ (๐”๐ง๐ก๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ž๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฌ): No work for horses with respiratory or heart conditions. Healthy horses should reduce intense exercise.

๐Ÿ”ด ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿโ€“๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ (๐”๐ง๐ก๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ): Limit activity to slow walking; cancel events. Avoid work if AQI stays over 150 multiple days.

๐ŸŸฃ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿโ€“๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ (๐•๐ž๐ซ๐ฒ ๐”๐ง๐ก๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ): No work for any horses. Keep horses indoors with filtered air if possible; consider nebulizer treatments.

๐ŸŸค ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŽ๐Ÿโ€“๐Ÿ“๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ (๐‡๐š๐ณ๐š๐ซ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ): Horses should remain indoors with filtered air. Relocate if AQI stays above 400 for multiple days.

๐“๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐œ๐ญ ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐‡๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ƒ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐€๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐š๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐Ÿšจ
๐Ÿ‘ƒ Monitor respiratory rate. Healthy horses breathe 8โ€“14 breaths per minute.
๐Ÿ’ง Control dust by soaking hay or wetting down dry lots.
๐Ÿ’จ Use nebulizers
๐Ÿฅค Provide plenty of fresh water.
๐Ÿ›‘ Limit or avoid exercise during poor air quality.
๐Ÿ  Keep horses inside in barns with filtered air whenever possible.

Even low levels of smoke can damage horse lungs, especially during work. The AQI is a simple but powerful tool, use it daily to guide turnout and training. Breathing clean air isnโ€™t a luxury; itโ€™s essential.

Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer

Pretty cool post! Get them outside โœ…
04/22/2025

Pretty cool post! Get them outside โœ…

Turnout is one of the most polarizing topics in modern horse keeping. So, letโ€™s skip the debate. Weโ€™ve gathered some results from veterinary science, peer-reviewed journals, and international welfare assessments. These are real numbers, from real studies, so you can make strategic decisions rooted in evidence, not tradition.

-A 25% reduction in soft tissue injuries was found in adult horses turned out for at least 12 hours daily, compared to those kept in stalls greater than 12 hours daily. (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021)

-Comparing turnout duration, a study found that horses with only 2 hours of turnout exhibited significantly higher energy levels, anxiety, and behaviors such as rearing, bucking, and fence running, whereas horses receiving over 12 hours of turnout were more likely to walk, graze, and remain calm. (Hockenhull & Creighton, 2010)

-Foals receiving inconsistent turnout (9 to 23 hours per day) had 4.6 times more musculoskeletal injuries than those with 24/7 access to turnout. Furthermore, for every extra acre of turnout, there was a 24% reduction in injury risk. (Brown-Douglas et al., 2022)

-A study on 2-year-old horses found that those kept in individual stalls required more time to get used to training activities and showed more unwanted behaviors, like resistance or agitation, than horses kept on pasture. The stalled horses needed an average of 26 minutes of training time, while the pastured horses needed only 19 minutes, to complete the same task. Additionally, the stalled horses were more likely to show unwanted behaviors during training (8 instances on average compared to just 2 for pastured horses). (Rivera et al., 2002)

-Stall-kept livestock experience a higher incidence of hoof-related issues, including uneven hoof growth and lameness, while those with access to turnout demonstrated healthier, more balanced hoof development. (Black, R.A. et al., 2017)

-A European welfare study using the AWIN protocol assessed 315 horses in group-housing turnout systems. Only 2.3% of these horses exhibited signs of lameness, compared to lameness rates as high as 33% in stalled horses across various studies. (AWIN Welfare Assessment, 2023)

-Within just one day of moving from group turnout to individual stalling, equine cortisol levels spike, and their white blood cell count shows significant changes, including a 25% increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a decrease in infection-fighting cells like monocytes and T cells. Additionally, behaviors indicative of stress, such as oral manipulation, neighing, pawing, and apathy, became evident in most horses within a week. (Schmucker et al., 2022)

-Horses with regular turnout showed higher heart rate variability, indicating improved balance in their autonomic nervous system and greater stress resilience. (Rietmann et al., 2004)

-Welsh ponies who received daily pasture turnout in a herd exhibited fewer stress-related behaviors, were significantly calmer, less fearful, less reactive, more interactive with humans, and more adaptable in learning tasks compared to ponies housed in impoverished environments (stalls with limited turnout). Even three months after the study, ponies in the enriched group retained these positive behaviors and demonstrated higher curiosity and superior learning performance. (Lansade et al., 2014)

Can you find a single peer-reviewed study that shows horses kept stabled 24/7 are sounder, healthier, or happier than those with regular turnout? Even the most finely tuned, performance-focused horses are still horses. Just like any other, they require room to roam, stretch their legs, and engage in natural behaviors such as grazing and socializing.

Itโ€™s important to recognize that no horse truly dislikes turnout. If a horse resists going outside, itโ€™s due to improper conditioning, previous negative experiences, or being overwhelmed by a sudden change in environment: whatโ€™s known as "flooding." Horses whoโ€™ve been confined for extended periods or whoโ€™ve never had proper exposure to outdoor spaces may react with anxiety or reluctance. These reactions stem from fear, not from an inherent dislike of turnout. With patience and gradual exposure, every horse can be reconditioned to embrace the outdoors. After all, instincts tell them to roam, graze, and move, it's in their nature.

Of course, there are times when limiting a horse's movement is necessary, such as during health issues or transportation. In these instances, itโ€™s crucial to understand the physiological and psychological changes that occur so we can minimize stress and discomfort.

Turnout is a biological necessity. To support our horsesโ€™ overall health and well-being, we must prioritize their freedom to move. After all, a healthy, happy horse is one that has the opportunity to be just that: a horse.

๐Ÿ‘
04/17/2025

๐Ÿ‘

Kissing Spines

Overriding (or impinging) dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP), or โ€œkissing spinesโ€, occur when vertebrae in the spine are too close together, rather than being spaced apart as in a healthy spine. This results in touching or overlapping of two or more of the bony projections at the top of each vertebrae (spinous processes). In some horses, this can cause consistent, low-grade pain, but many horses do not exhibit any clinical signs.

The locations and number of vertebrae involved can vary. Kissing spines most commonly occur between thoracic vertebrae (T) 13 and 18, with T15 the most often affected. This is the site where the angle of the dorsal spinal process changes orientation. It is also the site directly under the saddle and the riderโ€™s seat. Kissing spines have also been observed in the lumbar vertebrae, but this is less common.

The presence of kissing spines is not necessarily cause for concern, but it can be a predisposing factor for back pain. Thoroughbreds and performance horses are the most commonly diagnosed cases. Kissing spines are likely acquired. They can be the result of a variety of factors, including poor saddle fit and improper training that allows the horse to carry itself with its head up, back hollow, and not engaging the muscles in its core. Genetic factors are possible, but none have been identified to date.

What are the clinical signs of kissing spines?
Many horses with mild kissing spines do not exhibit any clinical signs. For those that do, the signs can be highly variable and may include vague or overt lameness and overall poor performance. Affected horses can exhibit changes in behavior such as hypersensitivity to brushing, girthiness, bucking, rearing, head tossing, kicking out, hollowing the back, resisting the bit, trouble with transitions, cross-cantering, and refusing or rushing fences. Their backs are often sore to the touch.

How are kissing spines diagnosed?
A diagnosis can be challenging as it can be difficult to differentiate some of the clinical signs of kissing spines from behavioral or training issues, or medical conditions that are not related, or secondary, to the back. Radiographs (X-rays) are commonly used to diagnose kissing spines. However, it is important to perform a thorough clinical examination and not just rely on X-ray analysis. Thermography, which uses an infrared camera to detect heat patterns, has been shown to be informative in some cases. Bone scans (nuclear scintigraphy) and ultrasound may also be used to provide diagnostic information. Referral to a specialist may be warranted for an accurate diagnosis.

How are kissing spines treated?
Treatment for kissing spines begins with making the horse more comfortable. This may be achieved through pain reduction, muscle relaxation, and exercises to stretch and strengthen back and abdominal muscles, stabilize posture, and improve mobility. Medical treatments may include shockwave therapy of the affected vertebrae and surrounding muscles, injections of anti-inflammatories in the region of the kissing spines (mesotherapy), and corticosteroid injections in the spaces between the vertebrae.

Physical therapy may include daily exercises that encourage the horse to move freely in a relaxed frame and may progress to poles and cavaletti once the horse is willing to stretch. A Pessoa Lunging System may be used to encourage the horse to engage its core muscles. Exercise on an aqua treadmill may also be recommended. An assessment of saddle fit should also be performed and any necessary adjustments made to alleviate pressure points on the back. Chiropractic and acupuncture therapies, as well as therapeutic ultrasound, may also be utilized.

Surgical treatment is also an option in severe cases. One approach is to remove about half (3 inches) of the bone at the top of each of the dorsal spinous processes. This type of surgery is highly invasive and involves long recovery times. Alternatively, endoscopy may be used to remove selected dorsal spinous processes and rejoin the ligaments between the processes. Another option is to perform an interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD) in which the interspinous ligament(s) is cut to relieve tension on the ligament. This can be performed in a standing, sedated horse. Although surgical intervention can produce positive results, these approaches can also destabilize the back and can lead to future lameness.

What is the prognosis for kissing spines?
The presence of kissing spines is not necessarily a cause for concern, but it may be considered as a predisposing factor for back pain. The majority of affected horses that exhibit clinical signs are able to return to work with medical or surgical treatment and physical therapy. Sustained results often necessitate a multifaceted approach, which requires time and commitment. The prognosis is poorer for young horses (5 years of age or younger), horses with five or more vertebrae involved, and for cases in which kissing spines are secondary to other spinal issues.

How can kissing spines be prevented?
The exact cause of kissing spines is unknown but is thought to be related to conformation and development. It is important to treat potential underlying issues, such as other causes of lameness or improper saddle fit, first, as these may prevent horses from using their backs properly.

Takeaways
* Overriding dorsal spinous processes, or โ€œkissing spinesโ€, occur when two or more bony projections at the top of the vertebrae (dorsal spinous processes) touch or overlap.
* The exact cause is not well understood and many horses with kissing spines do not show any clinical signs. In some cases, kissing spines are secondary to other health issues.
* Affected horses may undergo medical or surgical treatment and physical therapy.
* Recovery is possible, but requires time and commitment.

UCDavis School of Veterinary Medicine

10/18/2024

Very interesting video with good visuals!

The best Monday morning work view I could ever imagine.๐Ÿ’•
09/16/2024

The best Monday morning work view I could ever imagine.๐Ÿ’•

Horses make me happy, and making horses happy makes me even happier. ๐Ÿฅฐ Thank you for the opportunity to make that happen...
05/30/2024

Horses make me happy, and making horses happy makes me even happier. ๐Ÿฅฐ Thank you for the opportunity to make that happen!!

This little (ok, heโ€™s actually huge!) draft cross yearling had a โ€œget to know youโ€ session today. Iโ€™m happy to offer a 5...
05/09/2024

This little (ok, heโ€™s actually huge!) draft cross yearling had a โ€œget to know youโ€ session today. Iโ€™m happy to offer a 5-10min intro to any young horse to help them get familiar with my adjusting blocks, a new person handling them, someone standing above them, help with some stretches, and just give an overall mini experience of what it will be like to get adjusted! I also see so many young horses for adjustments- itโ€™s great to get them started off on the right foot! Growing up is tough work. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป ๐Ÿ˜‰

04/20/2024

The Benefits of A Equine Infrared Red Light Therapy ๐Ÿšจ

Pain relief is what most equestions recognize as an immediate benefit of Infrared therapy as it has been shown to alleviate discomfort associated with sore muscles, tendon and ligament issues, and arthritis. And like every therapy we offer, Infrared offers an amazing suite of benefits :

๐Ÿ‘‰Accelerated Healing
By stimulating cellular activity, infrared therapy can expedite the healing of soft tissue injuries, wounds, and skin conditions.

๐Ÿ‘‰Reduced Inflammation
Infrared light therapy assists in reducing swelling and inflammation, contributing to quicker recovery periods.

๐Ÿ‘‰Improved Circulation
The treatment aids in enhancing blood flow, which in turn helps distribute oxygen and nutrients more efficiently throughout the body.

๐Ÿ‘‰Enhanced Performance
Many horse owners have reported improvements in the performance and stamina of their horses post-therapy.

Included in your session ๐Ÿ‘€๐ŸŒฑ๐Ÿด๐Ÿ‘‡

Maximize your horse's well-being with our comprehensive All-Inclusive Massage and Bodywork package priced at $175, including Infrared alongside other healing modalities. Providing multiple healing modalities, our package ensures your horse receives top-notch care, promoting their overall health and vitality.

Hello all!! Iโ€™m just wrapping up my vacation and am working through getting back to everyone who reached out while I was...
04/12/2024

Hello all!! Iโ€™m just wrapping up my vacation and am working through getting back to everyone who reached out while I was away! Thank you for your patience with me! It really did my brain and body good to have a little break. Talk to you soon. ๐Ÿ’ž

Today I learned that Kelly Becker Hamilton passed away. I always had a wonderful time at her home with her and her daugh...
02/13/2024

Today I learned that Kelly Becker Hamilton passed away. I always had a wonderful time at her home with her and her daughter Kendraโ€™s horses. We always ended up adjusting people, horses, and dogs in the driveway with chickens and ducks and cats trying to help us along- it was a party! She loved her horses for who they were and the trust they had in her and the joy she felt while with them was palpable. I will never forget that bond, and will aspire to have it with my own horses. Godspeed to a wonderful client and friend. Be like Kelly- love your family, and love your horses and dogs like family. I only hope youโ€™re resting with sweet Dexter now. Rest in peace. ๐Ÿค

Did you know your horse isnโ€™t โ€œoutโ€? Love this post!
01/29/2024

Did you know your horse isnโ€™t โ€œoutโ€? Love this post!

โšก๏ธ Myth Monday โšก๏ธ

As a chiropractor, I hear the words
โ€œPopped outโ€
โ€œOut of placeโ€
โ€œOut of alignmentโ€

A lot ๐Ÿ˜ตโ€๐Ÿ’ซ

These phrases have always rubbed me the wrong way and itโ€™s taken me awhile to truly figure out whyโ€ฆ

And what Iโ€™ve come to realize, is that โ€œpopping and crackingโ€ or โ€œ putting things back into placeโ€ is just truly not what chiropractors are doing. Itโ€™s not even close!

I try so hard every day to level up my communication, so that my clients know exactly what Iโ€™m doing with their animal. Instead of using these common phrases, I try to use the word โ€œrestrictedโ€ instead.

When you bring your animals to me, I analyze the entire spine and extremities for restrictions. Iโ€™m assessing for proper range of motion. When I find a joint that is not moving properly - a joint that is restricted in its range of motion - that is where an adjustment is performed.

When these restrictions happen in the spine, inflammation is going to collect in the joint, which will put pressure on the nervous system. Through a cascade of events, this inflammation is going to cause reduced range of motion, but will also have an effect on the physiology that is correlated to those nerve roots.

For example, a restriction in the Withers of a horse will not only cause this area to be sensitive and painful, but it could also have a detrimental effect on the functionality of the heart or lungs (because the nerves stemming from the spinal cord in this area are innervating those organs).

An adjustment is โšก๏ธFASTโšก๏ธ
Itโ€™s not about mass. Itโ€™s about speed when it comes to an adjustment. The speed of the adjustment is what breaks up the adhesions that have formed in the joint space, causing the range of motion to be restricted. Once that interference is removed from the nervous system, not only is the animal going to move better at that motion unit, but the organs associated with that area of the nervous system are also going to function at a higher level.

This explanation only skims the surface of what a chiropractic adjustment is capable of doing! There is so much more to it than what meets the eye โœจ

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