In the horse world, there are so many sources of information it can quickly become overwhelming, even to experienced horse owners. Your horse is sore so one friend recommends you call the vet, another your farrier, and yet another recommends the horse have bodywork done. Which is the right call?
The roles of each profession
Vets, farriers, and equine bodyworkers all have an important role in your horse’s care.
Veterinarians with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) have, at the minimum, attended four years of undergraduate education along with an additional four years of veterinary school. Many pursue an additional 1-3 years of education to specialize in their practice.
A DVM certifies a vet to:
- Diagnose and treat your horse for any injuries, diseases, etc
- Prescribe medications
- Give shots or injections
- Perform radiographs or other tests on your horse as needed
- And much, much more
Farriers come in a range of different education levels. Some learn through an apprenticeship, learning solely from a few mentors who they follow around on the job. Others attend farrier schools and become registered into programs such as the American Farrier’s Association.
Great farriers help your horse by:
- Trimming and balancing your horse’s feet
- Attaching shoes as needed
- Evaluating and noticing changes in the outer structures of the feet
- Reading feet radiographs and adjusting trimming as needed
- Suggesting the need for additional veterinary care
Equine bodywork includes chiropractic, massage, or any sort of body manipulation care performed on your horse. Professionals that call themselves bodyworkers can be a little more questionable than the previous two professions. They often receive a bad name due to the lack of regulation in the profession. The education levels required to become an equine bodyworker vary depending on the state requirements in which they choose to practice. Most states require some sort of certification from a training program, however, not all training programs are created equal.
To make sure that the bodyworker you are using is the best there is, ask their level of certification:
- Did the course they take cover anatomy and physiology? Was it a weekend course or did it take years?
- Did the course partner with any associations for membership, such as the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage (NBCAAM)?
- Did the course allow them to be insured in practice?
- Have they continued their education with supplementary courses?
If the answers to all of the above are yes, chances are your horse will be in good hands. For further research, you could ask to ride along with them for a day to watch them work on other horses before your own.
Qualified bodyworkers are important to the health of your horse in addition to vets and farriers. Similar to those who work on humans, equine bodyworkers can:
- Relieve tightness in your horse’s body
- Evaluate back pain and saddle fit
- Suggest changes to the diet to benefit the horse’s muscles
- Evaluate the overall composition of the horse
- Suggest the need for additional veterinary care
Communication between the professions
Unfortunately, the lack of regulation in the certification of bodyworkers has caused many veterinarians to be distrustful of them. Vets dedicate decades of their lives to education, driven by their passion for animal welfare. Watching bodyworkers who took an online weekend course do more damage than good to a horse can be frustrating and heartbreaking from the veterinary perspective.
The four years of veterinary school are divided into learning about every species of animal, from lizards to horses to giraffes. Only in the last 1-2 years can vet students choose to focus on horses. As such, veterinarians do not receive the quality of hoof care training and expertise that farriers in farrier schools do (unless the vet chooses to specialize in podiatry). This can cause frustration between farriers and vets. Vets may consider themselves the superior opinion, when in reality the farrier may have a better understanding of the horse’s foot.
These divisions between the professions cause distrust between equine veterinarians, farriers, and bodyworkers that can cause a lack of communication and teamwork. All may claim that their opinion is the most correct, leaving horse owners more confused than ever.
So what is the right answer? Who’s advice should you follow?
Your horse’s care team
While the vet, farrier, and bodyworker may all have different opinions, all of them only want what’s best for your horse, just like you do. Therefore, you shouldn’t have to choose who’s advice to take. Teamwork is the best option for taking care of your horse.
Say your horse has been lame for a week. You gave him bute, which helped a little but not completely so you decide it’s time to call the vet. The vet comes out and takes radiographs of the horse’s foot. It turns out there are some bony changes that are the most likely source of the pain.
The vet has a few recommendations for pain management and relief, but those are more expensive than you would prefer to spend. As a solution, the vet recommends you send the radiographs to your farrier and have him try some corrective shoeing options. Then, the vet can re-evaluate the lameness. A more supportive type of shoe might be enough to provide your horse relief. If not, you can return to considering the more expensive vet treatments.
You have your farrier out and the corrective shoes put on. He mentions to you that, once the lameness is corrected, it might be beneficial to have a massage therapist out to work on your horse. He explains how the lameness could have caused the horse to hold tightness in his neck and shoulders, as well as put extra stress on the other three limbs. A massage would be beneficial in removing that tightness before the horse goes back to work.
You do so, and your horse is sound and back to 100% in no time. This scenario is one of many that indicates how beneficial it can be to have a team for your horse that trusts each other and is willing to communicate and learn from each other.
A real-life example
My 22-year-old mare has always had poor feet — her soles have always been extra sensitive. In her youth, regular shoes were enough to protect her soles. However, as she has gotten older, changes in her front feet have caused her to need extra care. With the guidance of my horse’s care team, she now has special shoes that provide extra protection, as well as received injections that aid in pain relief and prevent further changes.
Once she was sound again, I had my trusted bodyworker come out to work on her. He found that she was carrying a lot of tension in her neck and on her right side. After working on her, he was able to get her to release some of the tension. He also recommended some stretches I could do when riding to help her muscles stay limber. After another day off to allow her to adjust to the changes in her body, she felt much improved for our next ride.
One product that I use on her regularly at my vet and farrier’s recommendations is Sole Freeze Solution. This product works to harden the soles of a horse’s feet, which can help those who suffer from soft, painful soles like my mare. I’ve also found that it helps to prevent thrush. While you want to be sure to not get this iodine-containing solution on your hands or your horse’s skin, it works fast to help toughen up your horse’s feet. If you think your horse might benefit from tougher soles, talk to your farrier and vet about using Sole Freeze Solution.
In conclusion
When your horse is sore, it can be difficult to know where to start on helping them recover. If you’re like most horse owners, all you want is what’s best for your horse. Therefore, having a trusted care team to rely on will make your life (and your horse’s life) much easier.
A team that isn’t afraid to communicate, take suggestions, and learn from each other will be incredibly strong. It shouldn’t be up to the owner to decipher three different opinions and decide which is best. Instead, talk to your trusted vet, farrier, and bodyworker team as a united front, with the goal of giving your horse the best possible overall care.
Originally written by: Madison Gray