McTimoney treatment for horses

What may cause a misalignment in my horse's spine or pelvis?

The causes of misalignments can be acute or chronic; misalignments may have resulted from a traumatic incident or they may have occured over time, often due to compensation. Some common examples are listed below;

Acute causes
Slipping/falling when being ridden or in the field
Becoming cast in the stable
Slipping/falling during travelling
Landing awkwardly when jumping

Chronic causes
Ill-fitting tack
Poor foot balance
Conformational faults
Dental problems
An unbalanced rider
Repetitive/ strenuous work
Compensation from an injury/lameness

How can I recognise signs of back pain?

Uncharacteristic bucking, rearing, napping
Reluctance to work in an outline/hollowing the back
Reduced ability to extend/collect
Stiffness on one rein/reluctance to bend
Head shaking/tilting the head
Inability/reluctance to strike off or maintain a particular canter lead
Reduced ability to carry out lateral work
Lack of impulsion and forward movement

Beginning to refuse jumps, rushing jumps, knocking down poles, running out.
Loss of ability to bascule over a fence, or drifting to one side
Unlevelness/stiffness, particularly behind
 
Behavioural changes, lethargy, or grumpiness
Reluctance to stand square
Moving off when mounting
Cold backed
Lameness, where alternative causes have been eliminated by a vet