Joints are meant to move but sometimes they can get “stuck.” This is called vertebral subluxation complex or VSC.
What might cause my horse to have a vertebral subluxation complex (VSC)?
- Saddle
- Transportation/trailering
- Birthing Process
- Trauma- slips, trips and falls
- Activities/animal’s job (jumping, racing, harness /carriage driving, dressage, lesson horse etc)
- Rider
- Age
- Confinement
- Surgery/history of surgery
- Poor hoof care
Does my horse need a chiropractor?
Here are some signs that your horse may have a VSC.
- Swishing of tail
- Poor performance
- Poor engagement of hind end
- Flattening ears
- Pinning ears when being saddled
- Baulking at commands
- Shortened stride
- Bending is asymmetric from side to side
- Range of motion is decreased
- Undefined lameness
- Stiffness when the horse first leaves the stall
- Difficulty flexing poll
- Horse wants to pull on one rein
- Abnormal gait rhythm
- Gait irregularity that can’t be pointed to one leg or particular gait
- Sensitive to touch
- Hard time collecting