Problem horses: Where do you go for help?

We all know the "problem" horses--the poor body condition despite numerous supplements, the grumpy attitude, the recurrent stomach ulcers, the inability to progress in training or do the job that the owner needs, the intermittent lameness or "not lame, but not right" under saddle, the bucking/rearing/biting, the inability to stand for the farrier...and the list goes on. I know this all too well, as the horse is the photo is one of MY horses before she was treated for Lyme disease.

Owners of problem horses are often overwhelmed and frustrated, and they are looking for answers from their trainer. Trainers, however, often have tunnel vision and suggest that the behavior problems are simply that--bad behavior needing training help. Sometimes when veterinary checks are done, the horse is simply declared "not lame", and pain is "ruled out" because that particular vet is not very skilled in palpation. Or perhaps the horse undergoes gastroscopy and ulcer treatment, but then the ulcers and issues return later.

I have seen numerous problem horses over my years of practicing acupuncture/manipulation, as bodywork modalities are usually something done to check off the list for these horses. However, such horses are rarely in a mode to receive bodywork well, as they are often have chronic pain and an upregulated nervous system. Many of them do not accept touch well, and they often cannot be needled for acupuncture treatment. I realized years ago that I was either going to find other solutions for this type of horse, or I was not going to work on them.

Problem horses usually have multiple layers of issues that need to be revealed, like peeling an onion. This includes chronic stealth infections, internal parasite load, gastric ulcers, liver stagnation, gut dysfunction, dental imbalance (TMJ myofascial pain), foot imbalance, poor tack fit, lack of species-appropriate environment (free access to Food, Friends, Forage), toxins, etc. Most have some sources of chronic pain in shoulder girdle, neck, back, and pelvis, in addition to possible limb lameness.

The approach to fixing such a horse needs to be similar to that of human functional medicine. I take a "whole horse" approach to look at all factors, starting with acupuncture and osteopathic palpation as diagnostic indicators, and moving on to conventional testing and treatment. Fixing a problem horse also requires a team--knowledgable farrier, saddle fitter, trainer, etc. Once the layers are peeled back, the horse can return to functional health and thrive!