Equine Chiropractor: The Moody Mare

Matt Kenna is a fully qualified veterinary and sports chiropractor working with elite athletes and their horses. He is currently working providing consultancy to premiership football teams, high goal players and treats horses across all levels of polo from low goal to high goal. Based between Guards and Cowdray, he travels all over the south of England.

We all see it. The sun comes out, it warms up and our mares start squealing, humping, trying to kick each other and go through all the emotions under the sun in a ten-minute window. They prance about with tails in the air and our polo ponies become dressage horses. We are talking about them coming into season.

Many women I see in my human clinic experience tightening and an increase in back pain during their menstrual cycle. Why? Nerves send information from the brain to the body along the spine via the spinal cord. The ovaries are located near the lower back, within the pelvis. The nerves that send information to the ovaries travel down the spine to the lumbar spine (lower back) and then exit the spine, as spinal nerves, to go to the ovaries. Nerves also feedback from the ovaries which is how our body knows what’s going on, it provides the information that controls all the functions, much like an engine management system in your car. During a women’s cycle, these nerves become overly excited and send this information back to the brain. Where these nerves enter the spine in the lower back they also excite other nerves in that area. Because these other nerves innervate and control the surrounding muscles, skin, bones and nearby organs, these subsequently become excited too, which leads to contraction, especially the muscles.

The same thing happens in our horses, so with the vast majority of polo ponies being mares, that puts a huge proportion of horses playing polo in a position where this may be possible. They will experience attitude and behavioural changes, but the thing that gets reported to me the most and the reason for most of my visits, is a decrease in performance. Engaging their rear ends, in some horses will be difficult, they will find turning one way easier and they may not stop as easily as it involves a lot of lumbar flexion

and pelvic engagement. Lumbar pain, muscle tightness, reduced power from behind, tense quarter muscles, canter problems, issues with circle work on one rein and a sharp character along with many other signs could indicate ovarian/ uterine problems. To the frustration of many owners, some mares also appear to be constantly in season. The behaviour changes may be due to completely normal physiological events related to the mare’s oestrus cycle or may be a sign of a more serious problem. Over the last few decades, many authors have related ovarian dysfunction to personality problems in the equine. Ovarian tumours, cysts and granulomas were thought to contribute to hypersensitivity and aggression. After these issues were corrected, behaviour improved as their cycles normalised, so the behaviours were thought to be merely hormone-related. Chronic pain is now being

The Moody Mare

considered as part of the issue. In 2010, a French researcher, Fureix, described an experiment which proved that chronic back pain could cause increased aggression or violent behaviour, suggesting that a moody mare maybe moody for a reason.

In mares, especially those with a grumpy disposition, ovaries that are twisted or going through problems can cause a plethora of internal issues. In these cases, the ovary is general pulled forward and up, which like in humans, aggravates the nervous system, affecting its movement and ability to glide when the horse moves. The ovary and associated ligaments become very sensitive to pressure and over-stretching. The pain this causes will continue for a lifetime unless your vet can help to address the situation.

I have been called to multiple situations in top level competition yards, where a mare shows talent in many different areas and struggles in others, especially around their cycles. They have infrequent seasons, are sometimes in season a lot more or at times that are totally different to all the other mares on the yard and they keep presenting with back pain and sacroiliac joint issues that don’t resolve with treatment and specific rehab exercises. Typically, they will also be very tight on one side of their lower back and keep presenting with the same issues.

Having a horse with these constant issues means they really need further veterinary investigation. If I assess a horse and treat it and we only get a temporary window of improvement or they just don’t respond, it is imperative not only for the horses’s welfare, but the owner’s pocket, that this is investigated by a qualified veterinarian internally and managed under your vet’s advice. They can be internally manipulated, medicated or, in very severe situations, surgically treated.

Hopefully, having this knowledge will help you manage those really tricky, moody mares, especially if you are having one with constant

There is a relation between ovarian dysfunction and personality/ performance problems in equines issues that your physio or chiropractor or osteopath can’t get right or won’t hold on to

“It really complemented what the their improvements for long after treatment. MRI had told us about the content and signal intensity and, in this case, helped If you are having any issues, Matt runs with surgical planning, providing useful a clinic in Guildford and will be doing information on the bone margin.” guest treatment and assessment days

The technology is ideal for lower limb at a number of the Southern clubs. For imaging where it can detect non-displaced information, please contact him directly fractures, subtle changes in bone density via email: info@mkchiro.co.uk and small lesions without the expense, radiation risks and power requirements of Web: www.mkchiro.co.uk other systems. @theequinechiro

As installations continue, the new @theequinechiro Hallmarq system is now up and running at Rainbow Equine Hospital, North Yorkshire.

Standing Equine Leg CT (slCT) Features

• Fast, 3D imaging with 60 second scan times • Exclusive motion correction technology Joss Ridley, Jayne Darling-Parks & Claire Allen • Simple user interface and easy-to-use system • Small footprint with an open design for patient safety • • No anaesthesia risk for horse or handlers No additional staffing requirements CPPC Christmas Party; Cowley Manor, Cheltenham; Friday 13 December • • Accessible to most equine clinics Fully supported by Hallmarq’s Ciren Does Christmas Q-care program, providing training, maintenance and system supportWith Christmas on the horizon, Cirencester Park Polo Club Peter O’Rorke, Matt Evetts & Tony Haynes members and friends gathered to celebrate the festive season at the iconic Cowley Manor near Cheltenham. Alongside a delicious lunch, served to perfection by the lovely Cowley staff, there was laughter and festive cheer aplenty, as guests exchanged Christmas tidings of great joy! With all eyes turned A dual-concentric ring design allows for safe and easy accessto the 2020 season, gossip flew around the room – who will the next big Ciren star be? Which pros will play for which Adding slCT to their state-of-the-art teams next year? Who will take the most falls? Suffice to say, offer our customers a world first.” diagnostics suite was an obvious next step a wonderful lunch was had by all; the perfect way to begin a Horse owners should contact their forward for the practice, as Dr. Jonathon thrilling festive season. veterinary surgeon to discuss how advanced Dixon, member of the referral team and imaging can help in the diagnosis of European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Photography by John Hankin lameness. Yanna Mudie, Ginny Williams & Natalie Meredith Imaging explains, “We are really excited to put into practice the development so far to help facilitate the move into second phase clinical trials and Web: hallmarq.net Tel: 01483 877812

Susie Godwin & Barrie Upton A delicious lunch

Christine Williams & Duncan Branch Maureen Moseley, Georgie Seddon-Brown & Isabel Branch