Has your horse ever just quit working for you? Maybe started refusing the arena, bucking, doing things out of character, resistance to bending one way or another? If only they could talk to us (some things we might not want to hear!)

Recently my mare, Sugar Baby, an 11 year old quarter horse, started refusing the arena and not “wrapping” her first barrel, which happens to be a left turn for her. She turns her second and third barrels (right-hand turns) just fine. So we made her an appointment with Dr. Justin Campbell, AVCA certified Doctor of Chiropractic. On his examination of Sugar Baby, he found her left hip was locked and she had numerous problems in her neck, from her withers up to her poll. She has a problem with pulling back when tied, so she had really messed up her neck over the years.

I asked Dr. Campbell about the most interesting animal that he has ever treated. It was a guinea pig (a family pet) who had been accidentally dropped and hurt its pelvis. After the adjustment, she got better and within 3 days was walking normal again.

The most intimidating animal that he has ever adjusted was a bucking bull. I asked how he felt when they called to make the appointment with a bull. He said that he was a little apprehensive at first, as he had not adjusted any bulls before. Show cattle – yes, but they were calm and gentle. Needless to say, his heart was racing the first time he climbed down on top of the bull to adjust its spine.

Before his actual meeting with the bull, he called a friend who had adjusted a lot of bulls before (Dr. Bill Schmidt). Dr. Schmidt gave Dr. Campbell a lot of good advice and different ideas, the most important of which was, “Don’t get hurt!”

When in school, Dr. Campbell was taught about joint planes and line of corrections for different joints in the body. So, it is just taking what you know and trying to apply it to an animal who isn’t going to just let you do what you want with him. You have to be creative at times when you are an animal chiropractor. Your day can be very exciting!

When they realize what is going on, the bulls really seem to enjoy it. Dr. Campbell has one bull he has seen about 5 times over a 2-year period. The bull enjoys it so much now that Dr. Campbell can grab one of his horns and use it to motion out his cervical spine. Pretty amazing since the first time Dr. Campbell tried to adjust the upper cervical area of the bull, the bull tried to take his head off with its horns. Dr. Campbell said, “He has really come a long ways. This same bull has bucked in the Pbarrel racing, circuit a few times on TV this year. Really good bull to draw.”

Dr. Campbell graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in the Fall of 2000 and is certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. His practice is located in Morris.

Rhonda Stewart’s column appears on Thursdays. You can reach her at rayandrhon@netzero.net.