Chiropractor Goodness

Oh, how Izzy loves his chiropractor. Like, let me stick my 1,350 pound self in your pocket loves him.

Or, at least let me nibble on your shoes kind of love.

I was smarter for this go round. It usually takes me a couple of weeks to figure out why Izzy can't go in a straight line, pick up the left lead, or just walk forward. This time, I figured it out by the third ride - go, me. The first ride was probably just a whoohoo kind of day. During the second ride I found myself asking, What's wrong with YOU? I should have figured it out then, but I needed that third ride. That's when my brain finally kicked in and remembered that when I am asking Izzy what's wrong with you, he's likely been answering me for several rides. If I'm listening, I'll know it's time for some body work.

That's the spot.

The visits are always the same. CC shows up ready to listen to the horse, while I'm busy telling him what I think is wrong. Sometimes I am close, but more often then not, I am just wrong. I was certain Izzy was out in his loins. Instead, everything was radiating from his poll. It's a good thing that CC doesn't listen to me.

Oh, yeah.

On top of being ouchy in his poll, Izzy's jaw was locked up tight. That turned out to be a good time to talk about our recent bridling issues and Izzy's newly shortened canine teeth. CC is always willing to talk training and the reasons why horses resist. Sometimes they resist just because they can. Or because they're tall. Or both. I am looking at you, big brown horse!

Check out Izzy's expression and his mouth.

Poll, jaw, and ribs, they're all connected. Both sides of Izzy's ribs were a bit sore, but since I figured out the problem sooner rather than later, he wasn't as sore as he sometimes gets. Izzy doesn't actually like to have his ribs worked on, but he definitely appreciates getting them done. I tried to catch a photo with his tongue doing its thing, but all I managed to get was a bit of mouth action. When he gets big relief, his tongue will fall out of his mouth.

Not loving it, but keep going.

The visit was on the shorter side, which means that I caught everything just in time. We're still on an every third month schedule, and no matter how much my wallet would like to stretch it a bit further, I simply can't. In fact, every ten weeks would probably be optimum. 

The next day, we finally had a lesson. Izzy took the bit like his old self, and his naughties during the lesson were of the because I can variety. More on that tomorrow.