2016 Miniature Horse WORLD Issues June/July 2016 Volume 32, Number3 | Page 34

A Day in the Life of … Equine Chiropractor ,

Lynn Burgin

what is your background / history in the

1 } chiropractic field ?

I graduated from Life Chiropractic College in 1989 and practiced in Atlanta , Georgia until returning home to Marion , NC to open my practice in 1992 . In 2010- 2011 , I attended Options for Animals in Wellsville , Kansas for my post graduate degree in Animal Chiropractic with a focus on Equine Biomechanics . After graduation , I became certified through the IVCA ( International Veterinary Chiropractic Association ) based out of Germany .
What led you to begin working with

2 } Miniatures and to you , what sets them apart from other breeds ?

As a child , I grew up on a rural farm in Western NC plowing our garden with horses and mules . I was fascinated and had a love for equines from the beginning . We introduced our daughters Emilie and Mollie to horses when they were both very young and in 2005 , we attended our first Miniature horse show at the Western NC Ag Center in Fletcher , NC . Both Emilie ( age 8 ) and Mollie ( age 6 ) said they wanted to “ do that ” with little horses . Once we started showing , I noticed problems with the horses that I knew chiropractic could help but my knowledge of equine anatomy was limited . That ’ s what led me to equine chiropractic .
What impresses me so much about the Miniature horse is its athletic ability . For its size , I do not believe any other breed of horse can compare to its diversity and versatility .
Take us through a

3 } typical day at your practice , and then your schedule at a show .

My daily practice is human chiropractic but my world changes at a horse show . Many times we are getting calls a month ahead of a show to see if we will be attending and to set up an appointment . I take my appointments based on the horse ’ s show schedule . Whoever goes in the arena first , I try to work on first .
32 Miniature Horse World JUNE / JULY 2016 what are the best parts of your

4 } job and the toughest parts ?

The absolute best part of my job is seeing a horse not performing up to its potential and knowing I can help in most cases . Once I treat the horse the changes are typically immediate . One of the greatest experiences I had was at an AMHA World Show . A lady approached me about her gelding who had not been holding his headset in his driving classes during

Equine Chiropractic is as necessary as farrier work at regular intervals and may be just the thing your horse has been asking for . Is your horse having trouble picking up leads ? Does your horse swish his tail when you ask him to bend or pick up a foot ? Does he have nagging soreness in his lower limbs , shoulders , back or hips that never seems to get any better ? Is he “ cinchy ” or does he buck at random ? These are all symptoms of a horse that is significantly out of alignment and requires care by a LICENCED DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC . According to a 2010 article published by the American Farriers Association , “ Approximately 65 % of gait deficits are related to a primary skeletal , musculoskeletal , or connective tissue cause . ( Indistinct Gait Deficits : Musculoskeletal and Neurologic Causes , 2009 AAEP Convention , Bred Bentz , VMD )”. Farrier work alone isn ’ t going to “ fix ” most structural or gait problems in horses . It takes a QUALIFIED , LICENCED , Dr of Chiropractic to recognize , and treat the issue .