Relieving Brandy's Worries

Brandy watches the new chiropractor work on Shiloh

New chiropractor last week, our previous one sadly having moved away. Shiloh hung over her stall guard to greet the doctor and her tech with cheerful nickers. Bronzz barely looked up from his hay. Brandy circled her stall, leaving 2 wet manure piles in 10 minutes. She is rarely anxious with strangers anymore, but perhaps she was thinking, “Looks like a vet, smells like a vet…” I was glad I had not signed her up for a treatment this time. Brandy watched as Shiloh and Bronzz had their treatments. This is Investigative Behavior, and Brandy relaxed as she noticed the chiropractor’s gentle touches, and our friendly conversation. It was also Social Learning as Shiloh and Bronzz modeled their reactions to treatment. I stood next to Brandy to watch since that seemed to reassure her. Before leaving, the doctor and her tech introduced themselves to Brandy. Before they return in February, Brandy will have processed what she learned. Though we expect her to be tense and anxious when her first treatment starts, I am confident that after a couple visits, she will once again be hanging over her stall door looking forward to her turn. For specific instructions on preparing your horse for a chiropractic treatment, see Chapter 16 in What Horses Really Want