The power of good chiropractic is something I've been raving about since my car accident in 2011.
Traveling home from Easter dinner, our family was rear ended three times by a driver under the influence of narcotics. I've had my fair share of horse falls but this particular accident seemed to compile them all into one. Following our car accident; daily life was more exhausting, riding in alignment much harder, and chronic pain more relevant often triggering debilitating migraines.
It was during this time that I found 360 Chiropractic in Washington, where I was put under the care of husband and wife chiropractor team Dr. George & Dr. Stephanie Olar.
Through their expert care I watched my dressage scores increase in one month almost 10% in the show ring. My riding became easier and my horses were more at ease carrying me.
During my time with them I learned that for every inch your head is positioned forward of neutral, an additional 10-12 pounds of strain is being exherted on your spine. No wonder, I was exhausted all the time.
I had a great experience at 360 Chiropractic, and was pretty devestated when I knew that part of leaving Washington meant also leaving my wonderful care team.
If you're in the Olympia, Washington area definitely check them out.
www.360chiro.net
Fast forward to Fall of 2023 when I meet Dr. Esther Brummund D.C., ACVA who came into my life like a God given gift.
It had been about 2 years since I had recieved chiropractic care and I was so thankful to find a chiropractor who used muscle testing and the activator to adjust clients.
I personally don't enjoy being adjusted via the "pretzel method" where your adjustments involve contortions and broad body crunches. I personally enjoy the activator tool as I feel it can be much more specific. I'm often able to identify the vertebrae or attachments that are pulling me out of alignment and feel almost instant relief after the activator is applied.
Not only does Dr. Brummund work on people, she also treats horses (including mine) and small animals. I have been fortunate to tag team with Dr. B on some complicated equine cases with great results and I'm so thankful that I have somewhere to refer my human clients to as well.
Dr. Esther Brummund D.C., ACVA and her husband Dr. Johann Roebellen D.C. opened their clinic Horse Country Clinic in Ocala in January 2024 and I've been thankful to be a client ever since.
Last month I had the great pleasure of getting a full chiropractic exam and work up. We discussed my medical history, long term goals, and went through a series of tests and x-rays. I enjoy when the doctor's take a scan and their reaction is "oh, wow". After a few shots they determined my neck definitely curves the wrong way, and also I had a compression fracture in my spine that I wasn't aware of having.
The fun part for myself was reflecting down memory lane and wondering which horse accident could have done the damage. Was it the time I had been bucked off at a show, the time I was spun off in the road, the time I was thrown into a sold wood wall, or perhaps the time I had been bodychecked into the stall by a horse who couldn't feel his feet. Regardless of the cause, I was thankful to have some scan's and a plan.
I'm grateful to now be all set up with a master care plan to get me back on track for my health and riding goals. Our initial plan involves multiple visits a week which will be gradually reduced down to once a month over the course of a few months.
Now a few week into my care plan, I'm feeling my alignment coming back and am looking forward to getting back into arena more consistently. In my consultations, the Doctors and I spoke on the importance of maintaining a regular care plan particularly in the beginning of treatment to promote postural correctness while allowing the surrounding fascial structures to build strength and integrity over time.
Our care plan encompasses habits outside of the office including hydration, regular neck traction, and core building exercises such as pilates. The work doesn't finish just because we've left the office. In order to promote long term stability we need to build strength and integrity and body and mind.
I definitely encourage local clients of mine to consider adding a regular chiropractic schedule to their care programs to increase their comfort.
If you're in the Ocala area definitely check out Horse Country Chiropractic www.horsecountryclinic.com