Frequently Asked Questions

Horses	Dogs
General discomfort in the back area	General discomfort in the back area
Resentment of being groomed or tacked up	Resentment of being groomed or picked up
General reduced performance	General reduced performance
Refusing fences	Physical difficulties with agility or flyball activites
Difficulty with lateral work/collection/extension	Difficulty using stairs, getting in/out of a car etc.
Non-clinical lameness	Non-clinical lameness
Altered movement/loading patterns as a result of an accident or an injury	Altered movement/loading patterns as a result of an accident or an injury
Arthritis or degenerative joint conditions	Arthritis or degenerative joint conditions

The first time you get your animal treated the most important thing to do is to get your vets permission for treatment. However, when Jennie first treats your animal she will take a case history, so it is really helpful if you can think in advance about the following things:

• Any accidents or injuries your animal has had, with approximate dates of injury and return to work
• Any operations your animal has had (including reproductive surgery), with approximate dates of operations
• Any treatments your animal has had (including chiropractic, osteopathy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, etc.)
• When your animal was last wormed/vaccinated
• When your horse last had their saddle/teeth/feet checked

It is important to bear in mind any activities you already have planned for your animal in the near future (within 2 weeks of treatment date) e.g. competitions, vet visits, riding lessons, shoeing.

It is also helpful if your animal can be fairly clean and dry.

Ideally, yes, particularly if it is an initial treatment. However, if this is not possible then please let Jennie know when you book your appointment and she will discuss your animal’s history over the phone.

However, there does need to be someone there during any treatment to hold your animal and show it moving (for insurance purposes).

YES – Jennie is only permitted to treat your animal with the prior approval of your vet. Some vets wish to see the animal before approving a treatment, however, most vets will give their approval if you call them and discuss the presenting problem/reason for treatment (see also Legal notice).

Animals usually respond best to a treatment in their home environment, where they will be most relaxed and receptive to a treatment. Horses are best treated in their stable or on a quiet (and preferably flat) area of yard. Dogs can be treated in your own living room or you can bring them to a Contented Creatures clinic.

Any animal with vertebrae can be treated, but Jennie is most experienced at treating horses and dogs. However, it may be that your animal requires veterinary diagnosis and treatment before McTimoney Sports Therapy can be used. If the animal has a problem of the nervous system, it is likely to make them unsuitable for the McTimoney treatment.

It is always difficult to identify one specific factor that causes misalignments. It is often a combination of factors and there is usually a time consideration too. However, there are two main categories of misalignments - Acute causes and Chronic causes:

• Acute causes are where a one-off incident may lead to misalignments. For example, any animal can slip or fall over, crash into another animal or object, or have an accident of any kind that may or may not cause an obvious injury.
• Chronic causes are where repetitive actions lead to imbalances in the musculoskeletal system and can result in misalignments. For example, dogs may prefer to sit or lie on a particular side, enjoy spending time playing ball or frisbee, or just be a very active, bouncy person. In horses, chronic causes include poorly fitting tack, sharp or uneven teeth, one-sided riders and unbalanced feet.

It is possible to try and prevent future problems by addressing things that are known to contribute to misalignments, such as:

• Leading animals – lead from both sides evenly;
• Working animals – work/turn animals evenly on both reins/in both directions;
• Saddle fit – get your saddle checked regularly for fit and flocking (every 6 months is recommended);
• Riding – try to make sure you are as balanced as possible and work on your weak side to prevent being too one-sided as a rider. Consider getting some lessons if you don’t already;
• Teeth – get your animals’ teeth checked regularly so that you can be sure that they are eating properly and to prevent tooth problems from affecting your horses’ way of going;
• Fitness – make sure your animal has a basic level of fitness that is sufficient for the work that they are doing;
• Weight management – make sure your animal is an appropriate weight for its’ size and activity level;
• Feet – get your animals’ feet checked regularly to ensure that their claws/hooves are trimmed appropriately so that they can move correctly;
• Playing – try to avoid spending too much time on the playtime activities that cause your dog to jump, stop or turn awkwardly;
• Repetitive activities – try to avoid or manage the repetitive activities that can put your animal at risk of musculoskeletal problems, for example dogs jumping on and off sofas/beds or using the stairs and horses with stereotypies/stable vices.

During the first treatment some animals may react a little to the first few adjustments, particularly if they have a longstanding problem. This is because Jennie is taking their body out of its comfort zone and the initial reaction is pain. However, once the body starts to release endorphins (the pleasure hormone) in response to the treatment, most animals will relax and start to enjoy the process – some even fall asleep!

After the treatment most animals will immediately move more comfortably and freely. However, animals with a more chronic problem may be stiff and sore for a few days after the treatment as lactic acid and toxins are released from the problem areas.

Within the first 24-48 hours after a treatment, your animal may show different behaviours to usual, including having altered energy patterns (it is not uncommon for them to have a long sleep afterwards). This is normal and is part of the healing process.

The most important thing to remember is that healing is a process, not an event. This means that your animals’ symptoms can get worse before they get better and you may see negative as well as positive changes in the first few days after a treatment. So be patient and give Jennie a call if you have any concerns.

An after-care plan is devised after any treatment, based on your circumstances and the treatment given. Jennie will advise you on how to bring the animal gradually back to normal work and particular exercises that may be useful. You will also be advised of any activities to avoid and possible ways to reduce the risk of misalignments in the future.

As a general rule, most animals will require: an initial treatment; a follow-up treatment within 2-4 weeks and a further reassessment within 3 months. It is advisable to get your animal checked every 6 months, but ideally yearly as a minimum. However, a treatment plan specific to your animal will be drawn up at the first appointment and reviewed therafter.

Competition animals often require more regular check-ups and treatment due to the level of fitness required and activities undertaken by a competition animal.

YES – Jennie is registered with the McTimoney Animal Association and insured with Holistic Insurance Services for public and third party liability. She is also registered as a BHSAI with the British Horse Society, which includes public and third party insurance.

If you cancel more than 48 hours in advance, it gives Jennie the opportunity to allocate your appointment time to another client. However, if you cancel less than 48 hours in advance, 50% of the treatment fee will be charged.

Any missed appointments will be charged at the full price of the treatment.

Jennie prefers cash or cheque (with guarantee card please) at the time of the treatment.