Despite what most believe, horses are not meant to carry weight on their back. Because of this, they must use their muscles in a generally unnatural way. A horse that is poorly balanced and misaligned can experience back pain, which is often expressed through undesirable behavior. Even some lamenesses can be attributed to spine and joint dysfunctions. The chiropractor will use manual force on certain points on the horse’s body to bring the structures beneath back into normal alignment. Ideally, this will restore the joint to normal function and range of motion. The first consultation and treatment may take an hour or more. Follow-up appointments may be recommended, usually within a week of the initial treatment, and then further apart as any specific problems begin to resolve.