Some history of animal chiropractic may help horsemen better understand how it may help their horse. Animal chiropractic is not a new therapy for horses. There is evidence to suggest that some form of spinal manipulation was performed on horses as far back as ancient China.With the founding of chiropractic in the late 1800’s in America it was not long before the agriculture based community realized the value of chiropractic for animals. In almost any community there are stories of “old Doc so and so” adjusting a valued farm animal. In fact in the 1920’s the oldest chiropractic college in the country kept a small clinic where animals were treated to prove that animals as well as humans benefit from regular chiropractic care. Since that time animal chiropractic has enjoyed great popularity in the show ring and at race tracks around the country.

In 1989 a group of veterinarians and chiropractors formed the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). The idea was to help the two professions learn from each other and thereby allow more animals to experience the benefits of quality chiropractic care. Since its inception the AVCA post-graduate program has expanded to a 280 hour post-graduate program with written and practical examinations that qualify licensed chiropractors and Veterinarians to call themselves “certified”.

Dr. Don Funke passed the written and practical examination with the AVCA in the spring of 2004.