Most natural therapies can treat a wide range of problems. They are more sophisticated approaches to healthcare that many people realise.

This is even more important now that the DEFRA codes for pet welfare come into force next month.

People usually think of chiropractic for lameness, but it can also help with problems of bucking and rearing or unusual gait.

Walking a bit like a little old lady, a mature mare was taking very short steps behind and her bottom was tucked under. She wouldn't willingly go to trot, and would slow again within a few steps. There was no medical problem.

Her owner had herself had surgery soon after buying her, and was grateful for her quiet action. But as she recovered, she wanted more exercise.

I was called in. The mare's history included years as a show-jumper, which ended with an injury to a hind leg.

Retired, she became a brood-mare and after many foals, was sold on for hacking.

On assessment, I found the mare's deep lumbar and pelvic muscles were in spasm. This was much stronger on one side, suggesting long-term compensation from the old injury. Her feet were brushing together and her shoes were wearing unevenly.

Chiropractic adjustment, tail traction and deep muscle massage changed everything in one session. Afterwards, with an extravagant action and a sassy step – probably reminiscent of her show-jumping days – she walked back round the yard with her head held high.

This example shows a moderate problem that involved medical, chiropractic and farriery issues. It started as a puzzle because, as the owner said, “She's always been like it” – nothing recent was known to have caused it.

But adding the clues together led to an explanation, and treatment corrected the misalignments which released the spasms that had been painful for over ten years.

Sometimes therapy needs detective-work to unravel a long-standing mystery!