Once you have made an appointment, Turning Point Vet will arrive at your barn with all the necessary equipment. The initial visit will include a brief physical, neurological, lameness, and myofascial/motion (tissue and muscle) exam. After these assessments, your pet will receive their first acupuncture and/or chiropractic treatment. The main focus of this visit is obtaining a complete and accurate medical diagnosis, setting up a treatment plan, and starting a treatment course while building trust with the patient. Follow up treatments may be needed based on individual needs.

A chiropractic adjustment is used to improve motion to joints that have less mobility than they should. With an adjustment we can improve how horses are able to use their body and maintain comfort. Chiropractic can be used as a stand alone treatment, but also goes very well with acupuncture.

Chiropractic has the advantage to help sore backs and improve mobility and movement for all species. This therapy is well tolerated and minimal side effects.

Acupuncture for horses can be used to treat musculoskeletal, neurological, and reproductive issues. It is also great to help improve performance, ease stress, and as a maintenance therapy. Treatments are well tolerated and have no drug withdrawals. We utilize dry needling and electro-acupuncture regularly. Because acupuncture can cause your horse to be tired, it is recommended not to ride for 24 hours after a treatment.

Acupuncture has shown to be a safe and effective way to help with multiple bovine conditions. Additionally, it has no drug withdrawal times, making it ideal for production and show animals. Those that are not halter trained will need to have stocks available for treatment.

Subtle areas of weakness and asymmetry can lead to compensation and injury. Our goal is to prevent injury so you and your horse can reach your riding goals. During a Performance consult we will analyze your horse's movement and perform a thorough biomechanical assessment to create a therapy plan.

Get your horse back to work the safe way. Turning Point can work with owners to build individualized rehab plan based on your horse's injury. No horse or injury is the same, so it helps to map a course to limit reinjury and compensation patterns. We also offer other tools to help in the healing process. Make an appointment for a rehab consult or if you are looking to prevent injury.
Also called "photobiomodulation", laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to create therapeutic effects. With this laser device, light interacts with tissues at the cellular level to increase circulation, stimulate cellular regeneration and increase cellular function. Laser therapy has many similar effects as acupuncture, but is completely non-invasive.
There have been extensive controlled scientific studies that have shown laser therapy's ability to help with:
- Osteoarthritis
- Muscle strains
- Tendon/Ligament Strains
- Wound healing
- Neck/Back Pain
- Neurological issues/ nerve regeneration
Similar to acupuncture, improvement can be seen after the first treatment, but most patient require a few treatments before significant results are visible. Patients with more severe pain/injury may take longer to see an improvement. In these cases, a laser is available for rental to be used daily. This will help speed healing and improve comfort more quickly.
Is it safe?
Laser therapy is one of the safest non-invasive therapies that we have today. No restraint or sedation is needed for your pet to receive this treatment. As with acupuncture most animals enjoy the calming effect and will sit quietly for their treatment. An exam is needed before beginning laser therapy as it is not recommended with some types of cancer.

Laser Therapy for an acute tendon injury

Desiree has recently completed the Stride-Right Specialty Bodywork certification course and is now certified in equine massage and is now recognized as a Certified Provider of The Headfirst Approach.
Key Techniques and Skills Included:
This additional training allows us to better support your horse’s comfort, performance, and overall wellness.
When will you offer massage?
Desiree will be offering massage at least once a month. Depending on the demand, we may offer more days. For scheduling or any questions, please reach out!

Dr. Bucci recently earned her certification in Equine Kinesiotape. This trend in therapy has been used by human athletes for decades. The tape works by stimulating the touch receptors in the horse’s skin and hair follicles to be a physical reminder for the muscles and nerves. The tape is stretchy and does not irritate or remove their hair but has impacts on the nervous system to improve coordination, reduce pain, increase blood flow, and improve muscle function. Feel free to ask us more about adding Kinesiotape to your horse’s regular chiropractic or acupuncture session.
How long can it stay on?
It really depends on the horse! Ideally, we would like for the tape to stay on for at least 24-48 hours. If the tape is still on after 5-7 days, we recommend removing the tape. If a corner of the tape lifts, feel free to carefully trim off that area.
Can I ride with the tape on?
Yes! Your horse can live their normal life while their tape is applied. They can be ridden, turned out, bathed, blanketed, etc.
Additional farm call charge, starting at $50, is based on location. Discounts for multiple horses.
This includes:
Additionally, we will collect a full history to tailor treatment to any prior medical needs. This is needed for an accurate diagnosis and to determine an appropriate treatment plan. You will be able to receive a record of this treatment that can also be sent to any referring veterinarian.
With a thorough exam we can determine which treatments are best suited for your horse's needs.
This includes a full body exam of each joint and applying adjustments where needed including: head, neck, all 4 limbs, ribs/sternum, back and pelvic.
Horses that have not been treated within a year will be subject to a new exam.
Acupuncture treatments use tiny needles inserted at specific location to reduce pain and inflammation and improve nerve stimulation. This can include needles alone or the additional use of a micro electrical current.
Equine Rehab is not just for injured horses. We provide a thorough consultation to help build areas of subtle weakness to prevent injury. If your horse is injured, we can provide therapy to help with healing and create a tailored plan to maintain muscle and get back to work safely.
The Headfirst Approach is an advanced bodywork session focused on relieving tension in the head, poll, and whole body to improve comfort, mobility, and overall performance. Using targeted release and stretching techniques - including sinus drainage, stretching, and myofascial work.
Kinesiotape (K-Tape) is used as an added therapy to stimulate the nervous system, improve blood flow, and improve muscle function. Tape is great for added therapy to accentuate acupuncture for days after the treatment, or to help relax/stimulate muscles after a chiropractic adjustment. Additionally, we can teach clients how to apply tape for specific horses’ needs for longer term treatments.
*Please note this is an add-on service only
Current clients have the ability to rent a therapy laser to be used at home for horses and livestock. Laser therapy is a great option for acute injuries (esp. tendons/ligaments) and helping with pain from arthritis. The My Pet Laser 2 can be rented on a weekly basis to be used at home or in the barn. Patients must be current clients with a recent exam to create an appropriate treatment plan.
Additional farm call charge, starting at $50, is based on location. Discounts for multiple animals.
This includes a gait exam and full body exam while applying adjustments where needed including: head, neck, ribs/sternum, back and pelvic.
Acupuncture treatments use tiny needles inserted at specific location to reduce pain and inflammation and improve nerve stimulation. This can include needles alone or the additional use of a micro electrical current.
The Headfirst Approach is an advanced bodywork session focused on relieving tension in the head, poll, and whole body to improve comfort, mobility, and overall performance. Using targeted release and stretching techniques - including sinus drainage, stretching, and myofascial work.
We apologize that we cannot extend credit at this time. Payment is due at the time of service. Cash, check, Venmo and major credit cards are accepted. Please call for an accurate estimate of services.
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