About Dr. Joni

Philosophy

The main premise of The Performance Edge is to optimize chiropractic care so that the animal athlete, equine or otherwise can operate at the highest possible level. Dr. Joni Vachon works closely with veterinarians, animal acupuncturists, equine dentists, physiotherapists, herbalists, homeopaths, saddlers and farriers; all important cogs in the wheel of proper horse and animal care.

Chiropractic care encompasses a holistic approach to relieving health and performance problems that a performance animal may encounter. Chiropractic realigns the skeletal system allowing for proper nerve, immune, and endocrine system function; thus engaging the body’s natural self-healing capability.

joni adjusting horse

At a guess, 50 % of the horses I see have back, neck and shoulder symptoms due to a problem somewhere else-lower legs and feet, teeth or tack problems. With the body being such an integrated system, clearly it is important to work together as a joint approach.

Adequate nerve supply is vital to the proper functioning of the entire body. Chiropractic is aimed at correcting misalignment and restoring optimum functioning of the nervous system. Even slight misalignments affect the flow of the nerve impulses.

Background

Dr. Joni is both a human and animal chiropractor and possesses a unique combination of integrated modalities to provide a highly effective health care approach in the treatment of musculo skeletal problems. She practices a low force, non-invasive, effective technique.

"Dr. Joni helps keep all my horses right. She was instrumental in getting High Scope , my 4 star eventer to achieve such a good place at the Olympics in Sydney. We placed a very respectable 19th."

--Trevor Smith, one of Ireland's top international event riders.

Trevor Smith and High Scope at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Dr. Joni worked frequently with High Scope to keep him at top performance levels.

Dr. Joni spent 8 years in Ireland and England working with race horses, event and show jumping horses and their riders. Many of Dr. Joni’s clients included top International and Olympic riders as well as national and International training yards for the flat and National hunt. The flat horses treated have included Group 1 and 2 winners as well as Gold Cup winners for the National Hunt. Though now in the US, she regularly commutes to the UK to visit her clients at their training yards.

While in Ireland, she regularly contributed articles on Chiropractic and Complementary Therapies for Ireland Equestrian Magazine.

Dr Vachon works in conjunction with your veterinarian on all animal patients. Chiropractic care does not take the place of veterinary care. If your horse has suffered a serious trauma or is obviously and acutely lame, then you are advised to call out your vet.