Skip to content

Adjusted Attitude



It took a lot of finagling to get Mark Wooten to the chiropractor. To put it in his words, Woo-ten,a 1982 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, thought chiropractic was a bunch of “hooty.”

But his back pain persisted, and he finally visited a chiropractor. “Chiropractic gave me my career back. I wondered if there was anything being done for animals, and my chiropractor told me about a course for learning animal adjustments,”Wooten says.

Wooten practices at the Nolensville Veterinary Hospital in Nolensville, Tenn., where Vol fans’ blood runs orange. Barry Fly, a CVM graduate of 1980, started the clinic in the early 1980s. He was soon joined by his brother Brad, a 1982 graduate of the college, and then Wooten came on board. Tony Kimmons, a 1995 CVM graduate, is the latest alum to join the team.

The hospital is a mixed practice, but Wooten and Kimmons do strictly equine work. Some weeks, Wooten personally sees as many as 70 horses, and a lot of those consultations are for chiropractic adjustments or acupuncture.

Wooten, who specializes primarily in lameness in the horse, became a certified chiropractor in 1998, and a certified acupuncturist in 2000. He says chiropractic doesn’t apply to death’s door situations, rather it is a tool used to improve performance. “I often hear complaints from owners and riders about lameness, yet you can look at a horse all day and not see it limp.” In fact, it often turns out it’s more of a resistance than a lameness problem. A misalignment is causing them pain. Chiropractic frees them.

After an adjustment, clients who thought they had a training problem with a horse often see marked improvement in horses with behavioral problems. “Ultimately it’s not really a training problem.Chiropractic saves some horses that are about to be cast away as useless or dangerous. It makes them safe horses again,” Wooten says.

Wooten, who calls chiropractic and acupuncture complementary not alternative medicine, says the demand for these services is growing. “I now get referrals from practitioners who at first thought ‘Wooten has gone off the deep end with this chiropractic thing.’ Now they see the benefits of what it’s doing. But most of my referrals come by word of mouth from clients, and that’s the best referral you can get.”

Wooten still maintains close ties with the CVM.“UT was probably the most fun I’ve ever had. It was a lot of hard work, frustration, and worry that you’re not going to make the grade—but it was the best time of my life. A lot of people there are still the first ones I get on the phone to talk to when a tough case comes in. I call them for consultations on the practice of veterinary medicine and also because they are close advisors and good friends. Dr. Henton,in particular, is kind of like a dad to me.” Dr. John Henton is a professor in Large Animal Clinical Sciences and coordinator of the Continuing Education and Alumni Relations programs.

Wooten says once you’ve graduated from veterinary college, you still have a lot to learn. He wants to make sure he continues to adjust to life along the way.

(Reprinted with permission of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.)

More Stories

  • Letter To The Editor

    Dear Kentucky State Fair Board,

    My name is Melissa Moore; I am an American Saddlebred, Hackney and Roadster horse trainer. I am a second generation horse trainer whose family is deeply immersed in this equine industry and has been for over 75 years.  

    Read More
  • UPHA Office Moving

    UPHA is relocating to a new address. Kindly update your records with our new location. The postal address is P.O. Box 3728, Midway, KY 40347 and the physical address is 123 East Main St, Midway, KY 40347. Read More
  • From the Desk of Edward R. “Hoppy” Bennett

    Dear Members of The American Saddlebred Community, 

    As predicted, we have received pushback from various members of the Saddlebred industry, namely the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA).  When we made our decision to replace the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with Equine Sports Council (ESC), we were aware of and discussed this pushback and moved forward with the changes, knowingly.

    Read More
  • River Ridge Is USEF Lite Rated

    Barbara Dunham, manager of the River Ridge Charity Horse Show, announced that the show has been granted USEF Lite status for its April 24-27 event at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    In response to recent developments surrounding the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is pleased to announce the launch of a dedicated webpage to serve as a news hub for its members. This webpage will provide timely updates and information as the situation evolves. Read More
  • Morgan Grand National Update On New Coliseum

    The Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show is one step closer to the beginning of a new era as progress on the new state-of-the-art coliseum in Oklahoma City continues on schedule. Read More
  • Update On Citrus Cup Regional - New Venue and Dates For 2024

    Join in for fun in the sun at Citrus Cup at its new location, the fabulous World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, on April 24-27, 2024. Fay Lowry will be judging all main ring classes. The new revised class schedule includes classes for Morgans, Saddlebreds, Hackney, Harness Pony, Open breed, carriage, ranch riding, and dressage divisions. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    Many of you received an email today from David Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues, that indicates a decision has already been made by the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) to change the governance of the World's Championship Horse Show from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).  Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is extending the National and National Amateur Futurity weanling nomination deadline until May 1, 2024... Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) has given the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) notice to terminate its 1995 agreement with the KSFB to provide support to the World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS). The termination notice was hand delivered to the KSFB on Friday, March 15. Read More