EQUINE PHYSIOTHERAPY

Does my horse need physiotherapy?

Every horse is an athlete regardless of the horse's lifestyle, discipline, competition level or job.

As a physiotherapist it is important to work alongside veterinary surgeons, farriers, dentists, saddle fitters, trainers and riders maintaining the horses physical fitness and ensuring they meet their full athletic potential, performing at their optimum level.   

All horses, no matter what level, benefit from regular physiotherapy treatments the same as they benefit from regular saddle fittings and farriery. 

Horses are often seen to be quite stoic animals that don't complain about the odd ache or pain. If you notice subtle changes in your horse's normal behaviour or performance, they may be in need of a physiotherapy assessment.  

Common signs of this could present as: 

• Unwillingness to work or move forward

• Struggling to strike off on the correct canter lead

• Stopping when jumping

• Struggling with lateral movements

• Poor performance or change in behaviour 

• Bucking, rearing, napping

• Uneven shoe wear

• Lameness

• Cold Backed

• Reduced hind limb engagement

• Tripping/stumbling

• Head tilting

• Reluctance to be saddled up and mounted

These are often early indications of a treatable condition.

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Regular physiotherapy can also pick up on subtle asymmetries or problem areas before they impact performance and become a more chronic problem.​

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Common conditions that can benefit from physiotherapy:

• Splints and swellings

• Back and neck pain and stiffness

• Wound and tissue repair

• Muscular asymmetries and strains

• Sacroilliac conditions

• Kissing spines

• Osteoarthritis

• Bone spavin

• Ringbone

• Sidebone

• Navicular

• Tendon and ligament injuries 

• Wounds 

• Scar tissue

• Fractures

• Haematomas

• Mud fever

• Laminitis

• Exertional Rhabdomyolysis or "tying up"

• Stifle injuries

• Tightness in the poll TMJ

• Post-surgical rehabilitation

• Nerve injuries