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Equine Physiotherapy 

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How do I know if my Horse needs Physiotherapy Treatment?

Horses may show very subtle or obvious signs of discomfort. This can be through changes within their behaviours on the ground and/or in ridden work. Horses can compensate for injuries and discomfort well, so loss of performance or subtle changes in their behaviours can indicate that there may be musculoskeletal discomfort. Every horse can benefit from physiotherapy whether you have a happy hacker, a companion, an all-rounder, or a high performing competition horse. Working to detect and treat areas of tension, promote injury recovery, and improve tissue health, everyday function, and quality of life.

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​ Physiotherapy works with manual techniques, electrotherapies, and exercise prescription to reduce pain, mobilise joints, and improve muscular strength and condition.

 

Common conditions that can benefit from veterinary physiotherapy treatment:

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  • Tendon/ligament injuries/tears/ruptures

  • Osteoarthritis 

  • Kissing spines 

  • Locking stifles 

  • Obesity 

  • Muscle tears 

  • Muscular asymmetries 

  • Navicular 

  • Bone/bog spavin 

  • Laminitis

  • Tying up 

  • Splints 

  • Fractures 

  • Bucked Shins 

  • Ringbone 

  • Preoperative treatment 

  • Postoperative treatment 

  • Hematoma 

  • Infected wounds 

  • Proud flesh 

  • Scar tissues 

  • Elderly Horses 

What is included in a Physiotherapy Session?

The initial consultation includes: 

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​Prior to consultation veterinary permission is required for physiotherapy treatment to commence in accordance with ‘The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1996’ if your horse is lame, injured, or has any known musculoskeletal/neuromuscular conditions. Please find my consent form under the ‘Referral Form’ tab at the top of the page.

 

Initial consultation: £65 

Follow up appointment: £60

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ZONE A (10-mile radius) - included in price 

ZONE B (20-mile radius) - £7 additional charge 

ZONE C (20+ mile radius) - £10 additional charge 

Other regions can be calculated by request 

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Kinesiology Taping as an addition to full treatment:

Kinesiology tape: £5

Kinesiology taping session for specific injury: £20

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​Discussion:

Information about your horse, medical history, home environment, concerns, goals, special dietary requirements, third party treatments, consent forms. 

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Assessment:

A static assessment first: posture, head carriage, foot balance, conformation, scars, muscular symmetries, hoof pastern axis. Then a dynamic assessment: walking, trotting and other specific tests needed based on the rationale of findings. These findings will be discussed and compared with muscular palpation findings. Muscular palpation is used to test for, tension, trigger points, increased muscle mass, increased muscle tone, scar tissue and fibrosis. 

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Treatment: 

Depending on assessment finding this will tailor each treatment to each individual horse, which may include:

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  • Massage 

  • Electrotherapy - Laser, Therapeutic Ultrasound, Pulse magnetic therapy, TENS (for pain relief), NMES (muscle stimulation) 

  • Joint mobilisations 

  • Therapeutic stretching 

  • Myofascial release

  • Compression therapy

 

Exercise prescription programmes:

After treatment an exercise plan for the owner to complete will be discussed and demonstrated. This is for the owner to complete in between sessions to help keep the tissues mobilised and improve restrictions, which may include:

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  • Stretching 

  • Isometric stretching 

  • Groundwork 

  • Polework 

  • Proprioceptive exercises

  • Ridden exercises 

  • Changes to home environment

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At the end of the consultation a full written report will be given to you and sent to your veterinarian. Repeat consultation will be discussed and different for each individual case. 

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Dependant on the treatment given, a period of rest may be advised of up to 48 hours.

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