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EQUINE PHYSIOTHERAPY

What is Equine Physiotherapy?

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Physiotherapy is a gentle hands-on approach to treating a wide range of issues; with the aim of restoring and maintaining optimal health and well-being. Our treatment approach not only focuses on the identified areas of dysfunction but also takes into consideration the entire musculoskeletal framework of the horse; this enables fast positive change to occur with lasting long-term benefits. 

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Physiotherapy techniques used during treatment will be carefully selected and tailored for your horse's specific needs, these include:

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  • joint mobilisations

  • soft tissue massage

  • myofascial release techniques

  • muscle stretching

  • cranial release techniques

  • Electrotherapies

Such techniques allow positive changes to occur within your horse's musculoskeletal system by positively influencing their circulatory, lymphatic and nervous system. These all contribute to achieving ultimate health and well-being; therefore enabling your horse to feel great and achieve optimal performance. 

Benefits of Physiotherapy:

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Keeping the equine athlete happy and healthy is a complex task; incorporating physiotherapy into your horses’ maintenance program will help to ensure optimal health and performance. Physio treatment can help your horse recover from injury and is also a means of preventative care by reducing asymmetries, improving mobility and minimising the occurrence of injury.

 

The benefits include:

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  • Pain relief

  • Enhancing and optimising performance

  • Improved bio-mechanical balance

  • Improved mobility and function

  • Improved stride length and cadence

  • Reduced injury occurrence

  • Faster recovery from injury

  • Reduced stiffness

  • Managing behavioral issues

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Signs of Discomfort:

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Horses are athletes and their physical well-being is down to us. Since they are unable to tell us if they are feeling stiff, achy, or are in pain we must be very vigilant and receptive to any signs and signals that they give us. 

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Physiotherapy may help to resolve some of the following problems:

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  • Gait problems - decreased stride length, tracking up, irregular push, toe drag

  • Unexplained unlevelness or lameness

  • Uneven muscle bulk

  • Difference in feel from the left to right rein

  • Loss of softness through the back

  • Reluctance to go forwards

  • Difficulty flexing/bending

  • Tail swishing or holding to one side

  • Difficulty taking weight behind

  • Head tilt

  • Crossed Jaw

  • Inconsistent head carriage or head shaking

  • Jumping at an angle

  • Putting in a short stride prior to take-off

  • Rushing off after landing

  • Lack of bascule over a fence

  • Becoming hollow

  • Croup high or cold backed

  • Disunited or incorrect strike off in canter

  • Behavioural changes - bucking, rearing, bolting, irritability, pinning ears back, reluctance to girthing up, sensitivity to brushing, unable to relax, box walking, weaving, etc.

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