Specialising in leisure horses & riders, when you're concerned about pain.
I've always been a great believer in respecting horses & ponies, not using force to 'make' them do what we want. Fast-forward over years of further learning, I am now a big advocate of Positive Reinforcement training. My approach with Physio is to always be watching & analysing their body language, listening to what they're saying and using that to guide my treatments. Both in the sense that they can tell me where things hurt, but also when they need a break.
Team work is vital, and I always strive to liaise with Vets & the wider team, to give you the most accurate answers and rounded care, for the best result for your equine.
Trained and qualified to the Gold Standard among animal Physiotherapists, I am ACPAT Cat A, RAMP registered, HCPC registered and member of the CSP. Fully regulated and insured, you can be sure to receive evidence-based, safe and effective care.
For more information on the organisations, please follow the links below.
I can be the bridge of communication if your horse or dog is showing potential signs of pain, even if you're not sure if a behaviour may be pain-related. With thorough, understanding assessment, I can help you understand what they're trying to tell you.
Working as part of a team with you, the Vet, farrier, saddler, dentist, behaviourist, trainer/instructor, I can help get to the bottom of any concerns. You might be unsure if something your horse is doing is a behavioural problem or due to pain.
You might know there's a physical problem but need to get more answers; they're just 'not quite right'. You might have a riding issue, which I can help get to the underlying cause.
Physiotherapeutic treatments I provide will be chosen specifically for the problem and individual horse, from a wide range of modalities. Your role is to ask questions and keep me updated, to ensure you understand what my findings are and how we're managing any problems.
I treat rehabilitation cases post-injury or surgery, as well as diagnosed conditions, or not yet diagnosed problems. My favourite ones are those that the owner just knows there's something going on but can't quite put their finger on it. There's always so many factors to consider and I do love a complex case!
Get back to enjoying every moment and make riding feel good for you and your horse again!
Animals are incredibly healing for us, so we need to do our best to ensure they are comfortable and happy, living their best lives.
My treatment techniques and exercise programmes are based on sound evidence and clinical reasoning, to improve quality of life and minimise pain.
Your horse can feel freer, swinging their back when hacking out; able to bend their neck on turns without blocking or twisting their head; and use their back end with lifted shoulders.
You can complete the package with rider Physiotherapy, to improve your ridden harmony, reduce your own pain & weaknesses, ultimately reducing strain on your horse.
The term Physiotherapist is a protected title, whereby only those with a degree in Physiotherapy (i.e. human) may use it. However, any word preceding it invalidates this, therefore ‘Veterinary or Animal or Equine Physiotherapist’ does not require any specific qualifications or regulation. There are copious training routes now available to gain a qualification in veterinary physiotherapy, which vary considerably in their length and requirements. The only way to be sure you are using a qualified Physiotherapist is to look for the title ‘Chartered’. A Chartered Physiotherapist has gone through the rigorous training routes of a human Physiotherapy degree, experience usually in the NHS, then a Masters-level post-graduate degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy. They are then eligible to be members of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT).
Physiotherapy is a vital part of the NHS because it is a science-based health profession (not a complementary therapy), using physical methods to improve the body's function. A qualified Physiotherapist has undergone a 3-year full-time degree, gaining knowledge in anatomy, physiology, neurology, biomechanics and pathophysiology. Core skills are then developed on clinical rotations in hospitals, including Orthopaedics, Musculoskeletal, Neurology, Respiratory, Community Rehabilitation, and many others, before specialising in their preferred area.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is a professional body for those that have successfully completed this standardised training and exams.
The application of all the physiotherapeutic skills can be applied to Horses, Dogs and other animals. Veterinary physiotherapy incorporates knowledge of veterinary practices, animal anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and pathophysiology. It also uses ‘evidence-based medicine’, where the most appropriate and effective methods are used to treat an animal.
There is now a register for animal therapists (animal physiotherapists, osteopaths & chiropractors) who have shown compliance with a Professional Code of Conduct, Standards of Practice and requirements for Continuing Professional Development. RAMP allows owners, Veterinarians and insurance companies to ensure they are using a highly qualified individual that is insured for their practice.
The most important skill of Physiotherapists is clinical reasoning; choosing the most appropriate management option supported by evidence. Physiotherapists’ skills are continuously developed throughout their career, usually in the NHS, which provides regular in-service training, peer supervision, watched assessments and case reviews. This scrutiny ensures safe practice, effectiveness and up-to-date knowledge of evidence.
All Physiotherapists are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).