How can physiotherapy help my horse?
Physiotherapy can benefit all horses, from Shetland pony companions to happy hacking horses and competition horses in all disciplines. Physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat functional problems that may be contributing to pain, discomfort or loss of performance. Physiotherapy can help your horse recover from injury or surgery, reduce pain, improve joint mobility, improve muscle power and performance, and manage lifelong degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Some of the most common conditions treated by The Animal Physiotherapist are;
- Back pain
- Poll pain
- Lameness
- Pelvic and sacroiliac dysfunction
- Soft tissue injuries including tendon, ligament and muscle injuries
- Osteoarthritis management
- Recovery from surgery to facilitate return to previous function and reduce scar tissue
- Wound healing
- Foot disorders
- Temporomandibular (TMJ) joint pain or dysfunction
If your horse is showing any of these signs, physiotherapy may be of benefit;
- Reduction in performance
- Refusal to jump
- Unwillingness to work or move forward
- Reluctance to be tacked up or mounted
- Lack of hindlimb engagement
- Difficulty with lateral movements
- Behavioural change
- Tripping or scuffing toes
- Headshaking
Regular physiotherapy assessment and maintenance of the musculoskeletal system can help prevent injury and identify any potential problems before they develop into performance issues. Physiotherapy can also be helpful to prepare your horse for surgery (prehab) and enhance post-operative recovery.
Horses are treated by The Animal Physiotherapist, following vet referral, at their own stables with adherence to current COVID-19 guidelines. Please see the ‘Terms and Conditions’ page of the website for further details.
Please see the Pricing page for current appointment fees which are payable at the time of the appointment. Further details can be found on the ‘What happens during an appointment’ and ‘Treatment’ pages of the website.
Please get in touch to discuss how physiotherapy could help your horse. A 15 minute virtual consultation or phone call is offered free of charge.