WHY MIGHT MY HORSE NEED PHYSIOTHERAPY?
All horses, from elite athletes to unridden pets can benefit from physiotherapy. Poor performance, temperament changes, stiffness or laziness, for example, can all have a physical problem as their root cause. Healing of wounds and other injuries can be optimised with the help of physiotherapeutic equipment and techniques, alongside an appropriate rehabilitation programme. Regular visits are important in maintaining musculoskeletal health, maximising athletic ability and can aid in early detection of potential problems.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Veterinary consent
The horse must be registered with a vet prior to the visit. Your vet is the only person qualified to diagnose, treat and prescribe medication, and holds vital health records, which sometimes may influence the suitability of physical therapy. For routine wellbeing or performance maintenance visits your vet does not need to be contacted, but if your horse is being seen to help with healing of an injury, management of musculoskeletal conditions, or rehabilitation, it is important that guidance from your vet is sought so as to ensure the best outcome. If your horse has regular visits, it also means that injury can be prevented through early detection of subtle changes in their body, and referral to your vet if necessary for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
History
A full history will be taken prior to seeing your horse. There are many factors that can contribute to physical problems, so getting 'the big picture' will help determine the most appropriate approach to physical therapy and subsequent management/exercise programmes for you to ensure the most beneficial outcome.
Assessment and treatment
Please ensure your horse is as clean and dry as possible, including picking out feet - a thick layer of mud/wet coat makes it nearly impossible to palpate and deliver treatment effectively. Ideally there should be enough flat area to observe the horse moving, and dry hard standing for the hands-on work. It is appreciated that not everyone has perfect facilities, but please do your best. A quiet, calm environment is ideal, so consider booking your appointment when there is least likely to be a lot of activity on the yard. If you are exercising your horse before a visit, please allow at least 1 hr for them to cool down.
An initial assessment and MSK session could take up to two hours, and subsequent visits usually between 45 and 90 minutes. Each horse and situation is different, so nothing is set in stone. If a course of treatment for a specific injury or condition is needed, short visits can be arranged to deliver the appropriate modality, or some equipment is available to hire.