Liz Wenman - Veterinary Chiropractor - MSc MAA MMCP

10/12/2025

Never treated a reindeer but would love to give it a ho ho go!

As we head into the festive season, even our reindeer companions remind us how important comfortable, balanced movement is for all animals.

McTimoney Animal Practitioners use gentle, effective techniques to help support mobility, performance and overall wellbeing — from family pets to working animals.

🦌 Find a qualified practitioner near you: https://mctimoneyanimal.co.uk/

09/12/2025

He is such a good boy …….

09/12/2025

Poor Beau is still sleepy after sedation required for investigation into why he has suffered choke three times in the last month.

Only a slight restriction felt in his oesophagus and no lumps or bumps that shouldn’t have been there. Bloods taken and I will keep you updated.

Thank you Lucy & Lauren from Equivet for today.

03/12/2025

Treasure again!

We knew Treasure our Shire mare seemed to have trouble holding her front feet up on the stand for the trimmer. We assumed she thought it a silly idea, as she does have a strong opinion at times.

Then we noticed that every time we picked up a front foot, she would take the weight off and balance on the toe of the diagonal hind foot. See picture below.

I’m sorry to say that his continued as her pattern for several years and far too long. Then when reading the amazing book Equine Myofascial Kinetic Lines-for professionals by Schultz, Due and Elbrond, it became very clear.

Treasure had tension in both of her “Functional lines”.

So I put the radio on and gave the myofascial release at the suggested points a go. Both Kamila and I were amazed at the outcome.

Treasure is much happier holding her fore-limb on the stand for the trimmer and no lifting and weight shifting on her diagonal hind limbs.

I’m happy to say this is still the case for Treasure several months later. See picture below.

The Myofascial Kinetic Functional Lines are important and necessary for

* Retraction of front and diagonal hind limb and restriction may make it hard to lift front leg onto Farrier rest and cause diagonal hind limb to top forward onto the toe. It simply has no choice.
* Spinal rotation and extension and this may become restricted
* Patella stabilisation where static contraction may create stifle problems such as (patella fixation) locking stifles
* The two Functional Lines work together to produce the trot gait
* Tension in these myofascial kinetic lines may cause tension in the gracilis muscles - hamstring
* Tension may be felt in lateral work of the hind limbs due to affect on abduction and adduction muscles
* Restrict forelimb protraction - produces a shorter stride in front
* Reduce mobility in the lumbar region of the back and even lead to pain in this area
* May unbalance the pelvis by pulling the Tuber Coxae (ventral and cranially ) down and towards the head on one side
* Tightness may also be seen when moving up from walk to trot, when it seems the horse is hopping onto the front limb
* Tension in this myofascial line may affect canter which can be seen by the horse going disunited or just seen as the outside hind limb not able to support the opposite fore limb correctly
* Your tack can affect this kinetic lines function and efficiency because guess what, your saddle is placed directly on top of it

Fascinating fascia tissue and the effect incorrect tension of this tissue can have on the horse.

If you notice any of these patterns in your horse or pony, then find a good equine body worker who has trained in myofascial release techniques.

01/12/2025

I love a good anatomy book and fascia really fascinates me.

So todays arrival is right up my street. I hope to have a really good read over the Christmas holidays.

29/11/2025

Wishing all my friends and clients a fantastic time at Horsemanship Showcase this weekend ###

28/11/2025

Clip-Clop Club evening was fun and informative. Next one in Feb 2026.

A huge thank you to Lucy Cheetham from Equivet for delivering such an informative talk on common winter injuries, illnesses and conditions to look out for during last nights Clip Clop Club. A lot to think about and fantastic insights particularly regarding worming, vaccinations for flu, EHV and strangles and also biosecurity in the yard. Also great advice on how to look after orthopedic issues during winter and Lucy was so kind as to answer a lot of questions. I learnt a lot. Thank you for your time, Lucy and to everyone who attended. It was great to see you all 🎄 and I know Tao and Early enjoyed the fuss. Thanks also to Liz and Kamila for working hard to create such a beautiful and comfortable space for these meetings! Equivet Mobile Horse Veterinary Services

If you’re interested in joining the club and meeting likeminded equestrians, send me a message with your email address and we will add you to the mailing list. Liz and I will also be posting info on Facebook. We will be donating subs to an equine charity of the members choice next month so it’s for a good cause 🐴

23/11/2025

Thank you …….

Pro tip. 🧐

21/11/2025

✨ Treasure’s Little Hoof Adventure ✨

Thank you to everyone who sent kind messages earlier about Treasure’s poorly foot.

What started as a simple abscess turned into a bit more excitement than any of us expected!

After the abscess kept draining, our wonderful vet Jack from Equivet paid us another visit and worked his magic—yes, it involved a teeny bit of drilling, and yes, Treasure was an absolute star through it all.

Because boots in her size seem to be rarer than unicorns in the UK, we needed another plan to protect her hoof wall while it heals.

Enter our hero farrier, Jay Shury, who suggested trying a hoof cast. With our brilliant trimmer Jo Grimes cheering us on from the sidelines (rules are rules!), Jay stepped in, packed the foot beautifully, applied the cast, wrapped it up neatly, and sent Treasure off looking smarter than ever.

A couple of weeks later now, the underside of the cast on the abscess foot has come off—but the hoof wall is still nicely protected, and we’re feeling hopeful as we wait for round two with Jay in early December.

Caring for horses really is a team effort, and Treasure has had the best team: her vet, her trimmer, her farrier, and all of us at home working together. She’s staying barefoot, feeling good, and definitely enjoying all the extra attention.

Here’s to Treasure’s steady recovery and to the village it takes to keep a pony happy and healthy.

20/11/2025

Colder weather is here and with it may come changes in your horse’s diet and drinking habits. These subtle shifts can increase the risk of colic, one of the most common and serious equine emergencies.

👉Ensure fresh water is always available
👉Maintain consistent feeding routines
👉Introduce any dietary changes gradually
👉Keep a close eye on your horse’s behaviour
👉Early detection is key!

If your horse shows signs of colic: pawing, rolling, lack of appetite, or unusual gut sound, contact your vet immediately.

20/11/2025

These heavies have done a fantastic job in the clearance of pine trees to help restore heathland.
They are more versatile so can reach all felled trees, better for the ground in that they produce a lot less damage than tractors and also they lift to the top the dormant seeds we want to see germinating.
And of course they are fantastic to look at and watch.

Thanks Dan & Toby Brown, Johnathan and of course all the horses.