Hazelcroft Veterinary Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

09/09/2024

Back to it with a busy day after 2 weeks rest following my injection! 🤕🦴 The steroid is successfully in my wrist, hopefully the improvements will come in time 🤞🏻

Please get in touch ASAP for October appointments🍂🍁

Where is this year going?! 😩

11/08/2024

The date for my steroid injection is finalised! 🙌🏻

I’ll be off work from Thursday 22nd August, return Thursday 5th September.

If you’ve had an appointment waiting to be confirmed during this time then I will be in touch today to confirm the dates.

As you can imagine, September will be a bit manic so please contact me sooner than later if you know your horse is due! I’m on my laptop & available today for admin enquiries 🥰

📞 07870269008

25/07/2024

Sweet young horse that one of my clients is selling and has asked me to share 🙂
she’d love to find him a home with somebody local who she can keep in touch with!

Very sad sale of much loved young horse, he was backed last year then turned away and then has been restarted recently. He was a late foal (August) so was started a bit later with this in mind for his longevity. Would excel in any sphere of competition, he has lovely paces and an exc...

23/07/2024

Brief update on my wrist steroid injection and appointments over the next few weeks.

Short answer, despite lots of chasing, I still don’t have a date! 😫 (being done privately after my car accident in 2022, not NHS bashing!)

The plan provisionally is to have the treatment in mid August, and I’ll have 2 weeks off work after this to rest it. This may make my time very tight over the next few weeks.

Huge thanks to everybody who is being so patient waiting for me to confirm appointments around this time, the minute I have more information I will update you! Please do message me if you know you need an appointment in the next few weeks so I can get you on my lists.

📞 07870269008

18/07/2024

Another busy clinic at Oakham Veterinary Hospital Small Animal today! From post operative TPLO and elbow dysplasia cases to arthritis pain management, veterinary physiotherapy is key to getting your dog feeling stronger and more comfortable 👐🏻🫶🏻

09/07/2024

Tinker drifting away to some fascia release over the shelf of ribs. Such a rewarding treatment with this little girl 🥰👐🏻🫶🏻

04/07/2024

I just want to say a really huge thank you to all of my clients who regularly recommend me to friends, and tag my page in social media groups. It’s so heart warming to see - your recommendations go a huge way for small businesses 🫶🏻

17/06/2024

Food for thought! 💭

Herdbound horses -

Herdbound horses are a common complaint- all over the country, horses are attached to a buddy or buddies, often to a level that can make them dangerous to take out alone, or sometimes even five feet away.
There are many opinions on different “fixes,” everything from running them ragged near their friend in frantic circles and resting them away from their friend, to a carrot on a stick or Hansel and Greek trail of treats on the path away from the friend. But the reality is, a herd structure is central to a horses survival, and companionship of other horses is part of their feeling of safety- no training can override the horses desire to be a horse witbout shutting them down

AND

The Herdbound horse is one who is not doing well!

In almost every clinic I’ve taught, the most Herdbound horse in the group is the one in roughest shape- tight back, sucked up flank, pain face, tight groin - the works. Horses that are in physical crisis are much more likely to feel vulnerable, stressed, and feel a strong pull toward comfort- which is another horse.

A horse who is not feeling well in their body, who is not feeling confident in their handler who is fighting against their body (it’s a hard truth because that usually isn’t the desire of the handler, but that is what’s happening), who is in a new and unsafe environment is going to seek out safety, and that pull is as strong as the tide.

What’s the fix for Herdbound issues?
Lifestyle fixes
Horses need a herd, they can’t live happily alone, I don’t care who has a horse that tolerates it, solitary confinement is not a way of life for a horse. They need a group, or at least one other friend at the bare minimum. But they are likely to be less secure with just one friend, and far more worried about leaving

Body fixes
Don’t just write off their body because you get routine Bodywork. Get their back moving, help their groin function without being spastic, create a functional body with a moving back and healthy gut so they can think and not be stuck in survival mode

Rider fixes
Make it so whenever you’re around, they feel safe and they feel secure. That means calm your own energy, learn how to guide, be aware of your environment, don’t nitpick, and make your body make their body feel stable and wonderful. Good riding is moving Bodywork- make it so when you sit on their back they are in better shape than out in the pasture - that is a tall order but I believe it’s entirely possible, and I see it happen all the time.

A Herdbound horse is a stressed out horse - the fix is in your hands entirely.

14/05/2024

This beautiful girl is Skye who is excelling for their Flyball team with her owner Toni!

Skye has had 3 monthly physio since she came into Toni’s care, and working alongside her hydrotherapist she is feeling strong and comfortable coming into the 2024 season 🐾🐕

05/05/2024

Team Grey at Osberton over this weekend!

Olivia and Garry in the 2*
Gemma and Niro in the Intermediate

Huge well done to both combinations 👏🏻😍🤍🩶

02/05/2024

Suupperrr happy Willow after her maintenance physio tonight 🥰🧡

30/04/2024

This last year I’ve been reminded so many times of the importance of having professionals that really get to know your horse, and keeping continuity of those professionals where possible.

Today alone I had two cases where my historic knowledge of the horse and videos from previous assessments meant we were much more able to spot what is potentially going on, and get a good clinically reasoned treatment plan in place. I then finished the day with a new client where her owner had gone to great lengths to gather historic video footage for me to see her horse’s normal 🙏🏻

I’ve also recently had farriers noticing new stiffness, saddle fitters picking up abnormal back pain, trainers spotting subtle movement issues all because they know the horse they are working with very well to spot those changes quickly.

By working with a regular trainer, farrier, therapist, saddle fitter, vet and dentist that you trust, we can start to build a big picture behind the scenes.

Ultimately, it means we can get onto treating those issues much more effectively! 🐎

Now, this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t get a new set of eyes in if you feel this is needed, as sometimes this can be very useful when you’ve hit a plateau or negative turn.

This picture is Bo who I’ve been treating for about 5 years for maintenance and rehab through various ailments - secretly the best plus side to knowing them well is they appreciate your help all the more, and give you as much love back 🥰

14/04/2024

Highlighting the importance of routine dental exams!

09/04/2024

Very interesting article giving a full run down of the science behind behavioural responses, and how your horse’s home life and underling musculoskeletal pains affect them.

Some physiological and psychological reasons for a horse’s deteriorating performance, and why we might miss some red flags.

03/04/2024

This little star is Daisy who I’ve been working closely with after her TPLO surgery at Oakham Veterinary Hospital Small Animal.

She was non-weight bearing on her surgery limb at her first physio appointment 2 weeks post op, and 7 weeks later with specific exercises, LASER, pulsed magnetic therapy and bodywork….look at her go! The team at HydroFido have aided her final stages of recovery massively.

Its all in the team approach 🥰

19/03/2024

Pre-season vet checks are available in April at Pool House with a work up and gastroscope.

17/03/2024

Amazing releases after a regular maintenance treatment for Letty, who had become a bit sore in his back musculature after an extra long ride with his owner 🐎🏃🏻‍♀️⛰️

Megan Ellingworth

13/03/2024

From next week, our Oakham Veterinary Hospital Small Animal physiotherapy clinic day is changing!

⭐️ To help our appointments be more accessible, I will be in the clinic every Thursday from 3 - 7pm ⭐️

Perfect for fitting your post operative and pain management appointments around your working day 🐾🐕🐱

Please contact reception directly at the practice to secure your slot.

📞 01572 722646