Sun Hill Farm - Vet Physio and Rehabilitation

25/05/2024

Today was for Jack and Ella 💗

24/05/2024

Within the equine industry, horses continue to be stereotyped as naughty, grumpy, resistant, mean, or a typical mare when they are in reality showing signs of pain. It is our responsibility as equine rehabilitation practitioners to quantify and recognize pain in our equine patients, and to educate owners to recognize pain in their animals.

Many markers can be measured and used to quantify pain in the equine, the most valuable of these is behaviour. With advances in research allowing us to identify specific pain behaviours, we can now use composite pain scales in equines to quantify and monitor pain in our patients. This allows an objective method of measuring pain and its progression, improving communication and compliance between members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Let’s discuss some of how we can quantify pain here: https://onlinepethealth.com/putting-a-number-on-pain/

22/05/2024

Wet weather cancellations mean Ella gets a well overdue INDIBA

07/05/2024

Teddy making himself comfortable today 😍

What a handsome boy he is 🐶

06/05/2024

The stables all clean and disinfected ready for their next guests 🫧🧹🧽

27/04/2024

Nothing to see here 👀

Just a horse sharing her birthday stud muffin with a cat 🐱

Bet you didn’t know cats like too!!

😂😂😂

Don’t worry she didn’t eat it all 🐷

26/04/2024

🌟 Registered for another year 🌟

25/04/2024

22/04/2024

This gorgeous old man came for a little pamper while his mum had some well earned R&R.

After a long period of rehab following a tendon injury, there were some compensation patterns forming through the body.

After a week of physio, controlled turnout and walk ground work he is feeling more comfortable to continue his rehab at home again.

He also had 3 indiba sessions on the injured tendon, which has improved its appearance significantly!

19/04/2024

⚠️ Taking your horse BAREFOOT? ⚠️

The notion of “unity of the body” implies that the body is a whole and that it cannot be separated into blocks.
Therefore the global approach to the horse is the most supportive approach. Taking into account the phenomena of compensation that can be created following pain.

So, think of it like this. You've worn shoes all your life, then they are taken away. You've now got to adapt, walking on pavements, gardens etc barefoot. Done therapeutically the transition isn't as bad as one thought.

Or
Your feet hurt, your back then hurts, your hips and then your neck and knees hurt. Your stomach and diaphragm are compromised due to bracing and pain.......
Why on earth would you not seek physical therapy for that to make the process as painless as possible in dealing with the compromisations?! Those that were there from shoes and now the support needed whilst the body adapts, is very REAL.

The whole horse; supporting them through the change to barefoot must include the viscera! Why?
A link between viscera and muscles has been proven, the viscera are attached to the spine by fascias (visceral ligaments), “think of the spine like a keyboard and there are wires hanging from the keyboard ”. This means that the viscera will pull the spine down. So, painful/pulling or overly heavy viscera can lead to dysfunction in the spine.

Dysfunctions in horses often come from unexpected traumas, for which the body has not been able to prepare itself (fall, wrong movement, avoidance reactions following a bad jump or a bad landing)
AND
It can also come from the repetition of an abnormal movement, such as a chronic lameness for example.
THEREFORE
This includes of course MAKING a BIG CHANGE SUCH AS BAREFOOT WITHOUT SUPPORTING THE BODY.

The myofascial chains and other links between structures:

The existence of myofascial chains (connecting muscles to fascia) has been scientifically demonstrated in horses (Elbrond & Schultz, 2021), through dissections. This explains the link between different structures, sometimes distant like the link between the mouth or the neck with much deeper structures like the heart, the stomach, the diaphragm or the Psoas-Iliaca muscle.

Think of all the affected chains when your feet have had a major loading change.

In the same way, viscera can create chains of reactions with one another
If we take the example of the stomach, it is attached to the liver, to the spleen by the gastro-splenic ligament and to the diaphragm by the gastro-phrenic ligament. So any strain on the diaphragm is going to impact the stomach, and any stomach problem is likely to impact the diaphragm, liver and spleen!

Ever seen a horse with painful feet? That stomach grab is often plain n clear to see.

The notion of body unity explains the chains of compensations and osteopathic dysfunctions that occur after a traumatic event (or after a pathology) to the body, having had years of shoes, nails, and unnatural loading the horse needs full body support.

Summary
IF you have decided your horse is going barefoot, maybe you are at the end of options as so often is the case, PLEASE support your horse with myofascial and visceral body work. Or you may find it all goes horribly wrong. It doesn't have to go that way.

NB: This is not a post about you must go barefoot! Just; if you are, then doing it the right way will make the process less eventful. 💯

17/04/2024

Ultrasound for some quite tight hamstrings 🐴

12/04/2024

When you get all set up and start treatment and realise he isn’t wearing a head collar and isn’t tied up.

Love this little pony 🤩

11/04/2024

Only afternoon slots left now. Don’t miss out!

11/04/2024

❌ Cancellation Policy ❌

I will now be implementing a cancellation policy.

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before appointment, otherwise will be charged at full price.

If you book in multiple animals but then cancel one and I cannot fill it easily, I reserve the right to move the appointment time back within your slot to best fit with my diary.

❎Appointments and payments❎

Please give 2-3 weeks notice when booking an appointment.

There will be an initial consult fee for all new patients.

Payment must be made on or before the day.

Holiday and Rehab bookings won’t be made without a deposit.

🕖Working hours🕕

I am taking control of my working hours. As most of you know I run a yard at home as well which takes up a lot of my time, therefore;

Messages will be responded to Mon-Fri between 8 and 6 and some Saturdays.

Appointments
Monday: 9.30-4
Tuesday: 9.30-4
Wednesday: 11-6
Thursday: 11-6
Friday: 9.30-4
Saturday: first Saturday of the month 9.30-5
Sunday: closed

11/04/2024

When you hit the spot 💆‍♀️🫠

06/04/2024

⭐️⚡️⚡️INDIBA ⚡️⚡️⭐️

💛relaxes muscle tension and relieves soreness
🧡increases blood-flow
💛reduces inflammation
🧡relieves pain
💛accelerates healing
🧡improves performance
💛promotes health and well-being
🧡increases stride length and joint range of motion

Treated conditions include:

💙arthritis
💚muscle strains and tears
💙tendon and ligament injuries
💚wounds
💙sacroiliac disease

06/04/2024

All set up for our April INDIBA clinic 🦄

Next date - 4th May. Book your slot before they are all gone

05/04/2024

I came across this AI image (coincidentally in yellow, so it had my name on it), and thought it a sign of the times and the problems, horses are currently facing.

People are so afraid to give horses their basic needs, 24/7 freedom with herd buddies.

Horses that are on their bare feet, so they can feel the ground, and are always able to move free, with friends, KNOW how to keep themselves SAFE and their bones structure, tendons, (core) muscles and balance, keeps them from injuring themselves.

When they only get out sometimes, are shod, are not socialized with other horses, THAT is when the ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.

The REAL DANGER is not that horses hurt themselves, if they are allowed to be horses 24/7 in a CORRECT HABITAT.

THE REAL DANGER IS UNDERNEATH THE HORSE’S FEET: IT IS THE SUGARY DAIRY GRASS!

No bubble can protect them from the sugar intake that causes IR, Laminitis, sweet itch etc.

Horses need their BASIC NEEDS MET. That is what keeps them safe.

Give horses a correct habitat such as a or on safe natural grass, with friends on bare feet.
And your horse will live healthily and happily to 30-40 years, while being able to perform far better and longer for you.

Stabling and dairy grass kills horses. It is time this concept becomes mainstream.

For our horses!
X

Read for more info

dressageinhand.com

Ps if this image belongs to you, let me know please.

03/04/2024

15 Interesting Facts About Your Horse’s Muscles

1. Up to 70% of muscle fibers do not span the complete distance between insertion and origin; however, as the endomysium (the thin layer of connective tissue or fascia that surrounds each individual muscle fiber within a muscle) of adjacent fibers are structurally connected, they can still transmit force.

2. During an isometric contraction, muscle fibers temporarily stiffen without undergoing a significant change in length, resulting in the generation of strength without movement. Isometric contractions are essential for maintaining posture and creating stability.

3. Muscles develop a lasting molecular “memory” of past resistance exercises that helps them bounce back from long periods of inactivity.

Read the rest of the article here -
https://koperequine.com/15-interesting-facts-about-your-horses-muscles/

T-Shirts, posters, and mugs designed by us!

Check them out at - https://koper-equine.myspreadshop.com/all

Thank you everyone for your support, we so appreciate it!

21/03/2024

I love looking back and realising how much progress has been made.

7 weeks difference between left and right.

5 treatments and 1 hands on physio between left and right.

2 INDIBA treatments prior to left picture.

INDIBA treatments have focused on arthritic changes in the hocks with alternating treatments of the sacroiliac joints and the lumbar musculature.

Light ground work and ridden exercise in this time period due to bad weather and work commitments.

Ready for the season ahead now 💪🤩

24/02/2024

Saturday morning work, the sunshine makes it 👌

22/02/2024

😍 #🍑

22/02/2024

Relax and enjoy your holiday knowing your horse is in safe hands.

🔸Individual care package to cater for all your horses needs.

🔹Large airy stables.

🔸Individual turnout, grazing or grass free.

🔹Option to add physio and exercise.

🔸Qualified vet physio providing all care.

🔹Lots of love and cuddles.

For more information please get in touch

10/02/2024

When you aren’t tall enough or short enough! Poor Feargal 😂

08/02/2024

🌟🌟Clinic days at Sun Hill🌟🌟

More times slots will be allocated if there is enough demand. More clinic days can be added as well.

Book for INDIBA and/or physio.
-20% off INDIBA
-£5 off physio

Hire the arena while visiting.

Book a solarium treatment or an FMBs combi-floor treatment as an additional treat.

If you would like to use the INDIBA but I am not your physio, that’s no problem at all. You would just need to book an assessment on your first treatment booking or bring a detailed report from your physio from your horses last treatment.

Appointment duration will vary depending on your horses requirements.

07/02/2024

So thankful to have some all weather turnout after all that rain yesterday ☔️☔️

03/02/2024

❔❔Indiba FAQ’s ❔❔

Here are some of the questions I get asked a lot. If you’d like to ask anything please get in touch or comment below.

❔ What does it do?

INDIBA is an electromagnetic current which is delivered to the body via electrodes at a radiofrequency of 448kHz. This current gradually increases the treated tissue temperature, triggering the body’s natural regeneration, repair and defence responses.

❔Will you come to me or do I have to travel to you?

Both are options, I can treat on site at your yard, I just need a plug socket and somewhere clean and undercover if the weather is bad.

❔How far do you travel?

Within a 10 mile radius there is no travel charge. After that travel is charged a £1 per mile one way. If you are further that 30 miles there will be an additional charge to cover the time I lose travelling and not treating unless there are a minimum of 4 horses to treat. In which case normal travel charges apply and can be split between appointments booked.

❔How long does a treatment last?

Allow an hour to an hour and a half depending on what conditions are being treated and how many areas are being treated. This includes set up time.

❔How many treatments do I need?

This depends on the condition being treated. 2 treatments in the first week or 2 weeks is recommended followed by 1 a week for 4-6.

Maintenance treatments for a long lasting effect can be at intervals up to 12 weeks. This in very much case dependant.

❔When will I see a difference?

Chronic conditions may require more sessions but pain relief will be provided from the first session and therefore improvement can be seen after just one treatment. Depending on the condition being treated it may take a few sessions to start seeing changes.

01/02/2024

Hair cut and a view for Tango 🧡

29/01/2024

For more information please get in touch

26/01/2024

Fat club update ⚖️

38kg down in a week 💪