Performance Veterinary Physiotherapy

24/06/2024

🧢 Indiba Offer 🧢

Anyone booking a full course of Indiba in July and August will receive a free Indiba cap…

But that’s not all…

Take a photo of you and your horse wearing the Indiba cap and I will choose one to win a FREE follow up session (worth £70!)

Please WhatsApp to book your Indiba or Physio Session

📱 +44 7717661084

23/06/2024

Dubai 15th - 18th October 🇦🇪

I am available for Veterinary Physiotherapy (Equine/Canine/Feline) appointments in Dubai from 15th - 18th October 2024

I will also be running a one day clinic (venue to be announced shortly) with a talk/demo relating to equine physiotherapy in the morning, and a practical hands on session in the afternoon.

I am a fully qualified and insured Veterinary Physiotherapist, lecturer in Equine Physiotherapy, Indiba therapist and qualified Riding Instructor/Coach. I hold MSc and Advanced Dimploma qualifications, and specialise in rehab of competition horses, and the treatment and rehabilitation of racehorses, although I’m happy to see any animal.

Please get in touch ASAP to book your session;

WhatsApp or via private message or email

📱 +447717661084
📧 [email protected]

20/06/2024

Should you trust your professionals…?

Unequivocally the answer SHOULD be yes.

Yet again today I see social media filled with people asking for opinions on their horse’s feet (is my farrier doing the right thing…) followed with a photo montage of hooves/shoes with absolutely no backstory or perspective.

Please explain to me WHY you are disregarding a professional, who you have paid for their advice/expertise, and who has studied in their field for at least 4 years, in favour of Joe Bloggs sitting at they keyboard 23hrs a day, who may never have even seen a horse “IRL” (in real life for those who do spend time in the actual world and not constantly plugged in)

Rather than posting photos all over social media, (subliminally) encouraging people to slate your chosen professional, just because you do not understand what or why they have done something a certain way, how about actually having a conversation with them…?

Guess what… if you don’t like the answer, change professional! There are plenty out there!

Sometimes things may seem odd to us mere mortal horse owners, but often these highly skilled and trained professionals have a reason for doing what they are doing - you just need to ASK them.

Communication is key guys - step away from the keyboard, and have a conversation with the actual, qualified professional stood in front of you…..

17/06/2024

Talking to my farrier today, and there is a lot of laminitis around at the moment. Be sensible with your horses (just because they can live out 24/7 doesn’t mean they should) and stay vigilant!

Laminitis: how to spot the signs, plus treatments and ways to prevent it

Read more via link below

22/05/2024

Our sponsored rider Alice Hallows Eventing on how the Wesko Equestrian Foundation has helped her

22/05/2024

🔦 LASER 🔦

Increasingly I am seeing therapists advertising various electrotherapies, including LASER, but what is LASER and what do owners need to know about this modality?

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It should not be written as laser; LASER is an acronym.

To understand LASER, you must first understand the different between coherent and incoherent light. Coherent light is light whose photons oscillate at the same frequency and whose wavelengths are in phase. The photons of incoherent light oscillate at different frequencies, and their wave lengths are not in phase with each other.

Most devices marketed as LASER are actually LED (light emitting diode) devices, made up from incoherent light sources. These do have some therapeutic benefit, but are often sold on the back of research conducted with true LASER (coherent light) devices.

LED devices (such as red light pens, pads or boots) have a very superficial mode of action, and whilst they may increase vasodilation through the skin and perhaps, in some cases, the superficial muscle, they have little to no effect on tendon, ligament or bone.

True LASER devices vary in power from class 3b (under 500mW) to class 4 (over 500mW). These devices cost upwards of £2500 (Class 3b) and start at £20,000 (Class 4). These produce coherent light, and depending on power, can pe*****te deeper tissues in the body, including tendon, ligament and bone.

There is nothing wrong with using red light/LED devices for superficial issues, but please be aware that there is a huge difference between a £200 LED pen, and a £30,000 Class 4 LASER in terms of efficacy. Unfortunately many of the studies cited and used to sell these owner-targeted LED devices are often taken from data and publications relating to Class 4 LASERs.

19/05/2024

🔋New Indiba Pricing 🔋

After holding my prices firm for the last 3 years, I am having to increase my charges to keep up with rising costs.

From June 1st 2024 the following prices will apply to Indiba treatments;

*please note, area refers to treatment area on the horse - in some cases, the back is broken up into thoracic, lumbar and sacroiliac areas (3 areas)*

Initial assessment, treatment (up to 3 areas) £90

Follow-Up Treatment - ONE AREA - £60
Follow-Up Treatment - Additional Area - £5/area (up to 3 total)

Course of 6 Treatments, single area £350
Course of 6 Treatments, up to 3 areas £400

Anyone booking and paying for a course of treatment prior to June 1st 2024 will be charged at existing prices. Treatments must be taken within six months of booking.

18/05/2024

📝 🦴Kissing Spine 🦴📝

Official figures estimate approximately 34-39% of horses in the UK have overriding dorsal processes (kissing spine), with some vets estimating this figure is likely to be a lot higher (85-90%).

Kissing spine is found along the thoracic and lumbar spine, most commonly T13-T18 which is under the rear panels of the saddle, but can present in any of the thoracic or lumbar processes.

Sadly, I am seeing more and more horses with Kissing Spine presenting in their wither (T2-T8) likely due to being backed/started too young whilst their skeleton is too weak to fully support the ligaments and tendons supporting the neck, resulting in malformation and collapse of these immense support structures.

I firmly believe that kissing spine is not only influenced by genetic factors, but can also be created by poor riding and horsemanship. It is important to build a horse’s strength through their dorsal and ventral chains for months before attempting to put a rider on board. Sadly it is now common practice to see this transition in a matter of weeks or even days.

Can Kissing Spine be reversed without surgery? Well, there is an argument that some cases potentially can be. If the issue has been caused by poor riding and poor posture, then addressing this will inevitably lead to an improvement through the dorsal structure.

I have developed a six month plan to rehabilitate horses post kissing spine diagnosis. This plan is suitable for those attempting a conservative approach, as well as following surgery to strengthen the dorsal/ventral musculature.

https://www.performance-vet-physio.co.uk/product-page/standard-rehab-plan-kissing-spine

02/05/2024

For those of you not based in the UK, The Open College of Equine Studies have put together a specific course aimed at International students, condensing practical learning into one 3-week block per year to minimise travel costs.

30/04/2024

🗓️ End of the Month 🗓️

Please could those with outstanding invoices please pay them today.

I hate having to post this every month, but I am only a ‘one man band’ and I cannot afford to keep rolling invoices over month after month - I have bills to pay too 😢

From 1st May anyone who does not pay within 7 days of invoice will be asked to pay 24hrs before their appointment.

If I haven’t invoiced you yet, please do not panic.

18/04/2024

Integrity

I cannot overstate the importance of this as a therapist.

It can be difficult to say no when you have travelled to see a horse but realise you cannot help it; that actually they need a vet, or another professional… those wasted hours on the road/speaking with the owner, looking at the horse….

But are they wasted? Or can you use the experience to learn and therefore grow your own knowledge…

This week I have ‘turned down’ three horses for Indiba (losing out on around £1200 of income). But the issues these horses had were not something I could help with. Indiba, as magical as it is, does have its limitations. Despite what some may say.

Most horse and pet owners put their trust in professionals 100%, and sadly this can often be taken advantage of. Don’t be the therapist who purely thinks about the £££ - if you don’t genuinely care about the animals you are treating and the humans you are supporting, then there really are easier ways to make a living.

13/04/2024

Resharing this post I did a few years ago due to the insane amount of claims I see some people make concerning thermography.

Please read it all.

Please do not waste your hard earned money trusting the wrong people. If you think there’s a problem, call the vet. Not a bloke with a thermal camera, or a physio/chiro or ‘back person’.

04/04/2024

🔋⚡️Let’s talk gadgets ⚡️🔋

I’ve always been known as someone who drags around a ‘box of tricks’. As a scientist by training (BSc Biology, MSc Genetics, and with a former career in Agrochemical R&D) it should be no surprise that I LOVE science, and I am passionate about the Biology and Physics behind some of the modalities out there.

What I see more and more, is the number of therapists relying too heavily on these ‘gadgets’ without fully understanding or appreciating what they are doing…

I recently heard about an equine therapist who turned up to a client and proceeded to spend 60 minutes using a massage gun to treat a horse. No equine professional should ever be using a massage gun on a horse, let alone base their entire treatment around its use.

So what ‘gadgets’ are worth having in your pocket, and which should be relegated to the bin?

That is going to be a personal choice to some extent; there are some great modalities out there that some may just not click with, may not understand, or may not appreciate the possibilities.

When I was introduced to Indiba, I genuinely thought I’d hate it… It was only by using it and seeing results for myself that I appreciated what an amazing modality it was. However, I am also increasingly frustrated by some of the outlandish claims I see published (by practitioners) about it.

At the other end of the financial scale, the same goes for phototherapy; more and more companies offering red light torches and pads, piggybacking off research from coherent phototherapy devices, whilst selling incoherent (LED) devices. These devices can definitely offer some benefit, but claims of deep tissue healing is, quite frankly, laughable.

Electrotherapy requires in depth understanding and training to be effective, and sadly this seems to be getting less common. Frequently I see online training available, or the ability to purchase modalities with no training whatsoever…. This terrifies me.

Whilst electrotherapy can be amazing in the right hands, it can also be dangerous and detrimental if applied incorrectly.

04/04/2024

Don’t forget about our rehab plans - available from the online store.

Each plan has SIX MONTHS worth of exercises to help rehab from specific issues…

We also have a ‘General Fitness’ plan which is excellent if bringing a horse back into work after a holiday, foal, or even just a great guide if starting a young horse.

Our plans can be downloaded to your phone or tablet to make it super easy to access when on the yard.

Not only do the plans walk you through day by day exercises, each book comes with an overview relating to the relevant injury/issue, as well as an overview on ligament, muscle and tendon, and everything you need to know about building up fitness over time.

Books, publications and guides for qualified physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths and students in these fields. Covering all subjects from electrotherapy to massage, fascial edge tool use to stretches and exercise.

21/03/2024

Remember to nominate your equine professionals. The equestrian world can be a lonely place, and it’s always nice to show some appreciation to the hard working people who help you and your horse.

Nominate your chosen equestrian professional, business or charity who has gone above and beyond. Self-nominations are also accepted.

19/03/2024

Great to see our sponsored rider Alice Hallows Eventing staying safe out on the Cross Country with her Point Two Air Jacket

Competitors wearing their Point Two Air Jackets in the Intermediate Sections at the 40th Poplar Park Horse Trials on Saturday 02-03-2024. Photo by Julian Portch

13/03/2024

Show Season

It is upon us, despite the weather still insisting its winter, nights are noticeably drawing out and the roads are steadily filling with lorries and trailers heading off to lessons, shows and clinics.

With the cost of living crisis now gripping us firmly, what sacrifices are you prepared to make in order to attend that show or clinic?

Farrier?
Nutrition?
Worming?
Physio?
Saddle Fitter?

Remember, if you do not prioritise your horse’s health now, you won’t be attending many shows this year (or possibly in future years) again.

Take into consideration that reputable and competent equine physios are often booked well in advance, so you need to get in their diary asap. I always keep a few ‘emergency’ spots available for existing clients, but new clients might have to wait up to six weeks.

Physio isn’t just something you do to make yourself feel better and your horse to “have a nice massage” - physio’s are experts in feeling for subtle changes in your horse’s body, and can sometimes alert you to potential problems before any clinical signs are seen. Is that really worth forfeiting for less than the cost of a day out at a clinic or show?

11/03/2024

Fabulous write-up in H&H for Alice Hallows Eventing 🍾🎉

Always special to have a write up in the Horse & Hound🐎⭐️

Performance Veterinary Physiotherapy Dengie Horse Feeds
Mill Saddlery and Riding Wear
Wesko Equestrian Foundation

10/03/2024

Launching our Free PVP Monthly Newsletter

This month;

🐴 An overview of Kissing Spine
🐴 Our stretch of the month
🐴 Client of the month
🐴 Independent product review (looking at a leading joint supplement this month)
🐴 Special offer each month

To be sent the Newsletter comment “March Newsletter” in comments 👇🏻 and I will send it over!

10/03/2024

Before and After (4 Months)

Many of you will know that I hate a before and after photo. Especially when these are from a single session. It is far too easy to pose horses to look completely different, and therefore I question the reliability of what you may or may not be seeing. I’ve also seen far too much gas-lighting from therapists, when called out on this practice, with the reply “you aren’t experienced enough to see/understand it”

So, imagine the shock yesterday when I found myself posting a before/after photo 😱

The horse in this picture is Harvey, and I will soon be publishing a blog on my website following Harvey’s progress in more detail.

Harvey is an ex-racehorse, who was recently purchased by a long term client of mine as a project.

One thing that has often irritated me over the years is the way in which people “rehabilitate” ex racehorses, expecting them to seamlessly switch from sprinting to collection overnight.

So, I present Harvey; when he arrived to present day (4 months). Good old fashioned horsemanship here; no buzz words or marketing miracles - in 4 months he had;

- 8 weeks complete rest
- Addressing foot balance (ongoing)
- 8 weeks long reigning
- Veterinary checks, including feet X-rays and ulcer scope
- 3 x physio sessions
- Stretch programme (prescribed by physio, carried out by owner)

In both photos I asked him to walk forward, then take half a step backward. No limb placement or fiddling with angles.

The differences are very subtle, but they are starting to happen. Slowly is the best way to prevent injury. I’m against trying to alter posture/shape in one session 😳🤕

I will go into more detail on his blog, but I’m hoping to provide a blueprint for future racehorse rehabbers to follow 💪

07/03/2024

March Spaces

Tuesday 12th March - 1 x Chelmsford/Braintree area approx 12.30pm
Thursday 14th March - Beccles/Diss, PM only
Sunday 17th March - Cambridge area 12pm onwards
Saturday 23rd March - West Norwich, various times available
Sunday 24th March - Thetford/Mundford/Swaffham - AM appointments
Thursday 28th - Essex, Colchester to Clacton on Sea - PM appointments

Please text or WhatsApp as I do not always see messages on messenger

📱 07717661084

03/03/2024

Tuesday 12th March

Due to a cancellation, I have some availability in Essex around Chelmsford/Colchester on 12th March - Physio or Indiba appointments available.

Please WhatsApp/Text 07717661084

02/03/2024

Hopefully today I have messaged everyone who is waiting for an appointment.

I am so sorry for six weeks of absence, but unfortunately unless I could get my pain under control, it was pointless me trying to get out and start treating horses.

If you’ve messaged me and I haven’t got back to you by now, please nudge me - I am sure there is someone I have missed amongst messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, texts and emails…

I will have some appointments available for new clients at the end of March/early April but they are likely to go quickly, so please message me ASAP.

Thank you SO MUCH to all my amazing clients who have been messaging support, sending gifts, and for just being patient and understanding. You are amazing and I appreciate every one of you 🥰

02/03/2024

https://www.performance-vet-physio.co.uk/product-page/how-to-stretch-your-horse-e-book

Performance Veterinary Physiotherapy. Fully Qualified and Insured Veterinary Physiotherapist based in Suffolk, travelling throughout East Anglia. Equine Physiotherapist, Veterinary Physiotherapist, Equine Therapy. Happy to do talks/clinics for clubs. Creator of the BungeeBand System.

29/02/2024

I am so lucky with the clients I now have that they are amazing and most have become close friends over the years. I’ve had so much support recently, and I am very glad to have reached a point in my career where I can choose who I work with, but it wasn’t always that way.

The unfortunate truth of owning and running a business.
Running a business is really hard.
What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety, and drains you mentally to the point of depression in even the most laid-back people.
People will talk about you, compare you to others, use you, they will view you as a service and not a person anymore.
People will expect discounts and people will value you and your hard work less than a big chain store.
You have to worry about if you forget to email/message someone back, are they going to think it was on purpose? Did you disappoint them? Will they hold that against you? When in reality you just can’t get to everyone’s messages and emails.
Starting up and running a successful business puts incredible strain on personal lives and relationships, many of which fail because there is just often no work life balance. You need to be the director, the worker, the admin, the marketing team, the accountant, the cleaner..... All whilst being a parent, a provider, family support, friend, spouse...
There’s a reason you don’t see many people succeed in small businesses after 5-10 years. If they are successful they are overwhelmed. It takes a toll. It’s freaking exhausting. Especially the past couple of years when so much has been out of our control.
Here’s a small reminder that we are just normal people with hectic lives. Be kind, be patient, support small businesses…….and hopefully more of us will stick around!

28/02/2024

This course has been specifically designed for International students, with practical study weeks compressed into blocks meaning just one visit to the UK each year. There are plenty of live webinars and support available throughout your study, so a fabulous way to get an education in Equine Physiotherapy without having to relocate or spend a fortune flying to and fro multiple times a year.

Contact The Open College of Equine Studies for more information

🌎 International Equine Physiotherapy Course 🌎

🖥 Study from anywhere in the world.

🐴 4 x practical training blocks held in the UK, one in each year of the course.

💻Online studies start May 2024.

🐴First study block May 2025.

Further information: https://www.equinestudies.co.uk/courses/diplomas-and-certificates/advanced/equine-physiotherapy-diploma-programme/

Email: [email protected]

28/02/2024

If any of my clients are competing on the Sunday can you please pop me a message with your times as I’m coming to watch and would love to support you 😀

26/02/2024

Well done Rosabella Harrison - One Girl and Her Pony - what a superb result! This girl is on fire at the moment… I believe this was her second “rug win” in a week!! (And we all know success is judged by the number of rugs you win!!)

I see Rosabella’s ponies a few times a year, with Captain being a particular favourite (shhh don’t tell her other boys!!) so I’m really pleased he has now snatched some of the glory from his superstar stable mate Flash 🫣🤭

22/02/2024

I found this article really interesting, mainly because cancer is often a contraindication of any electrotherapy, including photobiomodulation. Unfortunately it is an area little understood/trialled due to ethical considerations, but it just proves that there is more to learn and more research to do before completely ignoring certain options.

Neck and head cancer patients in Ipswich and Colchester will be able to use the new treatment.

17/02/2024

This is an interesting quote, and something we were discussing with students at The Open College of Equine Studies this week.

I have seen/treated horses with the most terrible conformation that are competing at the highest level, but I’ve also treated horses with textbook conformation which cannot stay sound. There are so many factors that can affect soundness in horses, we would be fools to purely look at conformation and/or posture and ignore everything else that can potentially have an impact.

"There is little evidence based data concerning the relationship between conformation and soundness but I believe that some horses are more prone to injury and lameness despite good conformation" Dr Sue Dyson