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15/09/2025

September brings with it the winding down of the summer season, the beginning of the Autumnal weather, possible changes to your horse’s management routine and even their exercise routines as the darker nights draw in

Why is this all significant?

As we know, horses are creatures of habit; they like their routines and with so much changing how does this impact their musculoskeletal systems?
❄️ Colder weather and the start of the clipping season = horses will require longer warmups and cool-downs due to decreased flexibility in their soft tissues
🌾 Less turn out and more time stabled = increased stiffness may be seen, again due to decreased soft tissue flexibility and also decreased joint range of motion as a result of less time spent moving around
☔️ Muddy and wet conditions increase the risk of slips and stumbles in the field
🌙 Shorter daylight hours = less time to fit in exercise sessions. Many horses will have a reduced workload over the winter period due to owners not having time to exercise them before or after work. This can change a horse’s muscle tone, strength and mass which can alter things like saddle fit and performance level.

A physiotherapy session may be beneficial in this transitional period to help your horse adjust to these changes in their routine and environment by:
✔️Assessing current musculoskeletal condition and advising tailored warm up and cool down programmes to benefit individual horses
✔️Promoting suppleness in the soft tissues
✔️Promoting healing in injuries from slips/stumbles from the wet and muddy conditions
✔️Optimising joint function
✔️Advising on changes to management
✔️Recommendations on how to adapt your horse’s exercise routine with darker evenings drawing in

To book a physiotherapy session for your horse, get in contact via:
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.equivp.co.uk
📞 07450 616297

11/08/2025

It’s the start of another busy week, with the competition season in full swing my diary has been filling up quickly with veterinary physiotherapy sessions.

If you’re looking to get your horse booked in for physiotherapy please get in touch to secure them an appointment. You can do this by:
📱 Sending a message via my social media pages
📞 Sending a WhatsApp, text or calling 07450616297
📧 Emailing [email protected]
💻 Or alternatively, you can fill in the appointment request form on my website www.equivp.co.uk

28/07/2025

Cherro enjoying a physiotherapy session this morning after returning from the GB PRE show at Hartpury 🐴

15/07/2025

MagnaWave PEMF just got even more accessible ⚡️

Today brought the arrival of my new Jackery Explorer 240 so I now have a portable power device which can supply the MagnaWave PEMF electrotherapy machine anywhere I go. Therefore, if you are at a yard with no electricity, your horse can still receive MagnaWave PEMF therapy 🧲

If you are interested in booking a MagnaWave PEMF session for your horse please get in touch to schedule an appointment:
💻 www.equivp.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07450616297

08/07/2025

As horse riders & trainers, we are taught to perform exercises on both reins to ensure to strengthen both sides of the horse as evenly as possible but how many of us ensure to change our trot diagonal regularly out hacking?

Remaining on the same diagonal means a slightly greater workload on one diagonal forelimb & hindlimb pair. So making sure to change your trot diagonal every 10-15 strides out hacking will help to condition both sides of the horse evenly.

You might start to pick up slight differences between the two diagonals whilst trotting in a straight line out hacking e.g. do you find it easier to rise on one diagonal vs the other? Does one diagonal feel smoother? Does your horse strike off into trot on the same diagonal pair each time? Is there a notable head nod when you sit when the left forelimb moves back vs the right forelimb that isn’t present when you are on the other trot diagonal?

Have a check next time you ride your horse out hacking - are you making sure to change your trot diagonal & can you notice any differences between the two pairs?

04/07/2025

Tacking Up Behaviours – What can they tell us?

There are a variety of behaviours that horses may display whilst being tacked up which are possible indicators of discomfort. These include:
- Walking to the back of the stable when they see their tack
- Refusing to open their mouth to accept the bit
- Moving around when the saddle is placed on their back
- Dipping their back away from the saddle (sometimes described as being cold-backed)
- Head tossing, ear pinning, tail swishing, kicking out when the saddle is adjusted and/or the girth is done up

Unfortunately, many of these behaviours have been described as ‘normal’ in the equine industry but could be indicators of a range of different dysfunctions/pathologies including:
- Pain in the mouth
- Back tension/pain
- Myofascial restriction behind the elbow joint
- Sub-optimal saddle fit
- Back pathology
- Compensatory patterns for hidden lameness
- Ulcers etc.

If you think your horse may be displaying discomfort behaviours during tacking up, get in touch to book them a physiotherapy session to help pinpoint the possible cause to help your horse to become more relaxed and comfortable during the tacking up process to make it a more positive experience for both you and your horse:
💻 www.equivp.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07450616297

27/06/2025

Hill Work ↗️

As a veterinary physiotherapist I frequently recommend the inclusion of walking up and down hills into your horse’s exercise routine due to the number of benefits. Here’s a few:

Walking up hills: ↗️

Limb retraction provides the power to drive the horse uphill. In the forelimb the retractors are part of the flexor chain & in the hindlimb they form part of the extensor chain. The engagement of both of these chains is increased compared to working on the flat when resistance to the forward movement of the horse is lower.

Increased propulsion from the hindquarters due to increased weight bearing up a hill = strengthens: gluteals (hip and lumbosacral extension), hamstrings (hip, stifle & hock extension) and digital extensors

In the non-weight bearing phase of the stride (also known as the swing phase), joint flexion is increased due to the higher arc of flight required to clear the gradient. This also encourages lifting of the back & core engagement, particularly when the poll is below the level of the withers.

Walking down hills: ↘️

Walking downhill at a good pace that is forward & confident without rushing challenges their balance as horses naturally carry more weight on their forehand due to the weight of their head and neck. More effort is therefore demanded of their stabilising musculature to control the speed and descent.

The thoracic sling (TS) muscles which help to raise the forehand are working against a greater resistance down hills, providing the horse is walking down hill with good quality. Signs of lack of TS engagement downhill include rushing, leaning on the bit, or taking very small, stumbly steps.

Increased lumbosacral and hip flexion occurs when the horse ‘sits’ on their haunches to balance down a hill. This helps to strengthen the abdominals, quadriceps and iliopsoas muscle groups as well as the back muscles.

If you think your horse is showing signs of difficulty walking up and/or down hills mentioned in the last slide they may benefit from a veterinary physiotherapy session. To enquire, contact me on:
💻 www.equivp.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 07450616297

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