Clare Kavanagh Veterinary Physiotherapy

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas everyone 🎄

Thank you to all the wonderful clients and everyone who has supported me through another crazy year.

I hope everyone has a lovely restful Christmas with family and pets. Here’s to health and happiness in 2025 🌟

I will be away now until the 6th January and checking my messages periodically. A break from socials is much needed!

Please email or WhatsApp if you have an urgent question or enquiry - ‪+44 7418 610929‬. See you in 2025 👋🏼

29/10/2024

An interesting new study about saddle fit and how a horse’s back becomes flatter in movement compared to when standing still.

This could completely change the way saddles are fitted and saddle design!
It highlights again why saddle fit is so important for your horse’s back health and comfort

🏇 A new study from the RVC and the University of Southampton has suggested that flatter-shaped saddles may better fit horses that spend most of their ridden time in motion.

From observing significant changes in the shape of horse backs when stationary and during locomotion, the study found that horse backs become much flatter during movement compared to when stood still.

➡️ Read more at: https://rvc.uk.com/flatter-saddles

30/09/2024

The challenges of identifying – and managing – pain in horses

Read more via link below

08/08/2024

25/06/2024

We often don’t realise the implications that arthritic changes and pain in the hocks can have on the rest of the horse’s body…

Increased stiffness and reduced movement in the hocks has secondary impacts on other hindlimb structures such as:
• the suspensory ligaments
• may cause the hamstrings to become overactive and tight
• referred pain to the sacroiliac joint can lead to dysfunction of this joint
• reduced power of hindlimbs and overall stride length

The reduced function of the hindlimbs and inability to ‘sit on the back end’ can have an impact through the rest of the body too:

• increased load on joints and soft tissue structures of forelimbs
• reduced protraction of forelimbs (moving them forward)
• reduced ability to lift through thoracic sling and core and therefore results in loss of topline and back muscles
• being more on the forehand increases tension through the pecs and ventral (underside) neck muscles - then creating more tension through the jaw, tmj and poll

These are just a few of the compensatory issues seen when hock pathologies are left untreated. Obviously, age related changes can be expected but we just then have to consider expectations of performance and how we can help them.

My job is not the panic anyone but to educate! There are many ways that a vet physio can help to treat hock pathologies and pain, and also provide exercises to retrain posture and muscle strength after veterinary treatment.

11/06/2024

Lecturer in Equine and Veterinary Physiotherapy, Chloe Mabbutt was recently awarded 'highly commended' by the Animal Stars Awards in the category for the Southern Region.

Previous Writtle student Clare Kavanagh went on to win the category, and Stephanie Child has been nominated for the same award in the Northern Region, which will be announced in November. 👏

Animal Stars Awards give recognition for animals and humans alike for the extraordinary things they do for one another.

27/05/2024

An amazing surprise to win Animal Therapist of the year at the Animal Star Awards Southern awards last night 🤩

So nice to get recognition as a small, 1 person business! It makes trying to juggle the physio, social media, admin etc 🤯 all worth it!

Thank you to everyone that has supported me so far!
It was also great to meet other people in the industry last night and hear about so many other amazing businesses and charities.

💜⭐️

15/05/2024

Ari very relaxed and enjoying laser today on his spinal muscles as part of his maintenance physio 😴

➡️ He even used my arm as a head rest 🥹

06/05/2024

Some of the horses I treated last weekend looking stunning at the British Driving Society meet at Royal Windsor Horse Show 2024

01/05/2024

Here are some helpful tips to make adjustments for your senior dog if they are struggling or as a preventative measure 👆🏻

Regular physiotherapy can also help with keeping your dog mobile and their joints healthy!

12/04/2024

Great example of how important correct saddle fit is…

02/04/2024

⭐️ My IRVAP membership renewed for another year ⭐️

IRVAP ensure high standards in professionalism and clinical proficiency through their accredited registration process. This means:

• By being a member it means I am fully insured and working within UK legislation

• I am able to take on referrals from veterinary surgeons. A reminder that any animals with an underlying disease, injury or lameness can be referred to a veterinary physiotherapist for treatment after examination and consent from a vet (The Veterinary
Surgeons Act 1966).

• The treatment of healthy animals can be carried out without vet consent, but they must be registered with a vet.

16/03/2024

A very busy week with lots of horses treated but still smiling 🦄

06/03/2024

An interesting read about conformational issues to consider in the horse 🐴

29/02/2024

🥳💜

ANIMAL THERAPIST SOUTHERN REGION finalists

11/02/2024

Have had a lovely relaxing weekend off in Oxford, but always manage to find some horses somewhere… 💓