Clare Kavanagh Veterinary Physiotherapy

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… 💓

28/01/2024

A lovely surprise to wake up to this morning! 💜

As a small business, the little things really do mean a lot 😊💜

08/01/2024

I’m sure we can all appreciate it’s an expensive time to be living in the UK!

I will be increasingly my prices slightly, effective from February. If you are already booked then I will keep it at the original price, but any appointments made from now for February onwards will be charged the new prices.

Those already on a subscription package will stay the same until the end of 1 year of subscription.

For larger group bookings, prices can be adjusted accordingly. Travel charges may still apply in some cases- see my pinned post about this 👀

Please drop me a message if you have any questions 😊

07/01/2024

Is posture a fundamental factor in the clinical relevance of kissing spine?

This image is powerful! We can clearly see the effects of spinal posture on the proximity of the spinal processes!

But what we might not be aware of is just how much horses live in a “hollow back” posture!

This spinal posture is created by biomechanics, the functional link between the entire topline from the position of the head and neck to the position of the pelvic region.

But also this posture is perpetuated by horses living in a constant sympathetic state and many other factors of domestication, feeding, confinement, hoof balance and human interference on major proprioception centres!

Join Dr Neidhart and myself as we delve into understanding kissing spines

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/kissing-spines

Thanks to Tuskey Dressage for the image 🙌

05/01/2024

A very helpful post about the importance of lateral work for your horse and in particular shoulder in - useful for horses at any level of training!

It helps to encourage suppleness and engagement of hind limbs 💪🏼

03/01/2024

As it’s a new year I thought I would re-introduce myself for those of you that are new here!

👋🏼 I’m Clare, I had dogs and horses as pets a lot of my life and have also worked for many years as a groom and competed in eventing myself 🐴

This led me to want to give back to animals and study the Post Graduate diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy and start this business.

As a veterinary physiotherapist it means I can provide maintenance Physiotherapy, but also work with vets in post injury/operation rehabilitation and take on vet referrals 🩺

I currently work with a range of clients from leisure to working dogs and horses. I provide physio to the carriage horses at The Royal Mews and also horses in the Met Police mounted branch.

I am passionate about improving the well-being of working animals and also have an interest in sports performance!

I am a mobile physio covering SW London and surrounding counties. Please drop me a message if you would like any more information 📲✉️

22/12/2023

Helpful post on managing horses with ulcers over the winter ❄️

13/12/2023

Another great client testimonial 🤩

11/12/2023

09/12/2023

🎁 On the 5th day of Phys-mas my true love gave to me… a voucher for a physio session 🤩

The perfect gift for friends, family or your 4-legged loved one! 🐴 🐶 Get 20% off if booked in December!

Available as an e-voucher or in paper form. Valid until June 2024.

07/12/2023

🌟Day 4 of Phys-mas 🌟Xmas polework ideas 🐴

Polework has so many great benefits including:

⭐️ increasing joint range of motion
⭐️ engaging and strengthening of core muscles
⭐️ increasing hindlimb propulsion
⭐️ improving proprioception (awareness of limbs in space)
⭐️ encouraging lifting of the back and spinal flexion
⭐️ curved poles encourage flexion through the rib cage and body
⭐️ improving straightness and accuracy

If you are unable to ride then poles can still be done walking your horse over them in hand (actually more beneficial than we realise) or on the lunge.

These ideas require a lot of poles and time, but if you only have access to 1 or 2 poles, even placing them around the arena and riding over them is still a great exercise.

* if your horse has had a recent injury or has a neurological condition then always seek advice from your vet or physio before doing any of these exercises*

03/12/2023

🤩 Giveway for Phys-mas Day 2 🤩

After sharing my top tips for carrot/treat stretches it would be rude not to giveaway a little prize to help with them!

The mini horslyx are great to use for stretches as there is less chance of the horse getting nippy, or your fingers getting in the way! They are also great to be used on the floor as a treat - this in itself gives a stretch over the back.

Christmas pudding stud muffins are the perfect treat for Christmas 😍

To win some Christmas pudding stud muffins and a mint flavour mini horslyx:

•like this post
•share to your stories
•tag friends

The giveaway will close at 12pm on Tuesday 5th December. This is not a paid partnership or ad.

11/11/2023

Household Cavalry Remembrance

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

📸

02/11/2023

Canine proprioception and strengthening exercises 💪🏼 🤸🏻‍♂️

Demonstrated by the gorgeous Tara 😍 she is a retired agility dog with some arthritic changes and history of other injuries in her front legs.

By putting her front legs on to the foam pad, it increases the weight she is taking on her hindlimbs. We can also add weight shifting exercises to further increase muscle strength.

This all helps to take some pressure off her forelimbs! The softer foam also improves proprioception (awareness of body/limbs in space) which is so important in older dogs to help maintain strength, coordination and balance!

24/10/2023

I often get asked how to increase muscle mass for this area under the saddle (first image)

➡️ 2️⃣ the superficial muscle here is the thoracic part of the trapezius. It may look like just this area is atrophied (weak) but it is actually very hard to strengthen and use this muscle in isolation…

⬇️ you can see in the video below when I ask the horse to perform a belly lift stretch that the ‘space’ of the thoracic trapezius is filled

Why am I saying all this? Training your horse ‘long and low’ to build top line is how most of us have been taught.

However, if your horse is unable to engage it’s core or lift through its thoracic sling muscles (pic 3️⃣) that support the trunk then it won’t be able to build top line musculature like the trapezius!

This is why physios bang on about core strength! Core and thoracic sling muscle strength are so important for the ridden horse to be able to support a saddle and rider, and to be able to build top line.

Exercises like belly lifts are just one of the things that a vet physio can prescribe to help this 😊

13/10/2023

⭐️Website launch ⭐️🥳

Very excited after lots of work to have launched my website!

Head to the website to find out more information about me and the services I offer. Thanks everyone for the support so far!