Fitz Veterinary Physiotherapy

26/07/2023

21/06/2023

27/05/2023

Developing Empathy

Frustrated by your horse? Try this---

Go for a run. Yes, you, human rider. Intersperse your run with sets of push-ups. See how long it takes before you lose athletic buoyancy, before you “just can’t.”

Fatigue in a horse, which is pretty much the same thing that you just felt, creates leaning, tripping, stumbling, slow reactions, poor coordination, lugging on the hand, all sorts of what you may be mistaking for “bad behavior.”

The tired horse will feel just like a “disobedient” horse. And then what will happen to that horse if the rider doesn’t tune into the horse’s fatigue? You know exactly what will happen to the horse. It will get drilled on. Drilled on just when the exact opposite should happen.

Trainers who lack the ability to sense what the horse is going through are among the worst drillers, and they create tense, scared, resistant horses, and they then do something even worse, they blame the horse.

Change your mind set. Think how YOU would feel if you had gotten beyond your limits and then got ground on and punished to fix your bad behavior.

You think I’m kidding? You think this isn’t going to happen today, all across the world where people ride and drive horses? That unfit for the task horses won’t be cranked and pressured? Dream on.

The best thing that you can do if your goal is to become a competent trainer is to constantly be aware of your own frustration meter. And stop before you create damage, physical and emotional injury and distress. Get a little and end on that. If even a little seems elusive, DO NOT GRIND. Go walk, try again tomorrow. Don’t add fear and anxiety to the training process.

I will say this one more time---“Don’t add fear and anxiety to the training process.”

Why am I saying this so often? Because if I had learned this decades sooner, I would have been a far better trainer and horse person---That’s why. Learn, if you are capable of doing so, from the mistakes that others have made. Do not drill your horse.

08/02/2023

Very exciting news! Could be a game changer in the future for those affected with IVDD! 🐶 🐾

When Oscar, a 5-year-old Dachshund, developed partial paralysis from a herniated disc, he became the first dog to experience a new, non-surgical treatment option through a veterinary clinical trial at the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital.

The trial, being led by Dr. Nick Jeffery, involves injecting an enzyme to dissolve the herniated disc instead of surgically removing it. This method is faster and less intense than the traditional surgery, and is also much more affordable for owners!

Oscar's story: https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/press-releases/oscar/

For more information and to inquire about this clinical trial, please visit StudyPages: https://studypages.com/s/a-potential-new-treatment-for-acute-disc-herniation-in-small-breed-dogs-833176/

06/02/2023

A great afternoon visiting Stratford-upon-Avon RDA today, assessing and treating the lovely Jessie! 🐴 She enjoyed some massage, forelimb stretches and laser therapy over areas of hypertonicity and restriction in her neck, shoulders and back. She thoroughly enjoyed her little pamper session and was a very relaxed and sleepy pony by the end!

13/12/2022

14/11/2022

31/10/2022

Did you know most horses chew and hold their jaw towards the side of their more sound front leg?

The right front heel here is lower and more sound. The left front heel is higher, more contracted and sore. Easy to see, right!?

Now, peek at the jaw position to the horse's right, with slight overgrowth of the horse's upper left and lower right incisors. This is super common, and should not be allowed to get worse! It will end up in a vicious downward spiral over time.

Second teeth picture is after adjustments = better jaw AND BODY balance.

It's always a work in progress getting feet and teeth better balanced--lots of bodywork helps, but providing for more movement is #1 in my book. There are some interesting exceptions to this pattern that I discuss in my book.

It's ALL connected. This page also has more on this...scroll back!

**www.insighttoequus.com** under construction 🤠

11/10/2022

Hi Everyone!
My name is Leah and i’m in my third (and final! 😬) year studying a BSc (hons) Veterinary Physiotherapy degree 🐎🐕
I’ll be using this page to document my journey throughout my last year, sharing educational posts and research. Once qualifying in 2023 this will transition into my official business page!
Your support is greatly appreciated! 💕