Equine Physiotherapy Services Ltd

25/12/2023

Wishing all my clients, a very Merry Christmas

20/10/2023

One of my equine stars really enjoying her physio session 🤣🤣

09/05/2023

10/03/2023

Brilliant!!

10/03/2023

**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to knee block size. Some riders prefer a large knee block in order to provide extra support, however we need to be mindful that in “supporting” the rider, the knee block may restrict the movements of the rider, which may affect the rider-horse interaction and consequently affect equine locomotion. Important to consider the fit of the saddle for the rider as well as the horse and be cautious of restrictive knee blocks 🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

08/03/2023

07/05/2021

❗ LAMINITIS WARNING FROM VETS ❗

Vets are reporting that they are seeing a sharp increase in cases of laminitis.

🌦With the majority of the UK experiencing rain and periods of sunshine, this creates the perfect conditions for rapid grass growth.

🐴 Laminitis is an extremely painful condition and can cause permanent damage to the hooves. It affects structures called sensitive lamellae that are located inside the horse’s hoof. The sensitive lamellae form a strong bond to hold the pedal bone in place within the hoof.

Laminitis causes the sensitive lamellae to stretch, weaken and become damaged which can cause the pedal bone to move within the hoof. In extreme cases the pedal bone can even pe*****te through the sole of the hoof which is excruciatingly painful. In such cases, euthanasia is likely to be the only treatment option to end the horse’s suffering. 🌈

Horses carrying excess weight or have a health condition such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) are at an increased risk of laminitis so grazing may have to be restricted.

👀 Watch out for the subtle signs as shown below and if you have any concerns contact your vet.

For further advice, including prevention visit: https://www.bhs.org.uk/advice-and-information/horse-health-and-sickness/laminitis

Laminitis is a serious, debilitating but common condition of the foot which can affect all types and ages of horses.

07/05/2021

24/04/2020

This chart is a guide for veterinary physiotherapist and what they can and can’t do during the covid 19 lockdown. This will help horse owners understand the restrictions imposed during this lockdown. It is a frustrating time for owners but it is necessary we all support the government in controlling the impact of this pandemic.

24/03/2020

Following the new government directive unfortunately all my appointments will be postponed until further notice. We all must help the government and NHS in fighting this virus and it is a comparatively small ask for us to respect the ruling to stay home during this difficult time.
For any existing clients that may have concerns about their horses I am still available to email/discuss over the phone, I can view videos and give guidance.
Please let us all respect this ruling and get rid of this threat as quick as possible with the minimum loss of life.

10/09/2019

So on the subject of predictive texts......if any of my clients receive strange comments in my texts to their queries just assume it’s the predictive text monkeys..... feel free to come back to me for confirmation!
Here’s an example ....😳😂

30/07/2019

Interesting comparison on feed supplements from Dr David Marlin

David Marlin , equine scientist, physiologist and biochemist has published this graphic. Very interesting for those who fee a joint supplement .

01/02/2019

So...Equine Physiotherapy Services is on a snow day....unable to get up the hill or out the village due to snow and it’s still falling!
Dogs however are loving it......
Apologies to my cancelled clients!

27/09/2018

Hard ground and feeling “jarred up”…………a common complaint this summer!
Now the long hot dry summer is passing some horses are feeling the effects of this; hard ground increases the concussive forces to the joints and can lead to horses becoming jarred and restricted in their action. This may occur progressively over time or be a sudden acute response following an increase in impact such as competing on hard ground. Don’t forget the horse in some cases, is spending up to an additional 23 hours a day running around on this hard ground if on 24 hour turn out; this is also contributing significantly to the overall effect.

Horses may feel shorter striding, loose their action and elevation, may appear to be hugging the ground in their flat work or working over fences and coming in shorter to fences. They may show reluctance to go forward, showing less generosity, particularly over drop fences and the stride becomes tricky to find – hence the expression “jarred up”. These effects are compounded if the horse has underlying pathology susceptible to aggravation in these conditions. The joints will be exposed to increased concussion and can look puffy with a generalised filling to the lower limb and the horse maybe susceptible to splints or sore feet.

The thoracic sling muscles are responsible for creating elevation in the forehand; they suspend and elevate the thorax between the two scapulae and are engaged when absorbing and controlling vertical and horizontal forces through the limbs. The muscles of the thoracic sling are of particular interest amongst others, to the physiotherapist when a horse appears to be jarred up. When a horse is jarred up these muscles become shortened and hypertonic. Over time this can lead to adaptive postural changes, muscle imbalance and altered bulk to the key muscle groups.

The thoracic sling is a diverse arrangement of muscles relating to the neck, sternum, thorax and scapulae. It is interesting to note that the horse has no collar bone and elevation of the thorax is created and absorbed through these powerful muscles.

This is an interesting article by Hilary Clayton that explains the action of these muscles in more detail;
http://www.dressageheadlines.com/articles/dressage/significance-horse%E2%80%99s-chest-sling-muscles-biomechanic-research-hilary-clayton

Seventeen years of collecting data on gait analysis for dressage horses in the equine laboratory at the McPhail Center at Michigan State University, biomechanics research veterinarian Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, MRCVS, conducted studies to evaluate a horse’s body during collection.

25/08/2018

Centaur offers a variety of courses which are designed to improve your understanding of the mechanics of the horse and rider. These courses are of interest to anyone who wishes to improve their knowledge of how horses move, perform and function in an attempt to maintain soundness and improve perfo...

16/07/2018

This year the FEI introduced a new register for all equine therapists wishing to support and treat horses at FEI events - I am now registered as an FEI permitted equine therapist and can continue to support our equine athletes at FEI events.

08/04/2018