Olwen Lloyd Vet Chiro

06/03/2021

26/02/2021

I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine ☀️. If you want to enjoy the good weather and develop your horses back muscles at the same time, then it’s time for some hacking. Everyone knows the benefits of working horses up (and down!) hills, to get the most out of it make sure they’re moving forwards, working into a light contact. If you have the opportunity to walk across the hills as well then even better! Remember speed isn’t the aim of the game, providing you’ve got the impulsion right, walk is perfect 🤩

07/02/2021

I hope you and your horses are coping with the current wintry weather ❄️ 🥶❄️.

One of the questions I get asked the most is ‘when should my horse be treated?’ There’s no simple answer to this!

Horses that are recovering from injury or out competing regularly (we will get back there again, hopefully soon 🤞🏻), should be checked approximately every 6 weeks.

Some horses I see 3-4 times per year, with the occasional extra treatments if we find an issue.

Young horses are the ones that make their own rules especially if they’re learning new things or growing quickly, so it’s often useful to check them regularly until they settle.

The best advice is to get in touch so we can discuss individual cases and formulate a plan.

10/01/2021

It really does take a team of people to rehabilitate some horses. The one pictured below had an injury early on 2020, she had to have a small operation in May and then began the long road to recovery... she was started back under saddle in the middle of July 2020 and since then has had four different saddles due to her changing shape so dramatically. This mare has had her saddle checked every 2-6 weeks, depending on how things were going.

Signs that your horse may need a saddle adjustment include reluctance to be tacked up, hair loss under where the saddle sits, small swellings/lumps in the saddle area (see picture), reluctance to go forwards when ridden, tricky in the contact, bucking, etc. Notice anything about this list?? They could also be symptoms of many other things including lameness, inappropriate level of training, ulcers, etc etc. It is so important that everyone works together in a coordinated manner.

This mare will continue to have regular vet checks, chiropractic treatment, soft tissue therapy and farrier assessments, as she continues along the rehabilitation road.

05/01/2021

Astrix during his Chiro session as part of his rehabilitation programme. Clearly it was a very exhausting experience for him 😴

19/12/2020

Is your horse developing as you would expect? If not is it because he has some physical restrictions stopping him, or is it because his nutrition isn’t right? Getting (and indeed keeping!) these horses at the top of their game requires a team approach, and it’s crucial everyone works together. Equicare Nutrition is run by a fellow vet and offers truly independent advice.

Getting your horse’s feed right is important at the best of times; when they’re sick or under pressure it’s absolutely critical. With so many feeds and supplements available on the market today, choosing the right combination can be a minefield. Equicare can provide clear, impartial, evidence-...

11/12/2020

So why does chiropractic treatment help? In order for our horses to function well as athletes they need to be cardiovascularly fit, they need to have muscular strength and they need suppleness and flexibility. Day to day small restrictions or areas of tightness creep in, if these are not resolved then they become stiff, possibly one sided, and if left long enough may result in an injury. Regular chiropractic treatment can remove these restrictions, enabling the body to function better. Photo below is of Exceeding Power, a flat racing thoroughbred who was still winning and being placed last year as an 8 year old!

05/12/2020

Hi, I thought it was about time the Chiro side of what I do had it’s own page. Feel free to contact me through here, or via my new website www.olwenlloydvetchiro.com, if you have any questions. I’ll add some updates as we go!

Olwen Lloyd MA VetMB MRCVS. Experienced veterinary surgeon, qualified in animal chiropractic technique, with a passion for all things equine, especially optimising function and performance.